ProLine Oil Filter

[LittleCamryLE]

A couple nice links here about oil filters and a question regarding oil change & oil filter deal going on at PepBoys.

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FIRST, here're three links about an interest study/comparison somebody did about oil filter:
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil...reference.html
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil.../opinions.html
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/index.html

Aside from the cut open view, I actually like the comparison about the # of Cartridge Pleat & Element Length & Gasket Type. e.g. the Purolator PureOne seems to be the best quality as it is the only one that has Gasket Type made of Nitrile rubber with PTFE-treated (I believe it's a DuPoint chemical... anyway good stuff).


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SECOND, at my zip code 27713 at least, You can get 5 qt. of Shell motor oil and a ProLine oil filter for $9.99. I'm not trying to get the best quality oil filter, but according to the research on the above link, ProLine is same stuff as Purolator, which is fine with the drain-back valve. Anybody used it in the past?


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I'm driving a '94 Camry LE 2.2L with 210,XXX mi. in central North Carolina (reasonably cold, probably lowest in Winter at 20 degree F). I haven't popped open the head gasket to inspect any sludge problem yet, but after changing oil just two months or 1000 miles ago, the dipstick is showing pretty dark color oil... no trace of coolant or ATF though.

Anyway, I used Castrol High Milege 10W-30 with Bosch Premium filter back in October from a deal at AdvanceAutoParts ($18.99 for 5qt. & filter). Even the High Mileage oil supposed to have more conditioner and higher in ZDDP (good stuff for anti-wear), I'm planning to change that out early (pretty soon at 1500 mi. just to see how dirty it really is). This Shell oil deal with ProLine filter sounds pretty attractive from a budget perspective. If I ended up needing an Auto-Rx treatment, I might want to use this PepBoys deal for my cheap short rinse phrase.

Keep in mind that I'm trying keep the cost down maintaining this car as it still have a couple problems need attentions. Any comments or experience are welcomed

[freeyellow2000]

In general I believe there are only a couple of Oil filter manufactures out there. That why there are very similar in design.

The way I tell if it made by Fram (AKA Allied Signal) ... is that there are tiny whole surrounding the oil filter thread (where it connect to the block)

whereas Purolator (aka Champion Lab) is that have bigger whole (maybe 4-8) depending on the size of the filter


You should be fine with any filter on the market as long as there is anti-drain-back valve in its design.

[LittleCamryLE]

Regarding that anti-drain back valve, there's actually a very distinctive difference from the group, the Purolator PureONE has a Silicone Rubber Diaphragm while many others' valve including Mobil 1 was made of Nitrile rubber diaphragm. Do you know of any performance or durability difference?

Well, the second thing is the higher end ones (Mobil 1, Purolator PureONE, AMSoil, K&N) have Synthetic or Synthetic blend media while others are Paper. That sort of got me sold for the Purolator PureONE for the money and quality. Yet, for saving sake, I might do that Shell motor oil (probably purposely use lower weight 5W-30 for lower friction flow) with ProLine thing with half a can of Seafoam for a quick 1000 miles change to see if I can clean my engine a bit. Any opposition to this approach?

[rty]

Supposedly the nitrile rubber ones harden over time faster than silicone rubber.

I don't know about the paper vs. synthetic media. I could be totally wrong but, my guess would be that the synthetic media can filter finer particles.

I don't see a problem with using that filter though, especially if you're planning to change the oil early.

I use cheap nitrile rubber/paper media filters on my car. Good enough for me.

[nikita]

Go to the Toyota dealer and take a close look at the current Denso filter. Compare it with the Proline. It appears to be identical. Does Toyota specify a super secret synthetic media. I seriously doubt it. The Japanese Denso filter that we can no longer get had a silicone anti-drainback valve, but not the current one. I dont notice any startup noise, so the rubber one seems to work fine.

Yes, I used the PepBoys $10 special for my last oil change. While Formula Shell may not be identical to Pennzoil, it just might. Pennzoil and Quaker State are now brands of SOPUS (Shell Oil Products USA).

[LittleCamryLE]

Thanks for your direct experience-based input. That helps and actually made me feel like going to PepBoys right now to get that deal... Good point on the original Denso filter using silicone rubber anti-drainback valve.

I was hoping that Formula Shell is something similar to their Shell Rotella-T. I've heard a lot of satisfied user for Shell Rotella-T, I've been wanting to try it but only seen 15W-40 sold at my local Wal-Mart for $11.77 (5qt.) and I haven't seen a 10W-30 version.