7 Oil Filter Brands to Avoid – Find Out

It’s just as vital to know which oil filter brands to avoid as it is to know which ones are the best for your vehicle. If your engine’s filter isn’t working correctly, dirt and debris can build up, requiring expensive maintenance.

When motor oil is contaminated with debris or dust, it can cause serious problems, which is why oil filters were invented.

Without an oil filter, your engine would be worn down and malfunction due to the accumulation of dirt, dust, and other impurities. As such, oil filters are essential to the smooth operation of motors.

While most car owners go with the lowest price, choosing the wrong oil filter brand can have more of an effect than they think.

As a car owner, you should know how critical it is to use only high-quality oil filters.

Media Filter

The media is the part of the oil filter that does the filtering. There is a general rule that the longer and more effective an oil filter lasts, the more media it has in its canister. Once the filter’s media is complete, it can’t filter any more oil. Therefore dirty oil will be sent into the engine.

Stop Leak Back Valve

There must be a drain back prevention valve in a high-quality oil filter. This part keeps the oil from leaking when the engine turns off. It’s concerning that you don’t have this feature, as a dry start might cause expensive engine damage.

Quality Build

A high-quality oil filter will be weighty since it is constructed from thicker steel and superior rubber gaskets. It will be evident to the touch how well-made your oil filter is. You can tell it’s a low-cost, low-quality filter by its lightweight and flimsiness.

Price

Low-quality oil filters can be found for less than $5. Depending on the size, you should expect to pay between $5 and $15. Quality, long-lasting oil filters cost around $15, but you don’t need to spend that much.

Effective Membrane

There may be as much as a 50% increase in effective membrane surface area in premium oil filters.

Filter membranes made from micro-glass fibers are the most reliable option due to their long lifespan and low oil restriction—a cellulose filter filters out the particles between 20 and 40 microns. In comparison, only 8 to 10 microns are removed by synthetic media.

Coating Non-Slip

Choose a spin-on oil filter with a non-slip coating on the metal can’s exterior if you’re in the market for one. The process of replacing the oil filter will be significantly simplified.

Review of Users

One of the most valuable ways to learn about a product is through user reviews. The oil filters should be sorted by “new,” and studies that point to a defective batch or a drop in quality control should be looked for.

Top 7 Oil Filter Brands Which Need to be Avoid

1. Fram

Regarding vehicle parts, Fram oil filters are among the most trusted names in the business. Its inexpensive filters are widely available at auto parts stores, and the company’s aggressive advertising has helped it become a household name.

Many customers and automotive professionals have spoken out against Fram as one of the worst oil filter brands. For instance, the design of their oil filters has been criticized for being prone to dirt buildup.

Now, we’ll examine some of the issues that put Fram oil filters on the list of brands to avoid.

• False claims are being made about the quality of Fram’s oil filters. A damaged oil filter allows dirt to enter the engine, which can cause severe damage. Your machine might suffer serious injury in a couple of days, requiring expensive maintenance.

• Oil filters did not often feature a drain back valve in the past. The valve’s function is to restrict oil flow in one direction and allow it to flow backward in the other. Using such filters results in a dry start, which increases friction and detracts from an engine’s overall performance.

• The filtration layer in a Fram filter is relatively modest. The weak filtration system won’t stop particles as small as dust from entering your car’s engine.

• The oil filter is made of low-grade materials. The cardboard end cap, for instance, quickly wears out and must be replaced.

• Oil filters from Fram are notoriously low quality, so it’s best to steer clear of these.

2. Frantz

In 1953, John Frantz established the Frantz Filter Company. The use of Frantz filters for the filtration of motor oil has gained widespread popularity.

The oil filter manufacturer Frantz Company closed in 2014 after 61 years in business and was acquired by Lubrication Specialties, Inc. (LSI).

Hot Shot’s Secret is a product line manufactured by LSI that addresses problems common to diesel engines.

The original company’s sale of the brand, which had a solid reputation for quality and value, severely damaged the brand’s image in the marketplace. Franz’s oil filters look like a rolled-up package of toilet paper.

The filters are simple: two oil lines and a replaceable element canister. In most cases, the quality isn’t high enough to properly filter the oil in your engine.

• The common assumption is that the Franz filter was constructed out of a chrome-plated container housing a toilet paper roll.

• Preliminary design and construction can lead to the development of holes, further suggesting that the valuable life of Frantz filters is limited.

3. Supertech Oil Filters

You can choose between a paper filter and a steel one with Supertech’s oil filters. The filters work similarly because the brand utilizes the same components as Fram.

The use of Supertech oil filters should be avoided because…

• The most frequently mentioned problems include oil that raises the filter. We have an issue if the filters that let oil through becoming clogged.

• One major issue is broken bypass valves. Clicker bypass valves, used in some bypass filters, can be finicky.

• Rust can quickly form on the filters. A rusty engine is a leaking engine, and a leaking engine is a short-lived engine.

• The filters’ construction is subpar. Around the 5,000-mile mark, you may see oil splatters on the engine due to the low quality.

4. Motorcraft Oil Filters

The 1950s saw the introduction of the Motorcraft line of vehicles from Ford. Ford works with Purolator Filters LLC to manufacture Motorcraft oil filters.

Control over production is where Motorcraft oil filters most often fall short. As filters are so easily broken, this brand may sell pre-owned ones.

• Multiple problems, including shattered pieces, have been reported by customers, making these filters unsuitable for regular usage.

• There have been rumblings from specific customers that their oil change indicator goes off earlier than the manufacturer suggests.

5. Purolator

Purolator, headquartered in the Tar Heel State, produces oil and air filters.

In 2013, German filter manufacturer Mann Hummel acquired Purolator and turned it into a division. In the 1920s, the Purolator Company started producing and selling oil filters.

An average vehicle can be driven by its owner for around 15,000 miles before the engine or other system repairs become necessary.

The trouble with these filters is that internal pollution from dirt that gets through the filter becomes a problem.

Filters are less expensive than the market standard, but if durability and dependability are your top priorities, look elsewhere.

• Customers frequently complain that the oil is not properly filtered since the filter material is pockmarked.

• Inevitably, this would cause debris to accumulate in the oil, speeding up the engine’s wear and tear.

6. Pentius

Pentius is a car parts manufacturer located in sunny California. In particular, they make oil and air filters.

Most modern cars can’t use pentius filters anyway. These filters are designed for use with older model Fords and GMs.

Users have reported that the oil filters’ rubber gasket and valve disintegrate over time when exposed to high temperatures.

In addition, because the bypass is plastic, the Pentius filters are overwhelmed by the volume of oil passing through it.

• Coil springs are easily broken or damaged due to their fragility.

• The filter’s poor threads have also been cited as a source of user frustration; these allegedly contribute to oil leaks by preventing a snug fit between the filter and the oil’s container.

7. PG Extended Life Oil Filter

In 1996, Premium Guard Inc. (PGI) opened for business in the automotive sector. Vehicle air filters are a product that this company makes and sells.

Unfortunately, not all cars can use PG filters. You can have trouble with a PG oil filter if you drive a Range Rover sports car or a Land Rover.

In addition to the fact that the filters may only be used on certain vehicles, customers have noted that they do not function effectively in gas-powered cars.

You might want to see this:

• Best Oil for High Mileage Cars That Burn Oil
• How to Take Care of Your Car Engine Maintenance Tips
• Overdue Oil Change Symptoms – What Are They? How Do I Know If My Car Needs an Oil Change?
• Can You Change the Motor Oil Brands

Conclusion

It’s important to know which oil filter manufacturers to avoid and why before you buy one for your vehicle.

Materials used in production are a significant determinant of the oil filter’s longevity, so keep that in mind while you shop.

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