Do we have a new leader in oil filters now?

[GJarrett]

Hmmm. Well I didn't rely on any internet articles, but I did have my own oil tested by an oil analysis lab, and Amsoil tested extremely well even at high mileage. I gotta go with what I learned in my own vehicle and proven by lab analysis reports that I read with my own eyes.

 

[ma96782]

Rizzjc,

Interesting article....I've never even heard anything like that about Toyota. Most, comments I've heard were positive from owners..........then, on the other side the negative anti-foreign cheap shots.

At any rate......I just wanted to add, that your "keeping cool" approach is wonderful.......I like a good "civil" debate.

As for the claims about Amsoil being ^&#@!........I'd like to see a link posted (I'm the lazy type)........and, as I've said before:

BTW.....do you always believe what you read on the internet?

Aloha,Mark

 

[rizzjc]

Yeah, I didn't find any articles or anything else on Amsoil in this situation, other than several references to a newsgroup article on a particular person's occurance of this problem, and the fact that they happen to be using Amsoil. When I looked further, I realized that the problem had nothing to do with Amsoil, and was an issue regardless of the oil used. I also so no information that showed proof that people were not changing their oil often enough. Just Toyota's claims, which is typical of any car manufacturer.

I'm glad someone pointed this out though. I have Amsoil in a 2002 Camry 4 cylinder, and I will either change it more often, or do an oil analysis on it, and make sure it gets checked. I did see a TSB from Amsoil changing their recommended change interval for the affected vehicles to match the manufacturers recommendation, pretty much based on the fact that those engines run hotter than normal.

 

[stang99x]

Just to peak my curiousity, do you know what amsoil was developed from? And don't say some old aircraft engineer, cause thats not true

 

[old mechanic]

Hummm! I think Amsoil discontinued their guarantee on the 1997-2001 Toyota Camrys. The 1997-2001 Toyota Camrys had one of the biggest ENGINE recalls that I know of.
The estimated cost to repair those motors was $4,500 for parts and $1,384 for labor!
My guess would be that Amsoil did not want to get involved with that major Toyota problem.
And woda thunk that the Camrys had BAD motors?

 

[80's+90'sFords]

I admit I've used the walmart filters on every truck I have.
But now look at the difference in the new ST8A box size.New 1 is on the right.
Its not just the box, the filters are now shorter too....something ain't right.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzep1ppq/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/sta8.jpg

 

[ma96782]

Great observation.........I saw the new boxes on the shelf at Wally World...........and bought some. But, as you pointed out......they are different.......hummmm.

Aloha, Mark

 

[dreamr]

Lol this thread is a bit amusing

Me I use K&N oil filters (why? I like that nut welded on the end )

Oil is either Mobil synthetic or Amsoil depending on where i feel like going to get it...

 

[old mechanic]

Lol this thread is a bit amusing

Me I use K&N oil filters (why? I like that nut welded on the end )
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LOL! I like the LOW price tag welded on the top better.

 

[glfredrick]

"Lack of problems" is an argument from silence...

How do those of you running Fram filters KNOW that you are having a lack of problems until a problem occurs -- and when it does, is it huge, like a hole in the side of the block?

Same advice on this thread as on the dozen or so other ones about Fram filters... CUT ONE OPEN. Then run almost any other one.

The only difference I've seen in the regular el-cheapo Frams and the high dollar X-tra guards is the paint on the bottom of the can...

CUT ONE OPEN. It takes a couple secons with a hacksaw. It costs $3.00. It may save your engine.

 

[DCExplorer]

O.K. so I cut open a Fram filter. I found a bunch of metal shavings in a ring like pattern right near where I cut I open. I told you they were junk.

 

[ma96782]

Come on.......Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

EXAMPLE: I mean.......IF, or when your engine went.

Was the "Problem"..........the oil.......or the filter? Then again, maybe it was the engine to begin with?

How do you KNOW?

You spend $4 for a quart of syn oil.........or, $1.50 a quart for dino.
Another $10 for a Amsoil filter...........or, $2.00 for a Wally World one (or $3.50 for a Fram).

Oil MFN says to change the oil at vehicle's mfn recommended intervals? Huh?

I did see a TSB from Amsoil changing their recommended change interval for the affected vehicles to match the manufacturers recommendation, pretty much based on the fact that those engines run hotter than normal.

Then, blame the engine mfn?

So, FORD makes a 4.0L sohc engine. But, won't make a general re-call on the timing chain issue (past warantee)..........so, just plain bad design? FORD won't re-call all of them..........so, their engines are GREAT?

And, TOYOTA does recognize a "problem" thus, TOYOTA engines are ^%&$.

The 1997-2001 Toyota Camrys had one of the biggest ENGINE recalls that I know of.

Huh????

Aloha, Mark

 

[glfredrick]

No problem...

IF we are running cheap filters based on what the FILTER seller want us to believe, then by that logic, we should ALL be running the Wal-Mart filter, which is even cheaper, and says RIGHT ON THE BOX that it is the BEST FILTER.

Some are born every day...

 

[ma96782]

Oh.....one more.....Chevy has a piston slap problem and high oil consumption but, the MFN says it's NORMAL............so, therefore it is.

Aloha, Mark

PS.........no matter what it says:

RIGHT ON THE BOX that it is the BEST FILTER.

You still gotta change the oil.

Do you know what happened in Viet Nam with the then new M-16s and what the troops were told about maintenance?

 

[DCExplorer]

Well, getting back the to the Walmart SuperTech filter, it's made by Champion labs. They also make the Mobil 1 and K&N filters. It would be intetesting to cut all three open to see if there is actually any difference between them.

 

[rizzjc]

Just to peak my curiousity, do you know what amsoil was developed from? And don't say some old aircraft engineer, cause thats not true

I've heard a few times that Amsoil uses Mobil synthetic base stock, but besides that, I'm not sure what you mean.

 

[rizzjc]

Hummm! I think Amsoil discontinued their guarantee on the 1997-2001 Toyota Camrys. The 1997-2001 Toyota Camrys had one of the biggest ENGINE recalls that I know of.
The estimated cost to repair those motors was $4,500 for parts and $1,384 for labor!
My guess would be that Amsoil did not want to get involved with that major Toyota problem.
And woda thunk that the Camrys had BAD motors?

Actually they have a TSB that says to use the manufacturers recommended change interval, due to the high heat, and apparently engine design "issue". Toyota has agreed to cover repairs on those engines, should the problem show up, regardless of the oil change interval. Of course, neither admits fault. But Amsoil was never said to be at fault. The problem was with ANY oil, and I didn't read about any proof that the interval was too long in any case, just a statement from Toyota saying as much, with no real data to back that statement. There just happen to be one person who WAS using Amsoil, who HAD this problem, who DID get Amsoil to cover the repairs. They don't any longer probably, due to the TSB, and the Toyota "recall".

 

[old mechanic]

"Lack of problems" is an argument from silence...

How do those of you running Fram filters KNOW that you are having a lack of problems until a problem occurs -- and when it does, is it huge, like a hole in the side of the block?

Same advice on this thread as on the dozen or so other ones about Fram filters... CUT ONE OPEN. Then run almost any other one.

The only difference I've seen in the regular el-cheapo Frams and the high dollar X-tra guards is the paint on the bottom of the can...

CUT ONE OPEN. It takes a couple secons with a hacksaw. It costs $3.00. It may save your engine.

-------------
I understand your concern. The thing that is sticking in my mind is the 72 million oil filters that Fram sold last year. Seems to me that if they were that bad it would have been on a few consumer concern lists by now.

 

[old mechanic]

Come on.......Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

EXAMPLE: I mean.......IF, or when your engine went.

Was the "Problem"..........the oil.......or the filter? Then again, maybe it was the engine to begin with?

How do you KNOW?

You spend $4 for a quart of syn oil.........or, $1.50 a quart for dino.
Another $10 for a Amsoil filter...........or, $2.00 for a Wally World one (or $3.50 for a Fram).

Oil MFN says to change the oil at vehicle's mfn recommended intervals? Huh?

Then, blame the engine mfn?

So, FORD makes a 4.0L sohc engine. But, won't make a general re-call on the timing chain issue (past warantee)..........so, just plain bad design? FORD won't re-call all of them..........so, their engines are GREAT?

And, TOYOTA does recognize a "problem" thus, TOYOTA engines are ^%&$.


Huh????

Aloha, Mark

---------------
Yes Mark. The Toyota engine recall was the biggest engine recall that I ever heard of. Go to msn autos click on the year Toyotas that I listed and you will see.

 

[GJarrett]

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The thing that is sticking in my mind is the 72 million oil filters that Fram sold last year. Seems to me that if they were that bad it would have been on a few consumer concern lists by now.

I can testify that after reading those Fram articles and threads (this has been covered many times on this website years ago) I did quit using Fram. My engine had a slight tick/knock on startup that went away a couple seconds after the engine started. After reading the stuff about Fram I removed the orange Fram filter I was using and replaced it with a Motorcraft one, and the startup knock immediately went away. Several oil changes later I noticed that I had the startup knock and remembered that I had forgotten about Fram and had put an orange Fram on again. I replaced it and the knock went away again.

I've always been led to believe that most engine wear occurs at startup before the oil takes a few seconds to start circulating, so the fact that the Fram didn't seem to do as good a job getting the oil up in my engine as fast as other filters did was enough to give me pause to use one. In the long run it may make no noticeable or measurable difference in wear that can be directly attributed to the oil filter, so it is easy to see how it could not be red-flagged on consumer concern hit lists. Maybe it really doesn't make a measurable difference, but for the same money I'd just assume using another brand. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer own choice.