Tom Travers wrote:
http://www.minimopar.net/oilfilterstudy.html
I just found this on a BMW message board, and thought it might be of some
interest.
There are several analyses of this sort on the 'web' and I feel the majority
only serve to further confuse many people rather than clarify concerns. I
would offer the following points:
1. Did whoever carry out the tests evaluate a representative range of filters
from each manufacturer? These products cover several thousand (?) reference
numbers in each brand, yet (mostly) only a few numbers are usually reviewed.
2. Several brands mentioned in this survey are peculiar to certain markets, so
if you are looking for a *good quality* filter, you may not be able to find it
in your own country. The world is rather larger than merely North America and
what is sold there may not be available elsewhere.
3. It is completely unrealistic to condemn any one particular brand purely
because the tester may have found a *deficient* example in the evaluation
sample.
4. Unit price is entirely misleading. It's virtually impossible to find an oil
filter in Europe costinbg the equivalent of US$3.00 I would guess the old
saying "you get what you pay for" applies equally to North America as anywhere
else.
5. The part numbering system is not necessarily consistent between markets,
nor are quality ranges.
6. The overall perception of many with regard to what an oil filter is
expected to do still seems to be misunderstood. It's principal role is to stop
particles down to about 10 microns circulating in the oil system. However,
there are plenty of smaller and harmful particles to be found in any engine
that a conventional filter will not stop - many of which are diluted acids.
Simply, most filters will contain the 'rocks' - but not 'the grains of sand.'
The key points here are:
Ensure you change oil and filter regularly - say every three months or 3000
miles
Use a high quality mineral or synthetic oil
Buy the best quality filter you can afford.
Jonmac
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