Oil filters, crazy prices

[John Larkin]

I really don't remember what I paid for an oil filter last year but I just bought an AC Delco PF61 plain blue filter and it was $4.50! The gold Purolators and NAPAs are around $7. Stuff is just crazy. Fortunately oil doesn't seem to have gone up much in the past few years though it is high as well, $3.20/qt in the jug, $4.60 per qt bottle for plain Valvoline 5W30.

I also just noticed Valvoline is selling recycled oil, same price. Unbelievable. Go hug a tree. Make tires and pavement out of used oil, not more engine oil.

 

[83hurstguy]

I have been paying over $10, b/c I typically use Mobil 1 filters on my daily drivers. The good Wix filters cost me $6-8 for the Cutlass now though too. I figure it's cheaper than having one fail and cost me a bottom end.

 

[TurboTnZ06]

I buy K&N filters cause I think they are made in the US and my engine cost more than $10, so a good filter is worth it.

 

[williamsGN]

Oil goes up every time I go to the store, don't know where you're getting it from, and the sales have turned into mail in rebates

 

[John Larkin]

I hope anyone who has proof of an engine lost due to the design of the filter will post. In my lifetime I never have heard of it. Lack of maintenance and a resulting clogged filter I would believe.

 

[83hurstguy]

One of the local guys who used to have an '83 H/O had a new Delco filter collapse internally (after they started offshoring them) and ended up with bearing problems as a result. He switched over to a 350 Olds, and I got some of his old CCC system parts for the 307.

I will agree that it's rare to hear of one causing catastrophic failure. But, even if it's a matter of having better filter media, it should help keep the bottom end in better shape.

 

[novaderrik]

I hope anyone who has proof of an engine lost due to the design of the filter will post. In my lifetime I never have heard of it. Lack of maintenance and a resulting clogged filter I would believe.

i don't know about engine failures, but i've seen Fram filters that have collapsed. one example was in my '04 Cavalier that uses a cartridge style filter. when i got the car from my brother, he gave me an extra Fram filter for it.. when i changed the oil, the Fram filter that was in it was alll twisted and bent up.. figured that maybe he screwed it up when he put it in due to not being a car guy and put the new Fram filter in making extra sure that it wasn't in all wrong.. when i changed the oil again a couple of months later, the new filter was twisted up exactly the same as the one before it. i put in a Wix, and when i changed it a few months later it looked exactly like when i installed it.
i've also seen Fram and the Wal Mart AC Delco filters that were screwed up right in the box- the cardboard (!!!) that they use for a bypass valve doesn't always get put in right and you can see it just by looking thru the end of the filter. this means that oil will ALWAYS be bypassing the filter media from day one. never seen that with a Wix or NAPA gold filter..

 

[Turbo Indian]

I hope anyone who has proof of an engine lost due to the design of the filter will post. In my lifetime I never have heard of it. Lack of maintenance and a resulting clogged filter I would believe.

this is not 1 of them" I had a friend" story. I did not have an engine failure because I saw the oil pressure guage drop but I had not 1 but 2 Fram filters split open on a diesel truck I had years ago. so needless to say I will not use another 1.