Oil filter seal question

I just changed the oil yesterday and I used a gifted TRD oil filter so it got me thinking. The TRD has o-rings to seal the top and bottom of the filter, the regular Toyota filter has a semi hard plastic cap top and bottom, and WIX has a hard plastic top and bottom.

My dumb question is how does the regular Toyota and WIX type filters seal the top and bottom of the filter? I would think unfiltered oil can squeeze between the area where the TRD has actual o-rings to seal it.

TIA

 

I thought the oem filter has a hard plastic lip on both sides that pretty much seal it off when it's loaded in the canister, and screwed up into the female receptacle on the engine. Trd filters just looks like a fancier way it's made to do the same...just maybe a tiny bit better.

 

I only use the TRD filters its worth the nominal cost add for me. They're harder to source right now for a decent price because of backorders but the amsoil ones are made by champion and similar too.

 

That seal areas on the top and bottom of the standard cartridge feel soft enough to me. Enough to create a seal anyway.

 

I agree, the regular Toyota filters probably soften up enough to seal decently. I guess I was wondering more about the WIX, Fram, and PureOne filters with the hard plastic top and bottom.

 

Cheers!

Sorry. I have not used any of those. Only the standard Toyota filters.

 

The oil filter housing doesn't seal all that well internally. The bypass valve at the base of the tube is a metal disc held by a wave spring. Similar deal with spin-on canister filters.

Remember the oil continuously circulates in the engine. Even if the filter just filters 80% of the oil each pass, it would have filtered all the oil after some time.

 

Thanks! That makes sense, I was hung up on thinking all the oil must be filtered each time.

 

WIX also offers a synthetic media filter somewhat similar to the TRD filter.

Part number:

$16 57047XP XP Cartridge Lube Metal Free Filter, Pack of 1

57047XP

 

There just a higher end Champion built filter. The Fram Ultra is a far better filter (IMO) for less money. Wix XP is a close second. Sourced from BITOG, and my own experience.

Dont get me wrong, I know Fram was total crap in the past, but these Ultra cartridge types are tops.

 

I owned/opperated a chain of auto parts stores for 16 years and literally sold millions of Fram, Wix and AC-Delco oil filters to DIYS'ers, fleets, car dealers and service garages and my defect ratio on all three were so small it's wasn't even measurable on a % basis.
I sold fleets that wouldn't use anything but Fram on their 100s of vehicles and pieces of various equipment. Do you thing a large construction company, power company, or state highway dept would have that much confidence in a total crap filter?

 

Most mechanics I've talked to actually use them too which was why I switched from OEM to fram Ultra. 99% efficient at 20 microns vs OEM 99% efficient at 30 microns. Thats 50% better filter performance. Plus the plastic drain plug for the oil filter housing threads into the housing instead of pushes in, mess free. Fram for the win on this one.

 

For many decades Fram was the cheapest filter made, they were famous for cutting cost using inferior parts, such as paper ends on their elements.

I cut up plenty of different brands of filters. Frams were always sub par. The better makers were Champ labs, Champion and Wix.

A fleet of trucks with a strict maintenance schedule may never reach a failure point of the fram.

And FYI,Do I think a large construction company, power company, or state highway dept would have that much confidence in a total crap filter?

Has nothing to do with confidence, it's always overall cost of maintenance that determines the products they use. I'll take a wild guess, and say they used Delo 400 as well.

It's was great oil, and very cost effective.

 

Many folks here probably aren't old enough to know about the Fram issues of 30 or more years ago.

The use of fiberboard (cardboard) end plates is/was fairly common by several manufacturers. Occasionally they failed.

The big issue was the low quality and poorly made anti drainback valve.

For those who don't know, the AD valve holds the oil in the filter when the engine isn't running, since the filter is generally low on the engine it holds the oil above it as well, not all engines require an AD valve in the filter, the Tacoma V6 for example doesn't.

The problem was that engines that did require one like the Ford 300 six, Chrysler Slant six, Chrysler 2.2 four - any engine with the filter mounted to the side of the engine or upside down could knock (bearings) on startup due to the oil draining back down through the filter to the pan. Essentially a dry filter just like when you change the oil, every knock was extra bearing wear.

Changing from a Fram to another brand of filter cured the problem immediately.

-----------------------
If you stuck with me this far I will now add my personal perspective:
Many times issues with manufactured products come from the factory floor - someone not doing a job correctly, a machine out of adjustment, a defect missed by inspection, etc.

The AD valve issue had nothing to do with factory production, it was a cheap design & poorly made - this was a boardroom level decision to make a low quality part that went on for years.

Fram is an old company and had a good reputation, their leaders decided to put their name on a cheap, low quality item for higher profits.

Back in the pre-internet days how many people looked at a K-mart branded oil filter (yes, they sold them) and decided to spend more on the Fram because they recognized (and trusted) the name?

 

If you think about it, what's the use of having "99% first pass efficiency" filter media if it is leaking on the ends? I like a 20 micron rating so I use an Amsoil, Royal Purple or a TRD filter.
The consensus over at BITOG is that the Fram Ultra Synthetic is one of the best filters out there.

 

So, I caution those that use Fram Ultra as apparently it is changing and may be moving to a less premium product. I have not seen a lot of discussion on it but check up on Bitog.

Fram has had multiple filter lines for many years. Yes, they absolutely did have anti-drainback issues on the orange cans for many many years and this was big discussion on the internet forums of the early 2000s. That was the orange can and that still targets the same price point ...the bottom. They also sell mid-tier and premium filters which match or exceed other brands.

In the end all of the filters have had issues. AC Delco, one of the recognized better brands recently had many instances of tears in the filter medium upon post inspection. Purolator too has had issues.

 

I’ve read on BITOG that Fram eliminated the mesh screen in the filter media of the Ultra Synthetic filters. Some members speculate a change in materials but who really knows……it’s still a Fram in the end. If anything was changed I’d be willing to bet it was a cost measure, not quality improvement.
As far as A/C Delco, you couldn’t give me one of those. They have the cheapest, thinnest can going…..so cheap that I’ve had to destroy the filter to get it off many times because the can collapsed.

 

Been using puralator, and fram oil filters for more years than some are old on my new holland tractor. It's never had an engine issue in the 50 years it's still been running. I'm guessing there are some that are over thinking this. Of course you can always have a defective anything.

 

Yes, I agree that we tend to over analyze things in this age of information. I used the orange can Fram as a kid and never had an issue.

 

I have never had an "issue" with Fram orange cans however I have had vehicles that did rattle on startup due to the poor anti-drainback valve. Something that did not happen with other filters. I love Fram Ultra filters but won't touch the orange can again (wouldn't buy any other bottom tier filter either...).

Agreed, and agree that it is likely a cost cutting measure and may have lowered quality. I believe one of the other change was a two layer media that may have reduced or removed the high performance synthetic media. I have no issue with them regardless of this change but IMO this may have pushed them more towards the mid-tier rather than the top tier. I think it was mentioned that the Advance Auto Fram Titanium may be the same as the old Fram Ultra. I have not seen any of this about the Tacoma style filter though.