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Stopped by a shop in Nashville and it changed my mind about used oil filters
I used to buy the cheapest oil filters I could find for my own car changes. Then I visited a small independent shop near Music Row last month while waiting on a friend. The owner showed me a cut-open cheap filter next to a Wix one, and the difference in the pleating and bypass valve was just obvious. I spent an extra $4 on my last filter after seeing that. Has anyone else had a shop owner show you something like that that stuck with you?
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ryanburns27d ago
Didn't someone from Project Farm on YouTube test this exact thing? I remember watching a video where they cut open a bunch of different filters and the cheap store brand ones had way less filter media and the glue holding it together was falling apart. Makes you wonder how many engines got wrecked over people saving a couple bucks on filters.
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oscar_ellis27d ago
Bet you any money that video is exactly what got me to switch back to OEM filters years ago. Did they check how much the cheap ones actually filter out versus just letting particles through the bypass valve? Because I've always wondered if those bargain brand filters even bother with a proper bypass circuit or if they just slap a spring in there and call it done. Seen some tear downs where the cardboard end caps just disintegrated after a few thousand miles. Kinda makes you wonder what the actual failure rate is on those things when paired with a modern high mile engine.
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