what is it with oil filters

varian

recently bought a newer vehicle and was looking at oil filters for the next oil change.  i remember when cars didnt have oil filters, next they went to cans with cartridge filters, then to spin-ons for convenience i suppose.  now it seems we are going back to cartridge filters and they aren't giving them away from what i have seen.  just like the universe everything goes in a circle, its just a matter of how big the circle is.

SW0320

It has probably been 40 years since I changed an oil filter in a car so don't even have a clue on the cost.  Now with all of issues of getting rid of the oil, getting the right filter, oil etc. it is just easier to get the oil changed at the garage.

Now as for my Harley, no one touchs it for an oil change, I do all my own including primary and tranny.

bpost

A lot of it comes down to room under the car hood.  Some were so tight it required the remote mounting of the filter.  A filter in the engine block uses less metal that gets thrown away.  It leaves more room in the engine bay for a plethora of gadgets and gizmos that cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to fix.  To me it makes the most sense to have the oil filter an integral part of the block.

Don McManus

I have a rig with a modified Ford 302 V-8.  Engine is sealed.  Cartridge filter, appx. $ 45.00 at the local O'Rielly's.  Can get them for $ 32.00 on line plus shipping, so it is about a wash.  Local Jiffy-Lube type place charges around $ 70.00 for the oil change, which include the filter and 8 quarts of oil.  Have no interest in doing it my self.

Smitty500mag

I used Hastings oil filters for years because they had a hex nut welded on the bottom to make them easy to remove with a socket and ratchet. They decided to save a nickel and leave the nut off so I changed over to K&N filters that have a stamped hex shaped nut on the bottom of the filter that allows it to be removed with a socket and ratchet. 

I've only had my oil changed by a oil change place one time and that's when I had a free coupon from Firestone back in the 80s and that was on an old work car. I do my own oil changes even in my 70s now. When I get to old or out of shape to do that then it'll be time for this old cowboy to ride off into the sunset. 

select-fire

K/N has the welded nut on the end of it also. And Mobil 1 Synthetic.

Ricci.Wright

Nothing best the best for my babies. Mobile One Extended Performance Oil and Filters. Like the man on tv used to say; "Pay me now, or pay me later".

Smitty500mag

select-fire said:

K/N has the welded nut on the end of it also. And Mobil 1 Synthetic.

Actually it's not a welded on nut. As I said in my post above K&N filters have a stamped shape of a 1" hex nut on the end of their filters instead of a welded nut. I guess they saved a few pennies by stamping it. The hex shape has rounded edges and the 1" socket will slip off if you don't hold it tightly against the filter with the ratchet. It works but not as good as an actual nut. 

spasmcreeksrun

everything is spin on except the 4850 JD and it uses an element...need to go to salvage and get a adapter fitting that allows  a spin on....all the smaller things like  suvs, pickups, mowers, etc i go to the napa spec chart and find the biggest spin on that will fit....hold a little more oil, little more flow, and more cooling area...have only had one 239T JD irrigation engine crater and that was after 14000 hours.....filters with the nut shape tight on the end be sure to use 6 point socket in stead of 12 point.....gently....i have about 6 different type clamp and band wrenches to get filters off...and some are really hid

Nanuq907

My '63 Land Rover uses the biggest canister you've ever seen.  The long through bolt has threads for about an inch, so once you crack it loose lying under there, oil starts coming out the top, runs down the side onto your hand (holding it up) and you wind up with a quart of oil in your armpit before you can pull that bolt out.

armilite

I used to use the Fritz filters a canister with a roll of toilet paper inside and they worked really well and were cheap.