Comparing Oil Filters - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Aussiblue · 01-28-2002, 20:45

I found this site a few years ago http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/corve...lterstudy.html and I thought I should share it.

It raises some interesting questions about OEM and brand name filters. As a consequence a few years ago I cut open a variety of Australian made filters (K'Mart, Ryco, Pwer Plus, Valvolene etc) for the Fords and my Mitsubishi Lancer (Z56B) and they all appeared identical inside which suggests they were all made by Ryco (which isn't surprising as it was originally established in the 40's as I recall to service the then new Australian Auto manuafacturing industry). Some had different style rubber flap valves but the internals seemed to be from the same source.

I've stayed with Aussie filters ever since about 20 years ago one that was made in Thailand came off while I was driving along just after it was fitted. When I opened that one up it was apparent that it was made from recycled tin cans (the label of some canned fruit was till on the inside). While I'm sure the Asian filters have improved (and I bought some cheap ones to open when I opended the other ones up and they seemed OK both inside in terms of filter length and valving and outside in terms of steel quality etc). And I guess "Made in Australia" doesn't necessarily mean the filter medium was made here anyway; it could be just assembled here,

Being a stingy type I opended my filters after I'd used them using an oldstyle spike type can opener. It is a messy and time consuming job and having satisfied myself that most Aussie built filters were OK lost interest in opening any more. I'd like to open up a genuine Ford one and compare it to a Ryco one some time and would be interested in what anyone else has found in pulling filters apart.

The Aussie ones I've opened seemed to be of a similar design to the Wix/Dana Corporation ones with a large by pass valve spring in the base.

Aussiblue · 01-28-2002, 21:00

I just checked the GUD/Ryco site at http://www.rycofilters.com.au/companyinformation.php and it says: FORD Q1

"G.U.D has been recognised by the Ford Motor Company as a preferred supplier and was presented the Ford Q1 Award in December, 1993 and re-certified in 1998."

and

"G.U.D. Manufacturing Company is an equipment contract supplier to major Australian car companies including Ford, GM, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu and Mercedes Benz. We are Australia's number one supplier of filters to the automotive parts and accessory aftermarket..."

So I guess I know what is inside a Ford filter.

anakha · 01-29-2002, 05:21

Well there's Ford and then theres Ford racing oil filters. I have been using the racing filters for some time and have found them to be very solidly constructed. I recently found out that they are the actually made by Champ and are identical to the Champ HP1 (cheaper too) so switched to these. Burst strength is very good as they are built like a brick shithouse.

Aussiblue · 01-29-2002, 06:46

If you mean the Motorcraft FL-1HP (Ford Racing/SVO part number M-6731-H) I always thought it was made by Fram. The FL-1HP certainly matches their filter codes. Also see http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3oilfilter.html

The comment at http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3oilfilter.html that "This group frequently works with Ford Motorsports on racing programs." does suggest that it might be a Fram

Aussiblue · 01-29-2002, 07:04

If they are Champs this site also rates them highly: http://mr2.com/TEXT/oil_filter_test.html

Aussiblue · 01-29-2002, 07:15

This site is also very interesting: Seems in the USA a different filter is fitted by the factory when the engine is built. http://www.shoclub.com/lubrication-o...n-oilpart5.htm

Aussiblue · 01-29-2002, 07:20

And here a site that has tested Aussie filters: http://www.aus-cartalk.com/auspoc/techstuff.htm

Aussiblue · 01-29-2002, 07:58

Ford racing sell three filters:

FL-1A Standard Filter
FL-784 Heavy Duty
Fl-1HP Racing

The emphasis on the racing one (FL-1HP) seems to be on strength and burst pressure limits; so it is built like a brick outhouse but does it have the best filtering medium for day to day motoring and extended use? I would expect a racing filter to be designed around (in addition to withstanding high pressure) good oil flow and the oil and filter being changed after each race. It would be interesting to see what's inside one.

The Moroso site http://www.tognottisautoworld.com/Pr...ter_Racing.asp suggests that at least some racing filters trade of some filtering for less oil flow restriction,

Falchoon · 01-29-2002, 14:53

I've been using PureOne oil filters for a while, cost about $10 but supposed to be the ants pants. I only have a stock I6 so anything fancier is wasted I think. On their website http://www.pureoil.com/ they say "SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS' (SAE) tests prove the PureONE oil filter is #1 among ALL leading brands when it comes to protecting your car's engine against potentially damaging contaminants." I guess they are hardly going to say that their oil filters are sh*t...

Anyone else used these B4, opinions anyone? Are these any better/worse than Ryco?

XR_Strider_GuY · 01-29-2002, 15:39

I've been using the Motorcraft stock Oil Filter AFL1. Can you get these racing SVO ones from the ford dealer?

Geez even oil filters theres high performance ones. Wonder how many kw's it gains.

:oo1: :oo1: