Oil filter rant

[JDgreen227]

Last fall, I went to Advance Auto to buy a pair of oil filters for my 2004 Saturn L-300, and chose the Purolator Pure One filter. Each cost $8.99, which I thought was a huge ripoff, as they are just a paper/plastic element that is installed in the canister on the Saturn engine. There is no metal case, which is the situation with the oil filter elements I buy for my 2004 Buick. I can buy an AC-Delco OEM, metal case, PF-47 filter for that car, for $4 just about anyplace. Yet the paper/plastic element for my Saturn, which cost $8.99 seven months ago, is now priced at $12.99 at Advance Auto.

If this is not price gouging, you tell me what is...what a ripoff.

 

[JimRB]

Isn't that what happens when your car becomes a collectible? If they had just stayed in business.

 

[Brimstone10x]

I priced a hyd filter at work today for an estimate on a customers 3000 twenty series deere. any one got a guess ? a tad over 90.00$$$ holy **** bat man ! I know my shops mark up is high but ,deere is crazy on this open element suction hyd filter.Any one???

 

[JDgreen227]

I priced a hyd filter at work today for an estimate on a customers 3000 twenty series deere. any one got a guess ? a tad over 90.00$$$ holy **** bat man ! I know my shops mark up is high but ,deere is crazy on this open element suction hyd filter.Any one???

I wouldn't call a 7 year old car a collectable yet....LOL

About Deere filters, back in 2003 I did the initial hydro system service on my 4210, the invoice for the filters shows prices of $29.99 and $39.99 for the pair. For the 500 hour hydro system service, I was lucky...Deere was offering a FREE filter pack for the owners of the 4000-Ten series, I got the pair of hydro filters, an air filter, a fuel filter, and a pair of oil filters for free (List $119.99) after paying sales tax.

Not likely they have ever been that generous to owners since.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

You people need to start shopping at NAPA. They have filters to fit all tractors and vehicles, great quality at reasonable price.

 

[jinman]

William, I don't know if you have Autozone Auto Parts stores where you are, but they sell an STP filter for your Saturn for $8.49 and a Fram for slightly more. The K&N filter is significantly more at $19.95. Here's a link.

BTW: Since most filters are the metal can spin-on type, I think your canister style filter is a low quantity item that will always cost more because they make a few 1000 instead of a a few 100,000.

 

[dmccarty]

You people need to start shopping at NAPA. They have filters to fit all tractors and vehicles, great quality at reasonable price.

People need to shop price and quality.

My NAPA store is far higher in price than my JD dealer. They are higher then Autozone type of stores as well. I stopped going to NAPA even though it is the closet parts store to me.

Later,
Dan

 

[keegs]

My daily driver has the paper filter cartridge too. I do the oil changes and I usually buy the oil and filters at WalMart. I get the FRAM brand and I'm prettty sure it's cheaper (maybe a buck or two) than the regular FRAM canister filter I get for the Mrs' Corolla.

 

[Jagmandave]

Have you checked in at your GM dealer's parts counter?

Last time I checked, my dealer was cheaper on the filter for my MINI than the aftermarket guys....just a thought.

I prefer using OEM factory parts when I can.....

 

[JDgreen227]

My daily driver has the paper filter cartridge too. I do the oil changes and I usually buy the oil and filters at WalMart. I get the FRAM brand and I'm prettty sure it's cheaper (maybe a buck or two) than the regular FRAM canister filter I get for the Mrs' Corolla.

I may be a minority here but have not used a Fram on any of my vehicles for close to 20 years now, their oil filters were a good one in the past but todays, I feel the quality is very poor. Kmart, Meijers, TSC, Wally World, etc pretty much stock ONLY the Fram brand oil filters these days...

 

[JDgreen227]

Hey all, thanks for your input. I posted the same query on SaturnFans.com | The Saturn Authority for Saturn Enthusiasts. and one member there suggested I try Auto Parts Tomorrow | ACDelco, Bendix Brakes, Denso, Motorcraft and more and that site will sell me an OEM AC-Delco filter for my Saturn for $5.10 each, no tax, free shipping if I buy $50 worth of merchandise. Nice price....

 

[Pilot]

Search the net for "oil filter reviews" or something similar and you'll find where folks have cut filters of various brands apart, measured the area of the filter elements, evaluated the check valves, etc. Here is one site with a pretty thorough comparison: Oil Filters Revealed - MiniMopar Resources

They also tell you which filters seem to be sold under different names.

BTW, some Frams didn't look so good--the worst on at least one of the sites.

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Think about converting it to a "standard" filter. May need a relocation kit to do it but at least you won't be slopping oil all over your motor when changing it.

 

[JDgreen227]

Think about converting it to a "standard" filter. May need a relocation kit to do it but at least you won't be slopping oil all over your motor when changing it.

Excellent idea if there were room underhood. Saturn L-300's are often
fitted with the 3.0 liter V6 GM originally used in the Cadillac Catera, as well as several other models. The engine is very. very crowded into the compartment and I don't know where a relocation kit using a standard filter could possibly fit. The canister that holds the standard filter element is on the front of the engine next to an exhaust pipe, but thankfully, even with the front wheels on ramps, very little oil spills on the engine.

 

[JDgreen227]

Search the net for "oil filter reviews" or something similar and you'll find where folks have cut filters of various brands apart, measured the area of the filter elements, evaluated the check valves, etc. Here is one site with a pretty thorough comparison: Oil Filters Revealed - MiniMopar Resources

They also tell you which filters seem to be sold under different names.

BTW, some Frams didn't look so good--the worst on at least one of the sites.

I have seen that comparison many times in the past, amazed me how many different brands were available back then. I quit buying Fram filters back in 1996 when we got our first GM car and I began using AC-Delco brand. Appreciate your feedback.

 

[clemsonfor]

I may be a minority here but have not used a Fram on any of my vehicles for close to 20 years now, their oil filters were a good one in the past but todays, I feel the quality is very poor. Kmart, Meijers, TSC, Wally World, etc pretty much stock ONLY the Fram brand oil filters these days...

A fram today isnt even the same fram from 7 yrs ago. I use to choose them for the grip when i did monthly oil changes when extreme commuting. I got one last year and the valve at the bottom is now plastic vs metal that it use to be and just looks cheaper.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have seen that comparison many times in the past, amazed me how many different brands were available back then. I quit buying Fram filters back in 1996 when we got our first GM car and I began using AC-Delco brand. Appreciate your feedback.

I have used AC on others too as they are often cheaper than the fram, at least when they use to carry more than the most common GM filters at walmart in AC. Motorcraft to use to only be like .25-.50 more at walmart than fram and id get that for the ford.

 

[QRTRHRS]

You people need to start shopping at NAPA. They have filters to fit all tractors and vehicles, great quality at reasonable price.

Once a year the NAPA store I frequent has filters on a really good special for an entire week, in stock or not. I was thinking the sale was this month but after looking at some site's, it was back in February.

 

[Johnp33]

I live in Canada and I have been buying filters online, I use Rock Auto, there are others it is easy and a whole lot cheaper for me and I drive 50 miles to pick them up, cheaper shipping to the US. I buy for multiple vehicles at a time. I have bought thousands of dollars of parts from them never a problem. Compared to parts in Canada they are less than 25% the price for the same quality.
It is worth looking at.

 

[crankshaft21]

The only two oil filters I ever had leak were Fram and AC. All I use now is Baldwin. I get them at a Parts store. Cost a little more, but much better filter.