The content of the article:
- How to choose an oil filter
- Oil filter rating 2020
The purchase of oil filters is, in contrast to air filters, a pure lottery. The main parts that speak about quality and functionality are embedded in the body and are not visible for visual inspection. We can only hope for the promotion of the brand, the purchase of original products and the reliability of the information given in numerous ratings and articles on the subject.
How to choose an oil filter
When choosing oil filters, it is imperative to take into account the quality-price ratio, warranty period, and filtration capacity. In the manuals of cars, the preference of brands for certain filters for a given brand of car is always indicated.
Originals cost a lot, so car owners most often, at their own peril and risk, purchase products from third-party companies, some of which actually produce filters no worse than their “native” ones.
Performance can only be determined indirectly. There should be no smudges or sagging on the case - this is considered a factory defect. All inscriptions must be legible, the rubber seal must adhere firmly to the machined groove and only rotate with great effort.
When shaking the filter, any rattling or noise is unacceptable - the design is initially perfectly fitted inside.
The main criteria for choosing filters:
- Neat appearance of the case and packing box, without traces of thread defects, unpainted, errors in inscriptions.
- The protective layer of the film in the kit is an absolute plus, although European manufacturers often ignore it.
- It is better to find out the area / material of the filter in advance, from the cut tests available on the Internet.
- The design differences between the original and the replica should not be very different, although firms that produce similar models make the filter system better.
- The quality and reliability of the threaded connection.
- The inner valve must be of high quality and reliable, made of good materials, with silicone gaskets.
- The rolled seal ring is removed naturally. Excessive difficulty / ease of extraction indicates a marriage or a fake.
- The filtering "accordion" should look uniform, and the ends of the housing cover should not have any displacements and irregularities.
- The visual presence of rust indicates the poor quality of the filter, because it must be treated with anti-corrosion compounds.
Companies that produce oil filters are of two types:
- Some produce products for certain brands of cars or groups of cars according to the territorial principle of assembly.
- The second, and these are, as a rule, international companies operating in many countries at the same time, produce a wide range of filters that can fit most cars, only their price and quality are very disappointing.
"Chinese", "Koreans" and "Japanese" are best friends with filters made in Japan. European cars are better combined with "Euro" filters, and the brainchild of the American car industry - with American ones.
Full engine operation presupposes the correct choice of an oil filter and, in fact, engine oil, which requires replacement on a regular basis. The choice can be based on the statistics of manufacturers, whose products work under the hoods of many cars. We list the highest quality, durable and efficient oil filters below.
Oil filter rating 2020
1. BOSCH
The international brand produces, among other things, numerous automotive equipment, including oil filters. The factories are located in various locations, including on the territory of our country. At the same time, the quality, despite the same lines, in the Russian Federation is lower than in Europe. The working qualities of filters differ, so it is more interesting to purchase imported products.
BOSCH original filters are almost perfect. The smooth and neat body, treated with an anti-corrosion compound, has clearly readable inscriptions. The filter element is large in area, and the valve is nested inside the filter element.
The disadvantage is considered to be some rigidity of the bypass valve, which is completely leveled through the use of high-quality oil and a live engine. In fact, filters opened after the expiration of the warranty period do not have critical faults.
The main disadvantages of BOSCH are only a high price on the market and a huge number of counterfeits that have a low price and undermine the impeccable reputation of original consumables.
2. MANN
The manufacturer is a leader in the oil filter market, with factories operating in more than six dozen countries. Components for all kinds of automobile brands of cars, trucks, special vehicles and motorcycles are produced.
The products are characterized by quality and long service life. The downsides are only a significant price tag and a huge amount of counterfeit, sinning adhesion of adjacent filter plates. As a result, the filter capacity drops, allowing the raw oil to come into direct contact with the lubricant.
It is extremely important to purchase exactly the original Mann products, which is possible when ordering through the electronic catalog of the manufacturer's website. After entering the technical information about the vehicle, the system independently selects all articles suitable for operation on a specific vehicle. The company supports the production of even those models that are used in old Russian cars, confirming that it cares about the end customer.
3. Fram
High-quality consumables from France are characterized by a significant area of filtration elements, accurate assembly and high quality of manufactured products. Moreover, this is equally true both in relation to the housing and the filter element.
A special feature of Fram filters is the increased strength and thinness of the seal ring, which does not stick to the surface. Clear instructions are required to tighten the ring and operate the product properly. Two bypass valves inside the movement add complexity and cost.
A rare but common failure is a jammed check valve and blockage of oil from entering the engine. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase French filters from trusted sellers and not seek cheap fakes.
4. Filtron
These filters are produced at factories in Poland, and the official website of the brand allows you to establish the authenticity of the purchased products through the company's website. This is an absolute plus, although counterfeits are rare.
Filters have significant technical and design features that distinguish original products from similar oil filters.
The design has one metal cover with a fixed paper accordion. The second cover is a rubber hemisphere of the valve, loosely attached to the central tube.
No one can guarantee that at the moment of critical growth, hydraulic resistance will not push the crude oil past the filtering metal element, providing a direct throw into the engine. The manufacturer, meanwhile, guarantees the durability of his filter.
Another disadvantage can be considered a small number of threads, which complicates the installation of the filter in hard-to-reach places. The advantage of the filter is that the height of the filtering paper accordion is higher than that of competitors, although the small number of ribs is somewhat confusing.
According to the results of the "autopsy" carried out within the framework of numerous post-warranty tests, the condition of the filter is recognized as very good. The corrugation is made of thick paper, no sticking of the plates is observed, which allows us to conclude that the oil is well cleaned from impurities during operation.
According to customer reviews, the information varies greatly - some talk about a long service life, others say that replacement is required every 2-3 thousand km. However, the budget price of the filter will allow you to change it quite often.
5. Hengst
The Hengst brand on the Russian market is most often found in Korean or German production. The Germans offer for sale better quality products in the middle price range.
The filter element is made of durable cardboard, which prevents the plates from sticking together, although it can deteriorate the flow parameters during low-temperature operation.
The minus of the filter is considered to be a thin and fragile case. In general, the "opening" after 8 thousand km of work demonstrates the preservation of the filtering capabilities of the product and the confidence of landing.
6. SCT
The company is located in Germany, but production is carried out in many countries of Europe, Asia, and Russia. The products are marketed under the names Mannol, SCT-Filter, Wolf, Champion, Estocada.
The popularity of these oil filters has spawned a wave of fake consumables, so it is better to make purchases in trusted stores responsible for the quality of the goods.
The price of filters is comparable between Russian and European production, the level of reliability is about the same, the lifespan is short, but the budget price compensates for this disadvantage with interest.
Filters do not last long, the quality is average, the drawbacks are excess glue used in the installation of the filtering "accordion", and a short service life when using low quality oils.
Domestic motorists, who often operate their cars harshly, in difficult conditions, anyway, have to frequently change the oil, so they do not pay much attention to the filter's service life.
7. Mahle
Mahle offers on the market a wide range of oil filters for different types of vehicles. The originals are of high quality, enclosed in a durable metal case, treated with an anti-corrosion compound.
The high-quality thread ensures ease of installation, and the large filtering surface makes the oil purification process efficient. Add to the list of advantages a considerable service life and availability in Russian car dealerships. However, this is what creates the problem.
The promotion of the brand means a large number of fakes, so the advice when choosing remains the same - to purchase consumables only in reliable stores or on the official website on the Internet.
A rather large price ceases to be such, if we take into account the high return, quality and impressive service life. One of the popular filters is Mahle OC205.
8. Delphi
For cars born in the American auto industry, it is better to purchase "native" filters produced by Delphi. The products are of high quality, the range is wide.
A significant drawback is only a huge number of forgeries, because the quality of the original has been tested by time. Representatives of the manufacturing company recommend purchasing products only through the website or with the help of official representatives, then the filters will serve for a long time.
9. UNION
The Japanese brand specializes in tailor-made oil filters for the Asian car market, serving manufacturers in South Korea, Japan and China.
The company's management budgets regular research projects and the development of new filters. The originals are being bought up by owners of cars of Asian origin, especially premium cars. Excellent quality is compensated by a high price, which is not so important for a long service life.
It's a shame that the number of fakes is extremely high, and the degree of protection is weaker than that of the "Europeans", so it is better to purchase filters through the official website.
10. Purflux
French manufacturer Purflux supplies consumables for the entire Renault line. The first feature of the filter is a special way of laying the filtering element, which allows creating the effect of a large filtering area with a small height of the "accordion" and a small number of ribs.
Another feature lies in the structure of valves made of metal and small parts, in which the rubber band is only a seal, pressed by a metal disc and a coil spring. The service life and quality of filtration are rather average, although there are conflicting opinions according to reviews.
Conclusion
A huge selection of oil filters allows you to choose products not only by the brands and country of the car manufacturer, but also by the price-quality ratio. It should be remembered that any promoted brand has many fakes, and therefore it is often not possible to judge it by cheap counterfeits. Buy consumables in reliable stores or on official websites, and let your cars serve you for a long time!
