Home Diagnosis and TroubleshootingEngine Oil and Lubrication Best Oil Filter – Which Are The Top 5 Oil Filters?

Best Oil Filter – Which Are The Top 5 Oil Filters?

by Jordan Harris
Best Oil Filter

Are you planning to do your regular oil change and do you want to learn what is the best oil filter for your job? Well, we are going to cover that and more. We are going to share the most essential information that you will need in order to make your oil change perfect.

Changing the oil is key if you want to increase the longevity of your vehicle and improve engine performance. The oil is an essential fluid in your engine that makes all the components work in perfect harmony.

If the oil is contaminated with particles or simply worn off from all those miles that you built on it. It needs to be changed on time and without delays. Because if you delay your oil change, you make the problem bigger and the engine will suffer damage. You don’t want that, because if your engine gets damaged, you will have to pay thousands of dollars on repairs that are going to make you poor.

That’s why you need to pick the best oil and the best oil filter. And that’s why we are here to help you out.

In this article, we are going to learn the basics. What is engine oil and what is the oil filter? What types of filters are there and which is the best oil filter? We are going to learn how to make an oil change as well. This will come in handy if you want to do DIY work on your car. So, without further ado let’s dive into the article.

What Is Engine Oil And Which Are The Types Of Engine Oils?

The engine oil is the moving lubricant that lubes your engine components. Without engine oil, the components inside of the engine will friction and will wear off prematurely. That’s why engine oil was invented to make everything run smoothly and efficiently.

The engine oil hits every corner of your engine and delivers proper lubrication to all of the components like the bearings of the crankshaft, the piston rings, and also the rocker arms and the lifters.

The motor oil is designed not only to lube the components but also to dissipate heat from the components. The oil is basically removing the heat from your engine and makes the engine run cooler than it would be using any other oil product. That’s why motor oil is irreplaceable and is still the top pick for any internal combustion engines

Best Oil Filter

There are two types of motor oils. The first type is the petroleum-based motor oils that are blended with additives that reduce friction and improve the sealing of the piston rings and other crucial components.

But since recently, there were new innovations in this sphere and more modern synthetic oils were introduced. These oils are made from artificial chemical compounds. And this resulted in greater lubricity characteristics that extend the engine life and also last for a lot more miles than regular petroleum motor oil lasts. This makes them perfect for owners that spend a lot of time in their cars.

But which is the best oil filter? Well, we are going to come to the point later, but first, let’s cover the oil viscosity.

Choosing The Right Oil Viscosity

There are also different viscosities of oil on the market. Every engine has the recommended oil specification and you as an owner should pay attention to these numbers and make sure that the oil that you pour into your vehicle has the right viscosity. If the recommended oil is 5w-30 then you should add the same type of oil to your engine. If you add something different it may result in poor engine operation or possibly increased engine stress. You don’t want that. But what do these numbers mean? Let’s find out.

The first number is the viscosity at low temperatures. This means that if you are living in an area that has lower temperatures, you might opt to get a thinner oil. For example, a 10W-30 is much thicker than 5w-30 at low temperatures. While on higher temperatures the viscosity is pretty much the same.

If you live in areas that the climate is hotter, you might opt to go for a 0w-30 or 0w-40 oil. If you own a truck let’s, say, 10w-40 will do the trick. That’s why it depends a lot on where you are driving the car and the climate.

But the ideal viscosity is usually written on the oil cap of your car. If you want to deliver the best performance from your engine, you should stick to the factory-recommended oil, since the car was tested with this level of oil and that’s why they have recommended it. If you want to experiment, you can always do that, but better read an article or two before you jump into experimenting.

That’s why we are focusing on the best oil filter in order to give you the best informative article on this topic. Now let’s see which are the types of fitters.

What Is Oil Filter?

The oil filter as its name implies has the role to filtrate the oil. The motor oil is perfect when you pour in but there are some impurities that come along with the wear and tear and make the oil dirty. These impurities can hurt your engine and possibly damage it in the long run if you don’t use a quality oil filter.

That’s why picking the best oil filter is key if you want to extend the engine longevity and make the engine last for many more miles.

The oil filter’s job is to block all of these dirty particles. Some of them are metal shavings, pieces from oil rings, bearing wear, or gasket material. These particles are microscopic and could not be detected by the naked eye but the oil filter can detect them and will stop them before they cause damage inside of the engine.

But not every filter does its job well and some of the filters are not good when it comes to filtration. This is the case because they are made out of poor materials that let quite a lot of the debris pass through and enter the engine. This will result in engine damage and also bad performance. This will greatly reduce the engine life and you will have to perform a rebuild much sooner than you have previously anticipated.

That’s why you need the best oil filter in order to deliver the best for your engine and also the best for your budget. We are going to cover the best oil filter later in the article, but first, we need to cover the types of oil filters. Because before you buy, you need to know the type of filter that you need for your application.

Types Of Oil Filters

There are two types of oil filters. There is a cartridge oil filter and a spin-on oil filter. But what is the difference between these two types of oil filters?

These two types of oil filters are different in design and they will not work interchangeably. That’s why it’s out of great importance that you know what type of filter you need for your application to find the best oil filter.

Best Oil Filter

But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to help you out with that. As we said, there are two types of filters that are available. That is the cartridge filter and the spin-on filter.

Cartridge Filter

With the cartridge filter package, you only get the paper filter. The housing for the oil filter is already on your vehicle and to get the filter out from the car you need to unbolt the cap that is holding the filter in the housing. Then you just pull out the paper filter and remove it from the car. Place the new filter in and you are good to go.

Spin-On Filter

The second type is the spin-on filter. As the name implies, this filter just spins onto the engine and you are good to go. The difference compared to the cartridge filter is that the spin-on filter has its own metal housing that the filter is attached to. Then this housing bolts on the engine and it does its work.

Both of these filters as we mentioned are not interchangeable. This means that you cannot swap them. If you are running a cartridge filter you should get a cartridge replacement. If you running a spin-on filter you should get a spin-on filter replacement.

The downside of spin-on filters is that they are a bit more expensive compared to the cartridge since they require housing. But the difference isn’t much. But which is the best oil filter? We are about to find out in the next chapter where we are going to cover our top 5 oil filters.

Best Oil Filter – Our Pick Of Top 5 Oil Filters

When getting an oil filter for your car, you should always pick the best for your budget. But which is the best oil filter? In this chapter, we are about to find out.

We researched the whole internet and we read countless reviews on oil filters and we somehow managed to narrow down our picks to 5 of these oil filters.

These filters that we are going to cover are the best price to quality ratio. They will improve the longevity of your engine as well as the driving capability of your car. These filters are specially made to protect the engine from any sort of debris that may end up in it. They will collect everything. Which is the best oil filter? Let’s find out.

1. Purolator Boss Oil Filter

The number one of our picks is the Purolator Boss oil filter that does wonders when combined with fully synthetic oil.

This filter also lasts for a pretty decent mileage. The recommended mileage for this filter is somewhere between 10,000 to 15,000 miles which is excellent. But even though it lasts for so long. It is often advised to replace every filter somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000 miles, just for a good measure. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

This filter is made out of premium materials that are top of the line when it comes to oil filtration. With quality materials in the core of the filter and also very durable housing made out of quality metal. This combo is the perfect option for any car or truck. This filter has found its way into many applications.

This filter has no negatives, except its price which can be rather expensive compared to other alternatives out there. But the pros are that you pay top dollar for a premium filter from a reputable brand that has a lot of experience under its belt when it comes to oil filtration technology.

2. FRAM Ultra Synthetic Oil Filter

Another filter for synthetic oil produced by FRAM. FRAM is very known for its quality oil filters and their long lineage when it comes to oil filtration.

The FRAM Ultra is a high-quality spin-on filter that is made to last for around 20,000 miles. That would be perfect for the ones who don’t want to change the oil quite often. And considering that modern synthetic oils last more than 15,000 this is understandable.

Quality oil requires a quality filter and there is nothing better than this combo of FRAM Ultra plus a quality synthetic oil.

The manufacturer claims that this filter removes 99% of the particles. Which is respectable for a filter at this price point. All this is made possible by the double-layered interior that makes sure that everything is stopped on time before it could do any damage to the engine.

The body of the filter is made out of high-quality materials. It weighs only 7.2 ounces which makes it an extra-light option and can be used on a variety of products. From cars to trucks, you name it.

The cons could only be its price point that could turn off a lot of buyers. But if you want the best you shouldn’t think about the cost.

3. Royal Purple Extended Life Premium Oil Filter

When looking for the best oil filter, considering the Royal Purple Extended Life Premium filter the way to go. Royal Purple is quite known for their quality products when it comes to oil filtration and they are one of the most reputable brands out there in this field.

The Purple Premium Oil filter is rated at 15,000 miles, lower than the previous two filters but that doesn’t mean that is a bad option. The Royal Purple has a lot to offer. Especially if you run a GM-branded car. This filter is a factory replacement for the OEM filter and you can bolt it on just like that.

As the manufacturer claims, this filter has synthetic micro-glass media which stops 99% of the microscopic particles that are circulating inside of the engine. Delivering an excellent performance in the process.

The housing is made out of metal and you should be able to easily distinguish it from other filters by its purple color.

The cons are that it is rather heavy, coming at 12 ounces. But this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker since heavy means that the filter is extra tough. Another drawback is that the filter is rated for 15,000 miles only, but considering that filters should be replaced every 7,000 miles. This is enough.

4. Bosch Premium Filtech Oil Filter

The best oil filter list is not complete without Bosch, especially their Bosch Premium Filtech oil filter which is one of the top options if you are running Castrol motor oil on your car. These two always go in pairs and also deliver a great performance for the price. Big companies like Bosch won’t stain their name with a subpar quality product. They always deliver.

And that is the case with this filter. This filter is specifically created for synthetic oils and can last for more than 15,000 miles, similar to other filters in our list.

It is made from high-quality synthetic materials that prevent 99% of the debris that could find its way into the engine. Maximizing the engine life in the process and protecting the engine in the long run.

This filter has a silicone anti-drain-back valve which ensures that clean oil is always injected into the engine when the engine starts. There is also a high-quality metal housing that prevents leaks and warpage.

This filter bolts on to many Honda, Acura, Nissan models. Before you order make sure that you get the right filter for your application.

The downside of this filter could be the price, but if you want the premium experience for you and your car. The Bosch Premium filter is the right way to go.

5. Mobil 1 Extended Performance Oil Filter

And we leave the best for last. And that is the Mobil 1 Extended Performance oil filter. Mobil 1 is famous for its motor oil, but does this reputation holds water when it comes to oil filtration? This oil filter promises a lot for the money and is created for using it with synthetic oils in mind.

It is specifically designed with a long distance between oil changes. As the manufacturer claims, this oil filter will last for around 15,000 miles with no issues or performance loss. To find out more, check out our guide on why the check engine light comes on after an oil change.

The effectiveness of this filter is 99.6%, which is the highest of all of the filters that we reviewed in this article and can be considered as the best oil filter for the price.

The manufacturer also claims that this filter can withstand 9 times more than the normal oil pressure and will not fail prematurely if exposed to increased oil pressure.

It also connects an anti-drain back valve that guarantees that there will be no dirty oil sucked in when the engine starts.

The filter is made out of extra durable metal that will prevent any damage and leaks to it. It weighs only 4 ounces which is rather light compared to other filters that we reviewed. It is recommended to be used with Mobil 1 motor oil for the best performance.

The only drawback of this filter is the price which can be considered to be rather expensive compared to cheaper budget brands like AC Delco or Motorcraft.

What Is The Right Interval For An Oil Change?

The right interval for changing the oil is somewhere between 5,000 to 8,000 miles. If you delay this interval and you change your oil on 10,000 miles or more, the engine will run on dirty oil that doesn’t have the same lubing capability. This will result in increased wear and tear of the bearings and piston rings. The oil consumption will increase and the blowby as well. That’s why you need to replace the oil often if you want to make your engine last.

On the other hand, cars that are running synthetic oils can take a beating and can run more miles with the same best oil filter and oil. These intervals are extender and can go up to 15,000 miles. Even though it is the best option to replace the oil somewhere around 12,000 miles. Also, for these extended intervals make sure that you consult with your mechanic if they are good for your vehicle.

What If I Delay My Oil Changes?

As we mentioned above, delaying the oil changes is not a smart idea. The more you delay the oil changes, the more damage inside of the engine is starting to develop.

This will not be that noticeable at first. But after a couple of delayed oil changes, you will start noticing how the engine works strange and has issues with compression and oil consumption. That’s why changing your oil regularly is a must to avoid these problems.

Oil Filter Facts: What You Need to Know

  • Regularly changing your oil and filter is essential for keeping an engine clean and functional.
  • Cartridge-type oil filters are easy to gauge, while spin-on filters have a concealed filter element.
  • The Beck-Arnley spin-on oil filter is the best overall aftermarket option, with consistent quality and a perfect fit.
  • Genuine or OEM filters from your car’s manufacturer are the best value, providing assured performance and competitive prices.
  • The K&N Performance Gold oil filter is a high-performance filter with innovative features and outstanding quality.
  • Denso oil filters are an excellent aftermarket option, offering quality construction and filter media that meet or exceed original equipment specifications.
  • Wix oil filters are a close runner-up for the best overall aftermarket option, with quality construction and filter media that exceed OE standards.
  • Spin-on filters are the most popular type of oil filter, but cartridge-type filters are making a comeback due to their removable and reusable housing.
  • Key features to consider when buying an oil filter include application compatibility, quality housing, filter media, and pricing.
  • It is best to change your oil filter with every oil change, and OEM or synthetic oil filters are recommended for synthetic oil.

Conclusion

In this article, we have covered a lot when it comes to oil and oil filters. We learned what is engine oil and what are the types of oil filters. It is worth noting that there are cartridge filters and spin-on filters. The latter are the most common ones in cars.

Then we have covered the best oil filter topic with our top 5 picks when it comes to oil filters. These filters are one of the best when it comes to their job. And you will not regret if getting one for your vehicle. Just make sure that you get one specifically for your car since not every filter works on all the vehicles.

Lastly, we have covered the oil change intervals. They are important for you to know when you should change your oil. To maintain the health of your engine in check.

1 comment

Darrel Silveira 07/22/2022 - 3:59 AM

Curious why the AMSOIL filter wasn’t included

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