Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

Any comments on Valvoline Oil Filters?


Recommended Posts

Has anyone had any experience with Valvoline Oil Filters. My EA82T has developed very light lifter tick and the only thing I can think of that co-incided with the tick starting was the last oil/filter change. The oil is the same as I always use, but the shop was out of stock of the normal oil filter that I usually buy, so I bought a Valvoline Filter instead. The lifter noise isn't bad, you can't hear it in the car, and it isn't enough to worry the knock sensor, but it is noticeable standing outside the car. Incidently the lifters are always dead silent at start-up and only start ticking after running 15 - 30 seconds. Could the oil filter be causing this, just wondering what others think before I go out and buy another filter to put on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish I could help you directly, but I haven't even heard of Valvoline oil filters! What do you normally use?

I've been researching filters lately and came to the conclusion that now on I will buy only Wix: they all seem to have an anti-drainback valve, which is a very good thing to have. Apparently Motorcraft does, too, but Wix is more reputable from what I hear.

Fram is garbage according to many. Purolator is decent, but they offer 3 different lines, only the top one has anti-drainback valve, and nobody has it for any of my cars...

I know this is not exactly what you were asking for, but I just HAD to share my findings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the comments. I'm in Australia and normally use a Ryco filter and have never had problems with them. The valvoline filter has made in USA on the box, but that's about all the info it gives. Searching on the internet it seems Fram and Valvoline are quite often mentioned together, so I'm guessing the Valvoline may be a re-badged Fram. I'm getting the general impression Fram is not highly regarded so I'll probably ditch this filter in the next couple of days and go back to my regular Ryco filter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never heard of Ryco filters... Well, that's not surprising after all.

 

"Searching on the internet it seems Fram and Valvoline are quite often mentioned together, so I'm guessing the Valvoline may be a re-badged Fram"

Hmm, if that's true, I'd stay away from both! I've heard from some people that additives in valvoline oil can cause more rust in the engine. It's just a hear-say, I don't have any personal experience with V., as I never used it.

I was rather disappointed to find out that Fram wasn't as good as I used to think it was. I still have a used one and one day I'm going to cut it open along with a purolator and see for myself what's inside!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

go to napa

they should have that done on display..

Napa filters are supposedly puralator filters...

 

Huge difference..

Fram filters are like a filter made with toiletpaper for the filter

Napa's here more like a filter maid from card board

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the idea, Torxxx. I think I will, when I have time. However I still want to see for myself as well -- I have a tendency not to trust "interested" parties 100%. Obviously Napa sells filters, so they want to prove that what THEY sell is better than everything else. (Just look at those small plastic gear set-ups with Lucas -- you'd think that s..tuff will solve all your problems! -- getting carried away again -- Sorry OZSubie)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, maybe this is only true of EJ-series engines, but the oil filter screws on from below, negating the need for a drain-back valve. The oil will stay in the filter.

 

This has the added advantage that you can "prime" the filter at oil changes, ie. fill it up with fresh oil before you screw it on.

 

 

I use Sube filters, and there is no drain back valve. Made by Purolator btw.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry Setright I think if you take the time to read the filter study you will find Purolater (the manufacturer for FHI as you say) does indeed use an antidrain back valve as quoted

" a nitrile rubber diaphram-type anti-drainback valve, which doubles as the seal between the backplate and the cartridge."

Our cars DO need the anti drain back valve. I do not believe it has anything to do with the mounting orientation of the filter, I may be wrong but the antidrain back keeps our oil galleries full, esp the lifter galleries.

BTW The guys that don't fill there oil filter are just too lazy or too spastic to do it, I pre fill mine every time I change oil. I loose maybe an oz. but it is worth it to me so that my upper oil lubed parts do not see an air bubble (again the lifters come to mind)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Setright, the ADV is just under the openings you see around the perimeter of the screwed on end of the filter. It acts as a check valve when the oil pump is not pumping.

The "state of the art" seals are now made of silicone instead of the nitrile rubber now used in many filters.

I did get some clicky clack when I didn't fill the filter. That is one reason I do fill the filter. It does take several "fillings".

I did a small Goggle search on the ADV and here is the result. Several links speak of noises attributed to poorly designed ADVs.

BTW Wix are very good filters and are made by Dana Corp.

Here is the link should you care to investigate further.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=anti+drainback+valve&spell=1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Skip, there is no rubber valve under the inlet holes in the Sube filters I install. For sure. Oil runs out from these holes when I prime it to the brim.

 

The Subaru tech info on the EJ series says the oil pump is designed to hold oil, so that it's always primed, even after not running for a long time. I would suggest that in conjuction with the filter orientation, that function negates the need for the ADV.

 

Furthermore the oil galleries that serve the Hydraulic Lash Adjusters are formed to separate air bubbles before they enter the HLA.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Getting back to your original question, Ozsubie, I can't see the filter causing your lifters to tick - more likely something is partially blocking your lash adjuster and it showed up due to the oil change. But the first thing to try is to go back to your preferred brand of filter; however, when you dump the oil, you MIGHT cure the problem and it not be the filter that fixed it (Mr mechanic, you changed my oil and now my taillight is burned out! You should fix it for free!). Otherwise, either try the treatments you will find here for lifter tick or live with it like many of us!

 

P.S. Napa gold filters are by Wix, and silver filters are sold by Wix but are apparantly manufactured by an el-cheapo company.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used a hack saw to open up the filters, my biggest tubing cutter wasn't quite big enough. I cut carefully around the filter near the end that screws to the pump. Since then, I've cut open some used filters off different cars and I can tell you that is quite interesting too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...