Oil filters are one of the most important maintenance components that keep your engine running smoothly and reliably. Whenever you go for a drive, internal engine components operate at several thousand rpm, which subjects them to an extreme amount of heat and friction.
In This Guide
- 7 Best Oil Filters for Your Car
- 1) Mobil 1 Extended Performance Filter
- 2) Royal Purple Extended Life
- 3) Bosch Premium FILTECH
- 4) ACDelco Professional
- 5) FRAM Standard Oil Filter
- 6) Purolator PL14610 PureONE Oil Filter
- 7)Wix 51348 Spin-On Filter
- Best Value
- Premium Quality
- How Often Do They Need to Be Replaced?
- Comparison of the Top Oil Filters
In order to keep internal components such as pistons and camshafts from wearing out, your engine constantly circulates oil to lubricate and cool them down. In the process, your engine’s oil is sent through a filter to remove any dirt and debris that has accumulated.
We’ve compiled a list of the most effective options on the market. While these filters are available for most vehicles, you have to ensure that the specific replacement filter you choose is compatible with your car’s specific make and model. Before replacing your car’s filter, always consult your vehicle owner’s manual. In addition, look up the part number of the filter to ensure that the manufacturer features your specific make and model on its compatibility list.
7 Best Oil Filters for Your Car in 2019
Most modern vehicles feature one of two types of oil filters: enclosed canister filters or cartridge filters. Enclosed canister filters have the filter element and casing built into a single unit which should be replaced every time you change your oil.
If your engine users a cartridge filter, the casing is reusable, so you simply have to replace the filter element inside of the casing. When it comes to the filter element itself, there are three popular membranes: cellulose, synthetic, and micro-glass.
1) Mobil 1 Extended Performance Filter
Mobil 1’s Extended Performance filter is our top recommended filter. It uses an advanced synthetic fiber blend that is capable of removing oil contaminants with 99.6% efficiency. It also features a sturdy aluminum canister that is capable of withstanding 615 PSI of pressure.
As an added bonus, it features an anti-drain-back valve that prevents dry starts, which could otherwise subject your engine to high levels of friction and stress when you first start up your car.
With over 200 user reviews, it has a nearly perfect score of 4.8 out of 5.0.
2) Royal Purple Extended Life
Royal Purple is known for producing performance-oriented components, and their Extended Life filter is no exception. It uses a 100% micro-glass media to remove debris as small as 25 microns and achieve a filtering efficiency of 99%. It also features an extra thick aluminum shell for added durability and a silicone anti-drain-back valve to prevent dry starts.
With over 100 user reviews, it has a nearly perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5.0.
3) Bosch Premium FILTECH
Bosch is known for producing virtually every engine maintenance component you could ever need. The FILTECH is one of Bosch’s premium offerings that is sure to help keep your engine running reliably for years to come.
This filter uses Bosch’s patented FILTECH media screen to achieve a nearly perfect filtering efficiency. It also features an aluminum shell with a steel base plate to prevent warpage due to heat and high pressure. That means you’ll never have an issue removing and replacing the Bosch FILTECH filter when it comes time to perform an oil change.
Like the filters mentioned above, it uses a silicone anti-drain-back valve to prevent dry starts. With over 100 user reviews, it has an impressive rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
4) ACDelco Professional
With a price around $5 to $6, ACDelco’s Professional filter is a great option for drivers on a budget. However, don’t let its inexpensive price tag fool you: it is effective at handling debris as small as 30 microns and achieves an efficiency of 98%.
Rated up to 51 PSI, its aluminum shell isn’t quite as durable as other premium filters. Nevertheless, it offers ample durability for all but the most extreme driving conditions, such as performance racing or high-capacity towing. As an added bonus, it features a thermosetting adhesive seal on its base to help prevent oil leaks from developing over time.
The ACDelco Professional is nearly universal — it’s compatible with 97% of all passenger vehicles. It’s also quite well-reviewed, with an average user rating of 4.8 out of 5.0.
5) FRAM Standard Oil Filter
At an average cost of $4 to $5, FRAM’s Standard oil filter is the cheapest filter in our lineup, costing roughly half the price of the Mobil 1 and Royal Purple options mentioned above. With a 95% efficiency rating, it doesn’t perform quite as well as those units. However, for drivers who plan to replace their filters every 5,000 miles, the FRAM Standard Filter should be more than adequate to keep your engine running smoothly for years to come.
Like the other filters on this list, the FRAM Standard filter is very well-reviewed. Its average rating sits 4.6 out of 5.0.
6) Purolator PL14610 PureONE Oil Filter
6) Purolator’s PureONE is roughly the same price as the FRAM unit mentioned above ($6-$7). As an added bonus, it is the top-ranked filter when subjected to SAE filtration tests, so you can rest assured that it will do its job properly despite its low cost. It has an average user rating of 4.6 out of 5.0.
7) Wix 51348 Spin-On Filter
The Wix 51348 Spin-On uses a pleated paper medium to effectively filter dirt and debris out of your engine’s oil. Users boast that the Wix line of spin-on filters are especially easy to install and require very low maintenance. Generally priced at $9 to $10, this filter isn’t quite as cheap as the FRAM and Purolator filters mentioned above. However, it also has a slightly higher user rating at 4.7 out of 5.0.
Best Value
For most drivers, Bosch filters offer the best bang for your buck. Bosch’s synthetic mesh mediums offer a filtration efficiency comparable to the Mobil 1 and Royal Purple options mentioned above. However, Bosch’s filters cost as little as half as much as those their competitors’ offer. Bosch filters generally cost between $6 and $9, while the comparable synthetic offerings from competitors run between $11 and $13.
Premium Quality
If you want the ultimate quality and performance, look no further than Royal Purple’s Extended Life filters. You’ll pay a premium compared to the other filters on this list, but you’ll receive uncompromising performance in return. Royal Purple filters are especially recommended if you subject your vehicle to any high-stress driving, such as performance racing or high-capacity towing.
How Often Do They Need to Be Replaced?
Most manufacturers suggest that you change your engine’s filter every time you perform an oil change. However, depending on what type of vehicle you drive, the recommended mileage for changing your oil and filter varies. For some engines, it’s suggested you change your oil every 5,000 miles, while others only require an oil change every 15,000 miles.
Consult your owner’s manual to find out what your vehicle’s manufacturer suggests for your vehicle. If you subject your car to high-stress situations, such as performance driving, towing, stop and go traffic or commuting in extremely cold weather, you may want to consider changing your oil and filter more often to prolong the life of your engine and maximize reliability.
Comparison of the Top Oil Filters
What to Read Next
- 8 Best Engine Oils
- How to Change Engine Oil & Filter in 13 Steps
- Synthetic vs Conventional Engine Oil
- How Much Does an Oil Change Cost?
Over to You
We’re interested to know – what oil filter did you use for your last oil change and what did you think of it? Let other readers know by leaving a comment below!
From a expert with 50 years car experience. Oil filters effect 2 things. Oil flow from oil pan to engine and oil pressure. 2 best filters are Fram Ultra $9 and Royal Purple $14. Both are made the same. Champion made filters like Mobil 1 are now putting hoods over passage holes inside and restricting oil flow. Purolator Boss does the same. What idiots thought of this ? You need big open holes ! This leads to oil starvation to the engine.A friends Ford Explorer engine seized because of this. AC Delco filters are blowing apart because 51 PSI is way to low. Used to be spot welded but now glued together. Look at the forums to verify this. My Honda Civic does 80 PSI of oil pressure. New oil filter videos opened up are useless. You have to see what it looks like used. Go to youtube and look at the used filters. You will see ripped, collapsed or crumpled elements inside. Not good protection ! Bottom line: Look inside your filter for flow holes. If you wanna save money, you can safely use Fram Ultra or Royal Purple filters for two, 5000 mile oil changes. They claim 15,000 miles. Drain out old oil from filter before using it a second time.
I have always been a Fram oil filter user however the last oil change I did two of the filters didn’t see properly and blew oil both were the max synthetic type so I have thrown them away and gone back to other filters such as the fleetguard
If you need to save money shop Walmart for Super Tech oil and the best price for oil filters
Just changed oil & filter on my1800 Goldwing, been using Fram PH 6017a however one was not available so I bought Purolator and I noticed it was about a 1/4 inch longer, seems like more filteration
Has. Anyone looked inside Bosch filters lately it looked like the oil will just be buy passing the filter the pleats it the center tube are not punched out enough would recommend looking in side your Bosch filter be For you buy it good luck
Had a bad experience with the Champion brand sold by PepBoys; bad leaking gasket after 100 miles.. Replaced filter with Fram Extra guard. Never any issues with Fram filters.