oil change question

[grass]

k this is the first time i have changed my oil on my car
(not the first time its been done, but the first time i've done it)

what oil filter do i buy and how many quarts of oil? and how hard is it to get under the car? i'm really skinny but not taht skinny to fit under it, should i jack it up?

[eric99gt]

3387A i believe is the stock number....but i think they change between brands...u use 4.5 quarts and also u have to jack it up. Ur best bet is to look in the books at the auto store to figure out what # oil filter to use.

Originally posted by eric99gt
3387A i believe is the stock number....but i think they change between brands...u use 4.5 quarts and also u have to jack it up. Ur best bet is to look in the books at the auto store to figure out what # oil filter to use.

That number is for a Fram filter. Just what I have seen from tests I would never again put a Fram filter on any car I drive. They are the cheapest for a reason. Go with the slightly more expensive AC Delco. PF44. You shouldn't need to jack up the car. I get under my GP just fine. Jacking it up or buying a set of ramps may significantly reduce the time it takes for the oil to drain though. Good luck.

[Jason E]

Use ramps...depending on the steepness though, you may need to drive the car up on some slim wood blocks first, then go up on the ramps. With my ramps, the front air dam will hit before the car can go up the ramps...

I like Purolator Pure One oil filters myself. They work very well for under 6 bucks. Avoid regular Frams, Pennzoil, Penske, any of that crap. Stick with something decent like a Pure One, Fram Tough or Double Guard, Castrol Max Pro...something in the $5-6 range will typically give better protection. I'd use Mobil 1 too, and do it every 4k miles...

[Dr_Kyle]

wow, you guys have me kinda worried. I put Fram filters in for the last three changes I've done. What's so bad about them? Is it just an overall low quality filter?

[AleroME]

I just found like a month ago.. that purolator oil filters are made by mobil 1... some of their mobil 1 company also makes mobil, castrol, k&n oil filter.... Pennzoil oil filter is made by fram too. just to let ya know.

[Jason E]

AleroME,

You sure you don't have that backwards?? Purolator has been making oil filters since the early 1900s...Mobil has been making oil forever. To me, it makes more sense that Purolator would make a Mobil 1 filter for Mobil, seeing as how Mobil produces oil and Purolator produces filters. I don't know for sure the answer, but that sounds a little odd to me...

BTW, I use Mobil 1 filters on the Z (only the best for that car!!), and they do work very well. Fram is just cheap, period. I saw a cutout display of a Fram at a Napa dealer...crap. Acutally, now that I think about it, at least 7-8 years ago Napa made a VERY nice, heavy filter...not so sure about now.

Originally posted by Dr_Kyle
wow, you guys have me kinda worried. I put Fram filters in for the last three changes I've done. What's so bad about them? Is it just an overall low quality filter?

I have never had a problem with them but there are certainly arguments against Fram, and OTHER brands. You know, most of us are great with digital cameras, can write up articles, and enter these on a web host site and sound like experts on any given field, yet know nothing including ME. I'm saying all of that to say, be careful with what you read on the internet:

http://minimopar.net/oilfilter-fram1.txt

On the other hand NHRA endorses Fram:
http://www.nhra.com/media/2001/112701.html

And Fram warranties the purchaser against damage:
http://www.fiaam.it/framgb/_garanziaframgb.htm

And the authors for the two links below take several different brands apart and expose strengths and weaknesses:
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/
http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml

Of these two sites, the Mobile 1 oil filter appears to be the common denominator as a recommended filter.

What I wish we could find is an "official" testing site, one that does real tests. The arguments from users tend to quote very old and dated material. These same users that blast particular brands, are typically skilled with digital cameras and dedication. I mean, they don't mean to quote compromised sources, just that they might be sucked into a bias.

I think you'll find that car mechanics/techs are VERY brand loyal with judgements for particular brand based on experiences as long as a decade back, even though the experience is no longer valid. WE are like that.

Even though this has nothing to do with cars, I still know folks who will NOT use Tylenol today, because of the nation-wide poisoning event that occured back before some of the board members here were even born:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/w/x/wxk116/tylenol/

Anyway, we are armed with a lot of resources here on the internet. I'd say dig around, ask around, but collect a lot of data and look at the source. Don't let your favorite uncle/mechanic be your ONLY source, and don't let multiple sources be your basis for a brand because they may all be using a single source themselves.

Anyway, oh...., what to I use in my car? Fram. grinnnnn Never had any problems even with our waaaay past 100,000 mile cars. Go figger.... I might change to Mobile 1 filters though as a result of digging through these URLs.

[Mike Jung]

Originally posted by Dan00GPGT
...AC Delco. PF44...

Note: on the 3.4L V6 engine

The stock AC Delco oil filter is PF-47 (or PF52, if you want a over sized one)

For oil: I prefer Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil...4.3L is needed (don't know what it is in quarts at the moment)

[Dr_Kyle]

lrymal, I have been looking for some hard facts too. The best source I've found for anything oil-related has been http://www.bobistheoilguy.com . I've read most of his articles (yes there are a LOT of them) and some of the forums. There is a forum specifically for oil filters, found here: http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/...nt=;DaysPrune=

[Drew99GT]

Hell yea, www.bobistheoilguy.com is the best site ever for finding car info. By the way, purolator filters are made by purolator. Mobil 1 filters, Bosch Premium, K and N, Supertech, AC Delco ultragaurd gold, and a few others are made by Champion Labs, not purolator. Puolator Pure one and mobil 1 filters are showing up to be too restrictive to oil flow per oil analysis results on that website. They definetally filter down to very small microns, but also restrict flow and go into bypass. I'd stay clear of them, especially for extended drain intervals. Stay with good ol Ac Delco duraguards, PF 52 (twice as long, same diameter as pf47). They allow ample oil flow, are built like a tank, and cost a whopping $3 bucks Th K and N's, made by Champ labs, are also tanks. Thery really flow a lot of oil, but don't filter out the 10 micron particles like a Mobil 1 will, but that doesn't really matter with full flow filters.

Originally posted by Dr_Kyle
lrymal, I have been looking for some hard facts too. ...

OMIGOSH.........

After viewing these links, and reading everybody's comments, why do I feel we are like those guys in "King of the Hill", standing by the street going "YUP... YEP ... YUP". Awesome links, though. Really!

Kain't believe I'm spending all this time reading about oil filters. Yup... yep. I oughta be outside putting up Christmas lights. Standing on my Craftsman riding lawnmower, using it as a stool.

[Aleromi]

Um ( my post here)

Um i use the KN oil filter and have no problems with the oil i use aimsol.....

next to GM delco filter (oil) KN was a nice upgrade in filter....

[VaGT]

Originally posted by Jason E
Use ramps...depending on the steepness though, you may need to drive the car up on some slim wood blocks first, then go up on the ramps. With my ramps, the front air dam will hit before the car can go up the ramps...

If anyone is looking for a Ramp reccomendation...

Rhino Ramps

Nice gradual incline.

[Molson]

AmsOil

[VaGT]

FYI if you didn't know this...

To get to the filter, you need to remove a plastic air deflector or whatever under the car.

It is held on by two wing nuts.

[Aleromi]

Thank MOLSON TYPO's

Um If u us ramp's u wont need to remove the front air dam....

[Gerbster]

I get the K&N 2001 filter because it has a nut on the end for a 1" socket that makes it real easy to get the filter on and off. No strap wrench or cap type wrench to slip when you are trying to tighten or loosen.

[VaGT]

Originally posted by Gerbster
I get the K&N 2001 filter because it has a nut on the end for a 1" socket that makes it real easy to get the filter on and off. No strap wrench or cap type wrench to slip when you are trying to tighten or loosen.

Just hand tighten the filter.... what do you need a wrench for...

[Gerbster]

Originally posted by VaGT

Just hand tighten the filter.... what do you need a wrench for...

All the instructions I ever saw were to go hand tight then a half a turn with a wrench.