what oil filter?

[PapaPump]

the last time i did an oil change i used a k&n oil filter. i bought it because of the name. does anyone have a particular favorite and reason for using that one? i know they are not all the same, but i would like to use the best. thanks.

[Sarge]

Wix brand. Always does well in actual lab tests but not expensive. Makes filters for a number of other companies as well, if I understand correctly.

Sarge

[Eagle]

Purolator.

Like Wix, rates well in testing and not any more expensive than the others. Available at Pep Boys and Advance Auto.

[RichP]

I use Mobil-1 filters first, K&N second and Mopar OEM third in all three of our jeeps. No wix or hastings dealers around here or I would try them too. Did not like the time it took for purolators to build up pressure after an overnite shutdown which to me meant the anti-drainback did not work right on my 98's horizontally mounted filter, could have been a bad one but I never got around to trying it again. I tend to buy filters 6-12 at a time unless it's a new unknown brand that I have not used before, I still have a couple of Frams from my old troopers 4 banger that I never used. It's handy that the 4.0 and 2.5 take the same filter, now if we could just cycle the wifes olds out of the family and replace it with another jeep :D

[Matthew Currie]

In my experience, K&N is fine, so is Bosch, and so is Wix. I've been using Wix lately because my local parts store carries them and they're inexpensive. A few years ago I tried a number of different filters on my 87, and noticed that these three all seemed to give a little higher oil pressure readings throughout their life. I sawed open a number of filters I had hanging around and found that the K&N and Bosch both had more pleats than generic ones, and were made of stiffer material. The K&N was quite a bit stiffer and looked different from the usual filter paper. The outer case was also much tougher. Whether that adds up to anything I don't know, but K&N is not lying when they say their filters are different. Wix, by the way, is a Dana subsidiary.

[DDCxj]

Wix or Napa Gold which are made by wix.

Dean

[RichP]

Wix or Napa Gold which are made by wix.

Dean
I keep forgetting that but our napa store here keeps bankers hours and is useless to me and most other shadetree's that work out of the area. Kinda like the small home supply stores here that bitch about home depot but they close their doors at 5pm anyway and are not open on sundays, go figure....

[bchulett]

the last time i did an oil change i used a k&n oil filter. i bought it because of the name. does anyone have a particular favorite and reason for using that one? i know they are not all the same, but i would like to use the best. thanks.

After using Fram for over 30 years I changed to a K&N on my XJ 6K miles ago... it has 160K. It made a BIG difference in sustaining constant oil pressure at the high end.

The other significant change I noticed is a major improvment in anti-drainback because I don't get those random dry starts I was getting with the Fram. The valvetrain is enjoying the change... at times I thought it was a stubborn lifter, but it was the Fram filter causing the problem.

Also, I don't know if it's related ... but the rear main seal has recently accelerated in its quest to seep Valvoline on the driveway... its gonna have to move out to the street if it keeps this up.

Keep in mind, the Fram worked fine until a few years ago. I'm still using a Fram HP filter on another application... but it's NOT a daily driver. I would try the Fram HP if it was available for the XJ... but its not, so I'll stick with the K&N for now.

Choosing an oil filter is kinda like choosing underwear ... everybody has a personal preference.

Take care.

[MonkeyGrass]

Purolater PureOne ML30001 oversized filter. It's a great filter, and the extra capacity gets me up to 6 qts of oil. More oil + better filter = less breakdown and cooler oil.

YMMV. I'm also a freak who uses synthetic oil in my 4.0 ;)

[Professor Bobo]

Though I'm a little biased. Amsoil has the number 1 filter. However they do not make a total line for every car and truck on the planet so Amsoil sells Hastings filters. Now they could be biased, but they aren't. They have a comparison of filters and the Amsoil Filter is of course #1, BUT #2 is a MOBIL 1 Filter!, then Hard Driver #3 and then Hastings comes in at #4!. So I would guess that the Mobil 1 filter is a damn good filter if a competetor is willing to tell the world that it's better than the "other one" they recommend.

But then again....
BVD's or Fruit of the Looms?
Y front's or boxers?

Coke or Pepsi?
Miller or Bud?

The world may never know

[cbremer]

all K&N filters i've looked at have been identical (except for the label, paint color and 1" lug on the end) to the mobil 1 filter for the same application. Something to keep in mind if your store has a significant price difference between K&N and Mobil 1 oil filters.

I currently use Bosch filters and haven't had any problems.

[bchulett]

all K&N filters i've looked at have been identical (except for the label, paint color and 1" lug on the end) to the mobil 1 filter for the same application. Something to keep in mind if your store has a significant price difference between K&N and Mobil 1 oil filters.

Just curious ... did you cut these open to see if they're identical ?

I wouldn't be surprised if there are only a handful of factories that have the manufacturing capability and capacity to make oil filters ... competitively. I also wouldn't be surprised if Mobil and K&N outsourced these functions to a contract manufacturer... could possibly be the same supplier.

But I would be surprised if they're share the same exact design and materials internally... or maybe K&N pays Exxon Mobil royalties for their internal design with a slight exterior change and then re-brands it as a K&N.

The possibilities are endless .. and as far as "price" is concerned, the K&N may enjoy a higher GP than the Mobil brand ... or visa versa. It's all predicated on volume, scale, COGM, distribution rights, brand recognition, etc.


Like the man said: "the world may never know".

[cbremer]

Just curious ... did you cut these open to see if they're identical ?


nope. i don't think the counter monkeys at kragen would have been too happy :) what I could see internally, and even markings on the filter housing(numbers, tool marks, etc.) were the same. i ended up buying the K&N, since it was a little cheaper. i think the prevailing thought that there are only a handful of oil filter manufacturers being sold under all kinds of brand names is most accurate. does anyone know who might make the Bosch filters? the only real reason i have for using Bosch is, it's either Bosch or Fram, and I ain't buying Fram ;) i'd like to buy Wix- they seem to have a good reputation, but as mentioned before, the local NAPA keeps terrible hours.

[TORX]

I use wix they seem to have excellent filtration :yelclap:

TORX

[RichP]

ASAIK the Mobil-1 and K&N are the only two that use synthetic filter material that filters out finer particles than you can with the same paper that the others use. As for that 'nut' on the end of the K&N it's ok on the TJ's 2.5 cause the filter sits almost verticle but on the 4.0 it can be a bitch getting the wrench on and it's really a shocker to drop the wrench on the starter terminal.... I have been using those socket type filter wrenchs and the nut on the K&N also prohibits that. Little things but they all add up.

[bchulett]

nope. i don't think the counter monkeys at kragen would have been too happy :) what I could see internally, and even markings on the filter housing(numbers, tool marks, etc.) were the same.

Well, that's probably a good sign K&N chose Mobil to partner with ... Mobil 1 products appear to have a good reputation.

As far as Fram filters go ... I'll continue to use Fram HP filters where high oil pressures are present. Like in the 60psi - 80psi range. They're changed out so frequent anyway. A HD can is good insurance to prevent blowouts in specific race applications.


But we're talking XJ's so this really doesn't apply ...

[Karlm]

Personally i prefer the nut on the end of the K&N filter. Its way easier than trying to monkey my giat a$$ hands down in there to get it loose. I just toss a 1" socket on a wrench and go to town. They seem to filter well too.

[Yucca-Man]

I prefer Wix, but like RichP said, hte bankers hours are a pain to deal with. If you have the HO 4.0L, the stock filter (Fram PH16-sized) can be replaced with one twice the size. Double-check the cross-reference tables at your favorite local parts supply, but here's what I've got so far:
Fram PH8A / TG8A / DG8A
Wix 51515
Purolator PER-1
K+N HP3001

I'm sure of the ones above, but these were included on one of those oil filter study sites. They should be the same size...
AC Delco Duraguard PF2
AC Delco Duraguard PF2L
AMSOIL SDF15
Car And Driver SF-1A
Deutsch D539
Deutsch D545
Hard Driver HD01
Mobil 1 M1-301
Mopar 4105409
Mopar 5281090
Mopar 3549957
Mopar 53020311
Motorcraft FL-1A
NAPA Gold 1515
Pennzoil PZ-1
PowerFlo SL30001
ProLine PPL-30001
Purolator Premium Plus L30001
Purolator Premium Plus L390001
Quaker State Q58A
STP S-01

[TORX]

So if you switch to a PH8A how much more oil would you have to add?

TORX

[Yucca-Man]

It's 1/2 quart larger

[TORX]

Looks like the jeep will be getting familiar with a PH8A

TORX

[Wiley Coyote]

I use the oversized K & N 3001 and Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my ’91 4.0. The larger filter adds ½ quart of oil and the synthetic hasn’t “caused” any leaks.

[bchulett]

I use the oversized K & N 3001 and Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my ’91 4.0. The larger filter adds ½ quart of oil and the synthetic hasn’t “caused” any leaks.

Does that spin on the same threads and OEM mount ?

I may go this route next time.

[Yucca-Man]

Does that spin on the same threads and OEM mount ?

I may go this route next time.Yes. That's why I dug up a list of compatible filters...look a few posts above this.

[Wiley Coyote]

Bchulett, Like Yucca-Man said, it goes right on the OEM threads. My ’91 is a Canadian model and may be slightly different than yours. My oil filter is on the passenger side and points straight up, but has the SAE threads. If yours points down (i.e. you have to unscrew it from underneath the Jeep) or is mounted horizontally the oversized filter may not fit (it’ll be pretty tight with out hitting the starter). When you ask the guy at the counter for an oversized filter for your Cherokee its probably going to confuse him, so just ask for a filter for a 80s Ford F150 with a 5.0L (it’ll have K&N H-3001 and all of the other filters listed as well).

[kevin s]

NAPA Gold 1085 or the 1515 if you want the larger size.

[Yucca-Man]

My ’91 is a Canadian model and may be slightly different than yours. My oil filter is on the passenger side and points straight up, but has the SAE threads. If yours points down (i.e. you have to unscrew it from underneath the Jeep) or is mounted horizontally the oversized filter may not fit (it’ll be pretty tight with out hitting the starter).Actually, mine is mounted horizontally to the rear, and clears just fine. I have to disconnect the oil pressure sender but once the filter is out I just tip it up and pull it out through the gap above the filter. The large filter is the same diameter as the OEM one, so there's not a clearance problem there.

[bchulett]

Bchulett, Like Yucca-Man said, it goes right on the OEM threads. My ’91 is a Canadian model and may be slightly different than yours. My oil filter is on the passenger side and points straight up, but has the SAE threads. If yours points down (i.e. you have to unscrew it from underneath the Jeep) or is mounted horizontally the oversized filter may not fit (it’ll be pretty tight with out hitting the starter). When you ask the guy at the counter for an oversized filter for your Cherokee its probably going to confuse him, so just ask for a filter for a 80s Ford F150 with a 5.0L (it’ll have K&N H-3001 and all of the other filters listed as well).

My XJ is also a '91 HO... and the can points up. I thought I read somewhere on this site and in a write-up, the OEM mount was metric... and you had to convert it to a SAE mount. Thats why I asked what seemed to be a stupid question at the time.

Please clarify ...

Thanks guys.

[PapaPump]

my jeep is a '92 and has the 3/4 x 16 threads. there is a big warning sticker in the engine bay "caution: new oil filter size use pn 5281090 or eqivalent." that makes me think the new filter started in my year. not sure if that is 16mms or 16 threads per inch but i think it is the latter and my jeep uses sae threads.

[bchulett]

I use the oversized K & N 3001 and Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my ’91 4.0. The larger filter adds ½ quart of oil and the synthetic hasn’t “caused” any leaks.

my jeep is a '92 and has the 3/4 x 16 threads. there is a big warning sticker in the engine bay "caution: new oil filter size use pn 5281090 or eqivalent." that makes me think the new filter started in my year. not sure if that is 16mms or 16 threads per inch but i think it is the latter and my jeep uses sae threads.

Thought I'd bring this back up for clariity on specs.

I found that my '91 4.0LHO also has 3/4" threads .... which is compatible with K&N's replacement filter PN 2004---which is also specified for all XJ's '91 and up with the 4.0L motor.

So I decided to call K&N yesterday to verify if the larger K&N 3001 would fit on my '91 XJ. Glad I did, because the K&N rep said PN 3001 has 13/16" threads with an entirely different pitch than PN 2004---and will NOT fit.

So much for that idea.

[old_man]

You guys missed the best filter out there. The Frantz toilet paper oil filter. Costs me 18 cents an oil change and I will put its filtering capability up against any other filter.

This is not a joke.

http://www.wefilterit.com/

[red91]

You guys missed the best filter out there. The Frantz toilet paper oil filter. Costs me 18 cents an oil change and I will put its filtering capability up against any other filter.

This is not a joke.

http://www.wefilterit.com/


ok ok...how long have you been running this...

[old_man]

I've been running them on various vehicles for over 40 years.

[PapaPump]

wh-wh-wh-what!!?
you can do that?
if this is true, why do we use so much oil every time we do a change

[Yucca-Man]

I wondered how long it would take to Tom to chime in with that TP filter...it's also handy for starting campfires in wet wood! :D It seems to be a very simple, functional add-on but maybe it's just because we've all been so conditioned to the 'normal' way of doing things that a drastic change like the TP filter seems dangerous. I watched him do an oil change one night; it took about five minutes, and part of that was because I kept getting in the way... When he was done, there was an oil-soaked roll of TP and a few dozen sheets taken off the new 'filter' to get it to fit in the can.

[old_man]

I tell you it works wonders for hemorroids.:laugh3:

[mudpuddle]

Regular or soft Charmin?

[old_man]

The cheapest non scented single ply paper works the best.

[mudpuddle]

That is cool. I'd heard of that before but never saw one. It looks like you have to drill and tap in a connection to the oil pan? How hard was that to do?