Imagine if you run your car without an oil filter, it won’t be able to run as smoothly as you want it to, nor can its health be adequately maintained for an extended period without using this component. When hard substances enter into the oil stream, there is an excellent chance that these small things can damage the machinery that helps a car run.
The article will help you expand your knowledge regarding oil filters. The different sections in this guide will tell you about each component and ho it works. Some tips are also provided to help you in case you need to change a filter or are looking for a good oil filter to suit your car. Let’s begin with products that help you discover further about oil filter brands that will help you pick the most suitable one for yourself.
10 Best Oil Filter Product Reviews
1. Motorcraft FL80S Silicone Valve Oil Filter
Motorcraft oil filters are usually designed according to the high-quality standards of Ford Motor Company. These parts of the car are also recommended by the company to use as the original filter equipment of vehicles under Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln. They are specially designed to protect the engine from different contaminants like sand, carbon, and metal bits by hanging them.
There is a pressure-relief valve in the filter that prevents any unfiltered oil from circulating in the engine. Furthermore, it also helps to maintain the oil supply, especially in the cold climate. The outer casing of this unit is made from painted and ironed steel that allows it to fit precisely in the engine and protect against rust.
The silicone anti-drain back valves are built in the unit to prevent any oil from draining when the engine is not being used. This also helps the engine withstand any effects of wearing out from the high heat levels present within.
Key Features:
- Recommended to be used as original parts of Lincoln, Mercury, etc
- Designed to protect the engine from contaminants
- Ironed steel used for the outer casing
Specifications:
- Brand: Motorcraft
- Model: IFL-820-S
- Weight: 13.8 oz
2. Mobil 1 M1-110 Extended Performance Oil Filter
This is one of the most popular ones in the industry and claims to have a much stronger ability to filter as compared to other competing filters. The unit uses a cartridge filter and unit that ensures remarkable filtering ability. An advanced synthetic fiber blend media is also used along with a 99.6% Multi-Pass Efficiency Rating that will suspend the contaminants from it efficiently. Having a total contaminant capacity of 28 grams, this particular oil filter can hold more dirt and debris particles than filters from other brands. There is also pressure protection of up to 615 Pa/sq. Inch, which makes it pressure bearing ability multiply by nine. The oil filter can also operate without any motor oil. However, the best shall be expected using Mobil 1 Extended Performance Motor Oils in this unit.
Key Features:
- Uses cartridge filter ensuring remarkable filtering ability
- Holds more dirt and debris than other brands
- Operable without motor oil
Specifications:
- Brand: Mobil1
- Model: M1-110
- Weight: 4 oz
3. Bosch 3330 Premium FILTECH Oil Filter
This one is seen as providing the active filtration needed by your car. This oil filter from Bosch 3330 uses the FILTECH media technology that captures more contaminants providing a higher amount of protection to the engine of your vehicle.
Filtering is more extensive with this media than what is offered by other filters, as 42% of the area is reserved specifically for screening. It also has 30% more thickness, and more contaminants and other substances are suspended from the airflow. There are plates and housing present in this Bosch filter that has used sturdy steel to build it that avoids any unwanted leakage due to poor fitting of the engine filter.
When you start the car, it will be supplied with clean oil through the anti-drain back valve made of silicone. The gasket is also made to have a high lubricant level that allows it to have a tight seal, but can also be removed easily when a replacement is needed.
Key Features:
- FILTECH media technology
- Unwanted leakages avoided by the sturdy steel built
- Silicone anti-drain back valve supplies clean oil to the engine
Specification:
- Brand: Bosch
- Model: 3330
- Weight: 9.8 oz
4. Toyota Genuine Parts 90915-YZZF2 Oil Filter
When it comes to vehicles and its parts, Toyota is one of the leading brands for it, and undoubtedly this product from the company is also among the top-rated oil filters. It is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) vehicle part that is included in the car.
When you choose an authentic OEM part for your vehicle, there is assurance for its top-notch quality, and you do not have to worry about the fart not being suitable for your car as well.
However, it is also a great challenge to find the right part for your vehicle when it is also a significant investment to make. OEM parts are nevertheless there to ensure that you are using only the best quality spares for your vehicle.
This unit by Toyota is an OEM part. Hence it will do an excellent job of filtering the engine oil quickly. It is recommended to use the Toyota motor oil with it, though other motor oil brands can also be safely used with it.
Key Features:
- Toyota OEM vehicle part
- Quickly filters engine oil
- Top-notch quality
Specifications:
- Brand: Toyota
- Model: 90915-YZZF2
- Weight: 5.6oz
5. Mann-Filter HU 925/4 X Metal-Free Oil Filter
This product is a metal-free filter that makes the system environmentally friendly and provides high protection to the engine. It has a high capacity to hold contaminants with its remarkable filtering surface.
The pleat structures of the unit let its filtering surface remain efficient throughout the process. When the time comes for periodic filter replacement, wrench removal tools can be used to remove it much faster and easier.
As mentioned earlier as well, the product is a metal-free oil filter that means that this part of the vehicle is made using original material and will not produce any ash when disposed of using heat.
Key Features:
- Environmentally friendly
- Provides high protection to engine
- Doesn’t produce ash
Specifications:
- Brand: Mann Filter
- Model: HU 925/4 X
- Weight: 3.52 oz
6. FRAM XG7317 Ultra Synthetic Spin-on Oil Filter with Sure-Grip
This is considered as one of the best synthetic oil filters produced by FRAM, with its filtering media built with a dual-layered synthetic and cellulose, that captures around 99% contaminants present in the engine oil.
Also, the filtering surface of this unit is made of a metal screen that improves the filtering job. It is explicitly designed to be used with synthetic oil that makes it the best oil filter choice for people who want to get the most out of what they have paid for. The silicone anti-drain back valve protects the car’s engine for up to 15000 miles.
A Sure Grip coating is also featured in the unit that provides it a non-slippery texture making it easy to install and remove the filter from the engine as per need. The gasket is also lubricated internally to give more ease of use and convenience to remove it when it is time to replace it.
Key Features:
- Specifications: Metal screen improves filtering ability
- Designed to be used with synthetic oil
- Protects engine for up to 15000 miles
Specifications:
- Brand: FRAM
- Model: XG7317
- Weight: 7.2 oz
7. Royal Purple 241777 Extended Life Oil Filter
Claiming to produce only the most high-performance oil filters in the market, Royal Purple’s Extended Life Oil Filter is designed primarily to filter out any and every contaminant present in your filter oil. As the name of the filter says, it extends the life of the screen itself in addition to protecting the engine that avoids any wear out. 1005 synthetic micro-glass component is utilized in it that allows suspending the dirt particles at an optimum level, even those as small as 25 microns, and also has a 99% effective filtration rate.
The shell of this oil filter is built using a thick material that provides extra protection and strength against any harmful effects of dirt, debris, or other substances. Metal end caps are there to give an incredible seal to the unit, while the filtering media offers excellent filtration that keeps the flow restricted to a low level.
During installation or removal of this oil filter, there is an excellent use of torque with the gasket, which is constructed using a lubricant compound and nitrile rubber. Meanwhile, the anti-drain silicone back valve removes the oil’s drain back when the engine is not on, preventing dry startups of the engine. The silicone material allows the lid to bear both scorching and cold oil temperatures.
Key Features:
- Extends the life of the screen
- Shell built using thick material providing additional protection
- 99% effective filtration rate
Specifications:
- Brand: Royal Purple
- Model: ROY10-2835
- Weight: 12.8 oz
8. K&N HP-1003 Performance Wrench-Off Oil Filter
This one is designed primarily to provide a high level of durability along with high rates of oil flow, even during extreme conditions. Heavy-duty materials are used to build the filter walls that prevent any debris from damaging the housing.
The design is also specific to bear higher than normal oil pressures, without the filter from bursting. A hex nut is welded on the top of this filter’s canister, making it very easy to attach or remove the screen using a wrench. Dry starts are eliminated by the anti-drain back valve of this filter as it prevents the oil from draining back when the engine is shut down. It is a recommended replacement for filters of most vehicles, including trucks, SUVs, ATVs, cars, and motorcycles.
It is recommended to use synthetic motor oils with this K&N HP-1003 Performance Wrench-Off oil filter, as it is one of the best oil filters for synthetic oil considering its features, that are available in the industry of vehicle parts.
Key Characteristics:
- Heavy-duty materials prevent debris from damaging housing
- Designed to bear higher than normal pressures
- Hex nut on top makes easy to attach or remove the screen
Specifications:
- Brand: K&N
- Model: HP-1003
- Weight: 4.8 oz
9. Subaru 15208AA15A Oil Filter
As discussed earlier in the list, Toyota Genuine Parts 99015-YZZF2 Oil Filter was an OEM filter and an OEM vehicle part; so is the Subaru 15208AA15A. This means that the filter is designed primarily to use with the vehicle it is attached to. The product quality should not be worried about as OEM parts are usually high quality and performance is guaranteed.
Considering this oil filter is an OEM vehicle part, it is already established that the filter will perform very well in suspending any unwanted substances coming with the oil and circulating with your car’s engine oil.
Key Characteristics:
- OEM filter
- Performs well to suspend unwanted substances entering with oil
- High-quality product
Specifications:
- Brand: Subaru
- Model: 6.4 oz
- Weight: 15208AA15A
10. ACDelco TP3018 Professional Fuel Filter with Seals
This is another brand of oil filters claiming to produce only the top-notch quality oil filters available in the market. This unit is said to be the ideal one for oil filter replacement in most vehicle types.
Optimum performance is seen by this oil filtering capturing contaminants like dirt, paint particles, rust, and any other harmful items in the engine oil. It is specially designed to go beyond what can be expected from many oil filters in terms of its fit, design, and features.
Key Characteristics:
- Ideal for oil filter replacement
- Captures most contaminants
- Designed to go beyond regular filters
Specifications:
- Brand: ACDelco
- Model: TP3018
- Weight: 11.2 oz
Buying Guide for the Best Oil Filter
What is an Oil Filter?
An oil filter usually has the most critical role in maintaining your car. It is specially designed to filter out the minute contaminants or particles from the oil that you use in your vehicle, hence removing any impurities affecting your vehicle’s engine. If you do not have an oil filter, your vehicle and its engine will quickly wear out. An oil filter can be called the ‘kidney’ of your car as well.
Having a taping plate, the filter medium, anti-drain back valve, steel tube, pleats center, end disc, relief valve and retained – all is enclosed in a thin metal making the oil filter work in a way that contaminants can pass out through its primary and secondary media types easily. Primary media can filter small particles of up to 25-30 microns, and the secondary media can stop particles even as little as 5-10 microns. The longer your filter is, the better it is for your car as it means that more contaminants can be captured as they go all the way through the screen.
Types of Oil Filters
There are many types of oil filters available in the market. For this guide, we have shortlisted six of them, namely, mechanical, magnetic, cartridge and spin-on, centrifugal, sedimentation, and high-efficiency oil filters. The most common types are known commonly as primary, secondary, and magnetic oil filters. Below is a list of these filter types with a short description of their function.
1. Mechanical Oil Filter
This oil filter is one that uses filtering media made of bulk materials like pleated filter paper or cotton waste to eliminate the contaminants going in with the car’s engine oil. As more contaminants are filtered, the oil flow is affected because of the contaminant substances building up. Mechanical filters should be replaced in a specific period, either the filtering media only or if the filtering media can not be replaced separately, then the oil filter as a whole should be replaced.
2. Magnetic Oil Filter
These oil filters use magnets or electromagnets to eliminate the ferromagnetic substances from the engine oil. One of the best things about this type of oil filter is that only the materials collected on the magnet need to be cleaned for the filter’s maintenance. This is an excellent advantage of this type of oil filter, but there are also certain drawbacks associated with it, as there may be some harmful effects caused by the filtering component.
3. Cartridge and Spin-on Oil Filter
Initially, engine oil filters were made using a cartridge that has a replaceable filter media with permanent housing. Later, an oil filter with the spin-on design was also introduced in the industry. It has a built-in house with a replaceable component that helps you replace oil filters much quickly with added convenience. Such filters can vary according to their design, their build, and the material used to construct them. Synthetic materials are known to have a more extended filtering ability than the traditional ones like cellulose, cardboard, or filter paper.
4. Centrifugal Oil Filter
Another sedimentation media is the centrifugal oil filter, which is different only in terms of the type and method of filter it uses. Instead of gravity, it uses the technique of centrifuges to filter out contaminants from the oil, i.e., using the centrifugal force or in easier terms the power coming from rotating devices.
During this process, the pressurized oil goes through the housing of filter, all the way through drum rotor having two jet nozzles that settle the flow of oil in the internal house to keep the drum rotating. The oil then passes through the bottom of the housing wall, where the oil contaminants are stuck then. It is this apparent reason, due to which the housing should be regularly cleaned. If you do not clean it regularly, a thick pile of collected contaminants will form, stopping the drum from rotating, eventually. Unfiltered oil will circulate then, consequently leading to easy wear off of your filter.
5. Sedimentation Oil Filter
Also called the ‘gravity bed oil filter, the sedimentation filter allows the contaminants to suspend that are usually heavier than the engine oil itself, keeping it at the container’s bottom using the natural gravity occurrence.
6. High-Efficiency Oil Filter
This type of oil filter is a bypass filter that allows the drain intervals to be longer. The pore size of the oil filter is highly efficient being 3 micrometers; the engine is prevented from wearing off by continuous filtration of contaminants. Some vehicles are also known to have extended drain intervals by up to 5-10 times.
As mentioned earlier, three more types of filters exist, namely primary, secondary, and magnetic oil filter, as the magnetic oil filter has already been discussed, we will now discuss the other two types.
The most commonly used filters in vehicles are primary oil filters. They are designed primarily to filter out large volumes of engine oil via limited restrictions that provide a smooth flow of fuel even during cold weather conditions.
Secondary filters meanwhile are found on most vehicles using diesel engines. They are designed to attain a volume of oil that has to be passed through the second filter that allows further filtering. It can also be used in gasoline engines as it prevents quick wear-off of engines.
Choosing the Right Oil Filter for Your Car
1. Know about the types of oil filters
You should have the ability too distinguish between the types of filters and identify the one required by your vehicle. As mentioned earlier, each oil filter has different features and purposes of running your car smoothly. When you know this, you can have better and closer choices for your car’s oil filter.
2. Finding the appropriate filter size for your car
We know that more or less, all oil filters look the same. However, each one is different in terms of design, parts, sizes, and construction, which is based on the model and year of make of the vehicle the filter is made for. You need to look for a suitable size of filter for your car as there is a great chance to choose the wrong one. If it is not attached correctly, it will result in leaks eventually.
You can have a look at the owner’s manual to find the most suitable size and shape of an oil filter for your car.
3. Have a look at the oil filter
A common misconception prevails that if the oil filer has less component internally, it will not work as good as others. The truth, however, is that there are many types of filtering media, and their amount does not matter when it comes to the filtering ability of the oil filer. It is just one of the many aspects that should be inspected in an oil filter. Another one is the pleats the oil filter has, as the more pleats present in it, the more the contaminants will be suspended.
4. Use an oil filter finder
An oil filter finder will help you find the right type of filter for your vehicle, which is offered as one of the features by some online shops. The only information to be filled in is the vehicle’s year of make, its model, and the type of engine used by it.
What to Consider When Buying an Oil Filter
This section is similar to the last one but has some more specific details about certain things needed in an ideal oil filter for your vehicle. If your filter has more pleats, it means that more contaminants can be captured on it. A filter media also means that small filter particles of up to 3-10 microns can be captured on it very well.
A good filter media features a metal end cap. Some use cardboard though it has a greater tendency of easily wearing out. You should also ensure that the bypass valves are made of metal as they are more durable than the plastic ones. Check if the gasket is made of flexible rubber to give it an incredible seal.
How Often Should I Replace the Filter?
Just like the engine oil, oil filters should also be replaced periodically to maintain the vehicle’s smoothness both inside and out. As the filter’s primary function is to filter out dirt and debris particles from the oil, it should be changed periodically to avoid contamination issues that may build up inside and clog the filter.
The best time to replace your filter is when you change the oil. This happens ideally every three to six months, so you can ask any trusted mechanic of yours to do this along with changing the oil as well.
Signs Your Oil Filter is Failing
Usually, you never actually realize that your car’s oil filter is broken until you see that your vehicle is not running as well as it used to. It is hard to identify if the oil filter I working fine or is being problematic as most filters have a safety feature that allows unfiltered oil to flow in your engine as having dirty oil is better than having none at all. Despite this feature, there are certainly visible signs shown by your vehicle that tell your filter is failing.
1. Engine light turning on
When contaminated oil starts to circulate in the engine, the sediments may build up in the engine and cause malfunctioning. This triggers the light for ‘Low engine oil’ that is present in most vehicles. Some cars also have a low oil pressure light; when either of these turns on, you need to check your oil filter for any possible issues.
2. Obvious leaks
When you see oil is leaking from your car, you should know that something is up now. This usually happens when the failing oil filter has no more capacity to adapt to the temperature changes, which leads them to burst. When this occurs, oil circulation continues again in the oil pan that leads to oil leaking from it and hence the vehicle.
You may also notice a lower than usual oil pressure due to these leaks. This is because, when more oil leaks from the gasket, the oil pressure in the engine lowers down. If the pressure becomes very low, the engine shall have a greater tendency to fail.
3. Engine Overheat
This may be one of the signs leading to many problems in your car. Nevertheless, oil filter failure is among them. When the circulation of unfiltered oil takes place in the engine, contaminants will build up inside it and prevent the conductivity of heat within. This causes wearing off of the engine and eventually results in engine malfunctioning. When the vehicle’s temperature goes beyond the normal temperate range, i.e., 195-220 degrees Fahrenheit, your car needs an overall check-up.
Conclusion
This guide talked about a range of oil filters, their types, and functioning. A review of ten products from various brands is provided that discusses what each oil filter holds. The buying guide for oil filters, followed by it, answers some commonly asked questions as well. The article has hopefully been a great help in guiding you further about this essential component of your vehicle.