Larger than OEM Oil Filter ...
 

Hello -

WARNING: I have read that if you don't make a good choice, this could hurt your engine, so you takes your chances.

A long time ago a saturnfan MPG dude named cheapybob told me that he uses a larger-than-OEM oil filter in his Saturn S-Series. He told me that on his weekend racing trans-am, he picked up some HP by using a larger oil filter. On the idea that he would also get better MPG on his Saturn, he did the same. Recently I got around to trying this. I went to an indy auto-parts store, and got the Wix 51516 for about 7 bucks :

Wix Oil Filter part #51516 (Ford Focus)
I matched up the gasket and thread specs to the Saturn oil filter :

Wix Oil Filter part #51348 (Saturn S-Series)
From what I have read, the *theory* is that you can reduce your pumping losses, but I can't really tell if it helps. I was hoping to read that it had a better "flow rate", but the above specs look to be mostly identical.

It's only been about 1000 miles, but so far I'm happy with it. If I don't get an MPG bump, then I'm hoping that it's healthier for the engine on the theory that the greater surface area will catch more dirt. Here is a saturnfan thread that talks about using a bigger filter, if not for MPG reasons :

Bigger Oil Filter DOHC - SaturnFans Forums


CarloSW2

I used to run a longer filter, almost twice as long as stock, without issue but it was from the ams oil dealer and I didn't have a part number for it, so I lost out and went back to the stock size, if anyone has a part number for a larger filter for the civic vx I would like to know as I should change my oil this spring.

I always ran larger than stock on my protege. Did it help? who knows, but I know having more filter area allowed me to run synthetic for 5000 miles and not worry about the filter dying prematurely.

the real key it to find one with a similar bypass pressure. Too high or too low could (most likely will) damage your motor from not allowing oil through or letting particulates through, both harmful states.

Low rpm, low flow. If this is anything air filters, you would not see the slightest difference at low rpm.

I run a ford 5.0 filter on the shadow, the big motorcraft fl-1a. It dwarfs the stock filter. On the capri I ran one for a 2.5 v6, its an inch longer.

All my vehicles as stock use a 3387A filter. On all of them I have always used a 3980 filter instead, which is about 1.5x longer. It may or may not be better, I know I have never had an oil related engine problem. I just like it because it is way easier to get a filter wrench on it.

tasdrouille -

Ok. So you are saying that this is really a performance mod that doesn't translate to eco-driving. Good to know.

CarloSW2

I run the FL-1A on my Metro also. See this size comparison.................

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i3...b2bt223004.jpg

A bigger oil filter creates less of a pressure drop, so the filter will switch to bypass mode much less often.

But there are important things to consider... Whether the filter has a good anti-drainback valve (may not matter for some cars), and how the bypass valve works. Some filters have the bypass setup in a such a way that oil flows over the DIRTY side when bypassing, putting all the contaminants back in the oil. Even some Mobil 1 filters are like that according to someone on Miata.net.

BMK 13 Ams Oil is what I use
 

My 03 Echo with OEM filter uses 3.3 quarts of oil. With the Dual remote BMK 13 with sub micron filter and large regular filter It uses 6 quarts of oil. I change the oil one every 3 years :) and it is not needed, I just do it. The picture sucks but you can get the Idea

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...BMKInstall.jpg