What is the best filter to run in these cars? ( '93 Geo Prizm 1.6 in my case)
I've been running the Fram filter on mine, but is there something better? My main reason for running the Fram is that it has that grippy stuff on the end, and makes it easier to remove. I never need a filter wrench when doing my oil changes. (Why the hell do the quickie lube places feel the need to have a gorilla install the filters? Damn people, let snug up, then turn 1/4 inch. its not going to fall off)
I've seen these new Bosch filters at the local Wally World, and inspecting them, they look like they have a bit more substance than my Fram filters have ( They definitely feel heavier).
My oil changes get done about every 5000 miles, as 95% of my trips are interstate, and I use the Valvoline High Mileage oil.
I think most here will recommend using Toyota factory filters due to the cost vs quality issue. That being said, I think there are other choices. I like Puralator, Wix or their clones for conventional oil. Premium filters for synthetic oil like Wix, Pure One, Redline etc. So choice can be dependent on how long and what oil you are using. Going 12K+ on synthetic requires a better filter or changing a cheaper filter somewhen during the process. If you get engaged...then cutting oil filters and testing used oil becomes mandatory. Otherwise, buy what's on sale, change at 6K, and don't worry about it.
Here are some links, if you want to learn more than what you want to know, on the subject:
At less than $4/filter including OE metal drain plug gasket its hard to beat just picking up a case of 90915-YZZF1 from eBay. Those are larger filters than the stock ones but still OE Toyota and spin right on.
I generally use the Toyota F2 but I'm gonna pick up a set of larger F1s from RollaDad's link. I use Toyota filters because they're cheap and proven well made.
So those bigger filters work fine, but give us more filtration area? It's hard to argue with that. When I had turbo buicks back in the 90's I used to use a pf52 filter instead of the recommended pf47 for the same reason.
Yep. It's not something I'm willing to pay a big premium for, but with that larger Toyota filter vs. the standard Toyota filter we're arguing over ~$0.50/filter when you buy in bulk so to me it's worth at least that
Using a larger filter you also fit that much more oil in the system but now we're getting pretty theoretical as to any actual benefits...
Thanks everyone. I knew some people disliked the Fram filter, but never knew why. I will look into the Toyota filters on Ebay, I can also use them on the daughters 99 corolla as well, so buying a case wont be so bad.
I would love to get my hands on a box or 2 of the japan filters but, I don't know anyone that imports them in the u.s. and I don't think i'd pay the price for them. There are some rip off japan filters on eBay for $10-12 but it clearly say "made in china" on the bottom of the filter!
I recall from times when I found that best ever filter is for Japan only market same thing - you simply can not buy them in the USA. Japan is apparently known to keep better things for internal market. Another example is Toyota Crown series. Hell of a car, esp Majesta, no can buy here.
Back to filters.
Oil is oil. I do not go cheap on oil and on filters. Cost efficiency vs engine repairs are not the way I look at it. Hence, I stick with Mobil1 or K&N, which is same filter, whatever is cheaper at the moment. I actually emailed the Great Filter Dissector guy and he dissected K&N and reported to me that it's technically same as Mobil1.
Yes but Toyota is decreasing the quality on some things to save and ear more money at cost of durability... Those old Toyotas runs over 300K and 400K miles with those good quality filters and no problems with good maintenance... do exactly the same with the new ones and those Thailand filters...
I get mines from Carson Toyota or if not in emergency just a Mobil One...
Wow, those OEM filters sound nice!
I usually just pick up an AC Delco filter, if I'm at Autozone. It might not meet Toyota standards, (or maybe it does...) but it's gotta be way better than Fram or some of the other aftermarket cheapies.
The O'Reilly's I go to doesn't stock Toyota or AC Delco, so I've used STP over Fram, the last two times.
But I think that Fram air filters might not be as bad as their oil filters?
Lot's of debate over oil filter quality. Can anyone here claim an engine failure due to crappy oil filter? No? Of course you can't. You can NEVER make the claim that an engine failure happened because of the brand of oil filter. You can say that one filter looks as though it filters more crap than another, but that does not mean that won't filter enough to keep you 'good' from one oil change to another. Just keep this in mind....Fram is still in business, even with all the haters...
Sure you can. Just ask the owners of cummins diesel engines in dodge trucks whose engines had piston oil squirters clogged up by disintegrated oil filter media. Fram to the rescue. There are cases in which the filter itself fails in an obvious, undeniable way. When you find PARTS OF THE OIL FILTER clogging stuff up, it's kinda hard to shift the blame off onto something else.
Some of us want the best for our cars. Sure an oil filter won't kill a car. But if you can eek 1000, 10000, or even 100000 more miles out of your car with top quality filters, oil, and other parts, why not do it? Not like a Toyota filter will cost you much more than a Fram filter.
OK, fair enough. I guess I should have clarified that I meant anything SHORT of CATASTROPHIC failure, which is, statistically, the VAST majority of times. The 'average guy' changes his oil and filter....no issues.....then he does it again...and again....and again....no issues....then he sells his car and buys another. Could it be that Fram gets some of it's negative image from the fact that they sell a lot of filters? Probably one of the top volume sellers (I looked it up, but at page three, after two varied searches, I couldn't find numbers as to what brand sells the most)? I'm not defending Fram specifically, I'm trying to point out that sometimes things (oil filters and anything else you might encounter in your life) aren't what you hear, and/or that sometimes they get blown out of proportion and take on a life of their own.
I'm not defending Fram specifically, I'm trying to point out that sometimes things (oil filters and anything else you might encounter in your life) aren't what you hear, and/or that sometimes they get blown out of proportion and take on a life of their own.
That is absolutely true, and it's a good point to remember in general. I think in this case the evidence against fram is strong enough to conclude that there is indeed a problem with their quality, but your point still stands.
Examination of the internals of FRAM filters do show that they're poorly made, the area where the filter media meets is often a weak point where it opens up and lets through unfiltered oil. It's pretty well documented.
There are several Fram oil filters: Extra Guard, Tough Guard, Ultra Synthetic and High Mileage. Are they all bad?
It does seem that they have a bad reputation, and there are a few (or at least one?) places where someone has taken different filters apart to compare, but for each of these there seems to be 100 people saying they are bad just based on these secondhand semi-scientific reports. Having said that, I used to use Fram, but now I use Toyota filters.
How many links can we find to "proof" that Fram filters are inferior?
Pretty much any time some one cuts up filters and examines then, you will find that the cardboard filter element and plastic parts of Fram are inferior to other designs: http://www.austincc.edu/wkibbe/oilfilterstudy.htm
It doesn't matter how many studies are done, they will have similar conclusions, because they are reporting the same reality. For example, take 10, 100, heck take 1000 people and put then outside in the middle of Siberia in the winter and ask them to report on the weather conditions and they will most likely say:
"Extreme Cold"
"Snow"
"Ice"
"Windy"
Sure, you may nitpick and say one person's "extreme cold" conflicts with another person's "very cold" report because they were wearing a rex-harrison hat instead of a sable ushanka hat. But that doesn't change the fact that a Siberia winter is frickin' cold no matter how you describe it. All 10, 100, or 1000 of your studies will say the exact same thing.
And shear size doesn't mean something is the best or even average. Taco Bell is a huge company that sells more burritos and tacos than anyone else. But the quality of their product doesn't even compare to any local ethnic mom & pop restaurant (I highly recommend Carlitos in Santa Barbara or the Romanti-ezer after midnight).
How many people are saying that Walmart is the best employer and pays the best wages? Just because a lot of people shop there, doesn't make them a great employer. Cut open their paycheques and compare the numbers to many other employers and I'm sure Walmart will rank near the bottom.
You want to remove feelings derived from marketing campaigns when making product comparisons and look at the actual numbers and other qualitative design features. Cardboard vs. cotton, cardboard vs. plastic, plastic vs. metal , etc.
Taco Bell is a huge company that sells more burritos and tacos than anyone else. But the quality of their product doesn't even compare to any local ethnic mom & pop restaurant (I highly recommend Carlitos in Santa Barbara or the Romanti-ezer after midnight).
How many people are saying that Walmart is the best employer and pays the best wages? Just because a lot of people shop there, doesn't make them a great employer. Cut open their paycheques and compare the numbers to many other employers and I'm sure Walmart will rank near the bottom.
.
I beg to differ. IF taco-bell (which is an ethnic mom and pop resturant by the way that was/is HUGELY successful) has such poor quality, then why is it #1 for selling tacos in America? Quality can only be defined in the eyes (or tummys) of the masses. And the MASSES have made taco-bell #1. The vast majority say loud and clear: Taco bell is awesome! Hence there is one on every corner.. due to DEMAND.
Walmart is a GREAT employer, and the #1 employer in America. How is that not great? MILLIONS are employed due to Walmart. Sure there are higher-paying slaves out there, but when the chips go down, the layoffs happen. Obviouslt Walmart is a low-paying employer, but they are the TOP employer and that right there speaks for its ability to employ millions of people.
Fram: IF thier quaility was sooooo sh*tty as to actually matter in real-life, they wouldn't be the 'taco bell' of oil filters. Fram is everywhere and aint goin anywhere. Why? because like taco-bell, the people have spoken: IT'S PLENTY GOOD ENOUGH FOR WHAT IT IS...
now I ain't sayin I like to eat-taco bell or shop at walmart... but the masses DO like to do those things. People would argue that Ferrari and Labrogini make a higher-quality car than a Toyota... yet Toyota is #1... why, the masses say so. Thus if you drive a car made for the masses (toyota) a fram is prolly good enough. If you drive a ferrari, i doubt you will want to dine at taco-bell or shop at walmart and dig through the 'bargain bin'...
.. but for the love or real-word practicality, and fram filter is just fine for your everyday Toyota and is exactly why their products dominate the shelves dispite over 17 years of this 'fram is bad' folklore..
Best filter is one that filters. Sadly, all those silly pictures of filters cut open don't let you know how well the media filters.
I only recommend filters with silicone ADBV to prevent the common cold start or restart, empty oil filter refilling engine rattling.
If that rattle doesn't occur with your engine, or it doesn't bother you, then there is nothing wrong with using a Fram orange can.
I also make an effort to avoid chicom filters since I've seen too many quality control issues. Any North American or European made filter usually is good enough to trust. Along with chicom filters, I don't use no-name filters from unknown manufacturers(usually jobber/quicklube/offbrand....). My engine is worth more than trying to save a few bucks on cheap oil and filters. Sadly, even many of the big brand names are now chicom sourced and you're relying on reputation.
K&N has switch suppliers and is not the same as Mobil1 anymore. Filter companies get bought and sold regularly and filter plants open/close or relocate too. So, all that cut open filter 'picture' data is only accurate for the day it was cut open. Many don't understand how the filter insides work and so the documentation and internet info is usually 'feelings' based.
Consumer masses like cheap and is why garbage parts and food are common. Plenty of poor quality and iffy manufactured stuff out there that are very popular and successful. It doesn't mean that they are any good.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ask a question
Ask a question
Toyota Nation Forum
6.2M posts
587K members
Since 2001
ToyotaNation Forum is a community dedicated to all Toyota models. Come discuss the Camry, Tacoma, Highlander, 4Runner, Rav4 and more!