GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Alright time for all you engine techies to get in on this post!!! Ok I was talking with a friend about Oil and Oil Filters. While on the subject I mentioned putting in a K & N Oil Filter. They are $10. He said to me why do you wanna do that? I said so I get best performance. He said holdup actually you get better performance out of a cheaper filter that filters at less microns. Reason being that the oil will cycle back to the engine so it gets what it needs when it needs it! He said as long as you change your oil and filter every 3,000 miles you will get better performance than if you was to go with a expensive micron small filters.So you be the Judge

I'm not an "engine techie" by any standard.But IMHO, a filter would not be put on the market that would in any way restrict the flow of oil to an engine, putting it in danger of a possible lack of oil and whatevernot happens when an engine doesn't get it's oil (overheat, explode, etc).On that same train of thought, lower micronic filters will keep more junk from getting to your engine and doing damage to the pistons, walls, valves, etc., possibly restricting the formation of deposits, or at least, keeping your engine from aging faster.While I wouldn't spend $10 on a filter, I do believe that the higher performance filters are flat out better for the engine. Maybe not performance wise, but certainly in the long term, they'll keep the engine healther.That's my opinon, in no way based on any factual information.

What he said.

Here is the way I see. Let me know if you agree or not.Ok lets say there were two racecar owners with the same engine. Now one of those guys uses a cheap filter because he thinks that he'll get more oil flow through his engine if he uses a filter that filters let than a more efficient one.This filter he uses filters in the range of 30 to 40 microns. Now common sense tells you that is dirt particles 30 to 40 microns in size are allowed to float around in the oil these particles are ripping there way though out the engine causing rapid and excessive engine wear. Now this guy is trying to counter act this by changing the oil as often as possible. This doesn't really work because those particles get into the oil even after a oil change and then circulate through out the oil system because they aren't being trapped in the filter.A lot of money being spent on oil changes as well.Ok the guy using the high efficiency oil filter isn't doing any where near as many oil changes as the filter guy and his filter is filtering in the range of about 10 to 12 microns.Now after the race season is over the first guy is rebuilding that $5,000 race engine because the clearances in the bearings, cylinder walls, valves seats etc is to much to be competitive anymore.The other guy isn't rebuilding his engine and will actually go a head and use it again nest year. The guy using the better filter saved money on oil changes and saves money and time not rebuilding his engine.You tell me which is better. I can personally tell you I have never seen a PSI drop of any kind on a oil Gage from one filter to another. If you don't care about money then use whatever you like but if you do, use your head.

Also remember that only a small pecentage of the oil is passing through the filter (I think it's 10%) so even if the filter is PLUGGED you still get oil circulation. So there is no excuse for a cheap filter.

wildvibe, you don't get engine performance from an oil filter. Using a cheap filter just means you get less quality. Not good when it comes to oil filters.Also, Pix Doc, an oil filter filters about 90% of the oil, not 10%. Yes, sometimes the oil flow is more than the filter can handle and it gets bypassed but that is only a small percentage of time.Bottom line, I did judge and wildvibe you're wrong .

nova ripping on people again with the fountain of knowledge

What knowledge? I have no knowledge.Let's see, a cheap filter gives better performance and since the oil filter only filters 10% of the oil anyway lets just remove the filter altogether and get more power. Sure, yeah, right!

What will give you the best performance while protecting all of the parts are baffles in the oil pan that keeps plenty of oil by the pump at all times. Gotta be able to send that filtered oil back into the engine. There is the % that is not getting filtered. Like the FRAM oil filter says. "pay now or pay later." Like Nova said test the PSI and change filters. If you do not have a guage then you are not prepared to race. Also if you are going to race then get a better oil pan. You have damaged your engine already by doing 2 things. Cheap filter/no baffles in the pan. Cars already come with baffles in the gas tank. Keeps fuel ready to be sucked down by the pump. NOVA??? I am going to try and find an illustration. If you have one and post it first I thank you in advance.

Here's an aftermarket oil pan for a turbo 4-cyl:

Thanks Nova. I was trying to get a crossection of a vibe pan but could not find one that showed a crossection.