NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

I have been using the AC Delco PH35 oil filter for many years now and recently went to purchase a new case of filters only to find the NEW??? Ph35 filter to be blue instead of white and they certainly appear from the outside to be much lighter and cheaper built. I have not cut one open and did not buy these NEW??? ones as I found a case of old stock filters and purchased them instead. I have been told by one dealer they are the same as the old just a new supplier and yet another dealer said they are not at all the same as the old and are from a different supplier and not sure if this is temporary or a long term change. Can anyone share info they have as to what is really going on? Also one of my local GM parts managers called me asking if I knew anything about a PH35"L" filter he found in his listings. It is referred to as a high efficiency filter and retail list prices at $29.00 Cdn. Just what is a high efficiency filter? Is this the General's version of the Moroso oil filter?

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Doug, do a search, in this forum, on oil filters, using the numbers PF 35, PF 1218, PF 932, and PF 2232. It should give you all the information you can possibly stand.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

The main difference between a PF35 and the PF 35L is the filtering medium and the size of the microns it will filter---I believe the "L" uses a synthetic mesh type of element whereas the plain PF35 uses a paper media also there is less restriction or build up of pressure resulting in a across the filter from the inlet vs. the outlet.. IMO the 35 L is what most circle track guys around here and a few knowledgable drag racers have been using---Do not know if you have say a PEP Boys or Murrays Auto parts stores in your area they usually sell for about $ 8 in the Chicago area but any GM dealer can order them for you--- Not sure how customs works with you guys but I would be happy to buy/ship a case up to you for whatever my cost for filter/shipping came out to be--Also if you can get ahold of a GM performance catalog it should give you some more info too----GM part # 25013454--- Any ??? please contact me Comp 387

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Alan, Just checked that out and I read it as the AC filters are blue in color however here in Canada they have always been painted white with a painted logo and yes have the metal tube inside. These NEW blue ones also have the metal tube inside but just appear to be constructed on the light side. Maybe these are the ones you have always seen but are definately new to me and just seem cheaply made compared to the GOOD OLE Canadian ones. How about that high priced AC PH35L? Has anyone got anything to share on that filter?

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Thank you comp387 for the offer. The "L" filter over the counter retails for $29.00 here and my cost on it is just short of $18.00. I would still like to hear more about this filter. I am now wondering if there is a difference between the US PH35 and the Canadian PH35. Maybe the "L" filter is different too.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

From the GM performance parts catalog

"25013454 -synthetic oil filter

The PF-35L heavy duty spin on oil filter can replace any PF-25 or PF-35 filter on 1968-up Chevrolet V-8 engines. It has a 100% synthetic element that is rated at 12 microns. Its synthetic glass filter media provides finer filtration than conventional cellulose(paper) filters.The individual strands of synthetic glass used in the PF35L are smaller and more consistent in sizethan cellulose fibers.These glass fibers are supported by a polyestersheet laminated on both sides,and the pleated synthetic filter element is backed by a metal screen. This extremely efficient filter can reduce engine wear by 75% compared to conventional filters without restricting the flow of oil"----OK???? Comp 387

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

I have been happy with the Baldwin Racing filter. The can will withstand the high pressures a racing motor produces and filters as well as any out there.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

The new AC Delco oil filters are made in India and they are not built the same way as the old filters. That is why I will only use Hastings, Baldwin, Wix, Amsoil, K&N, NAPA Gold or Mobil 1 oil filters.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Not sure but my info says that Baldwin & Hastings are the same ----Wix and Napa are mfg by Dana Corp--Mobil 1 is mfg by Champion Labs a mass manufacturer for anybody & everbody including GM/Ford/Mopar ---K&N is probably made by wix too----Amsoil he is checking on---Comp 387

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Another note on the L filter... It is less subject to failure due to oil having Alky in it. That is why I suggest it to Roundy & Drag customers that use Alky.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

We've noticed that the Delco filters are now VERY inconsistent in quality, except for the expensive PF-35L, the PF-932 (2 quart truck filter) and the PF-2232 (Duramax). We had problems with the PF-35L, we noticed a drop in oil flow, I don't have the figures handy. I am pretty sure I posted a description of the physical differences you could see between the good Delco stuff and the crap (which most closely resembles the cheap filters from "the zone", named after an oil treatment). We're using the Car Quest racing filters now, they're a Wix Racing filter, with better flow. The Napa Gold is also the same. The K&N is the same basic filter as the Wix as well.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

The Amsoil oil filter is made by Hastings to more rigid filtration specs. Hastings and Baldwin are the same company, but different divisions. They are the supplier to the government for filters for military and aerospace use and built to MIL-SPEC. Since the start, in order to have common manufacturing processes, they decided to build all their filters, including automotive aftermarket, to the same military specifications.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Yes, SIR, SSdiv 6
I've had good luck with the Baldwin. Check out that red filter in this link: http://adgersperf.com/dyno.htm
One other comment on the AC... don't use any filter with the plastic inner liner. They fold up the paper & push it through the large cutouts in the plastic. They are fine for what they were designed for, but not high pressure with thick oil. (It's not a race filter)

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

PF-25 is Wix #51069R, PF-35 is Wix #51061R, If you got the room the Wix #51794R will fit and is 7.82 inches long.
Later, Joe

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

On my street car I have the oil bypass plugged and I noticed right away after switching to the 1218 that these filters clog up pretty fast compared to the older PF25 and when they do you had better change them quick before you lose all of your oil pressure. With the PF25 I could go 3k miles between changes and only lose a couple of pounds of pressure but the 1218's start losing pressure after only a couple thousand miles and will drop from 56 to 30 lbs @3000 rpm in as little as a 100 miles. Where I live out here in the outback it is usually pretty dusty and the distances between towns is far. Twice I got caught out where I had no choce but to drive the car home and was nearly ready to shut it off before I got there but now at the first sign of pressure drop I change it. I'm not sure if it is because they are just clogging up or if it because they coming apart inside as I haven't cut one open to look but I think I'm going to switch to something else.

Jackie

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Have you looked at the inside of the 1218 that gives you problems? Does it have a plastic and screen tube supporting the filter media? Does it have small flow holes around the top?

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

I use the 1218 ffilters with no problems, but like Adger & Alan said, you have to look inside to make sure it has the metal tube and the larger holes, also the "new" 1218's are a little shorter than the good ones

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Alan,

I haven't cut any of them open but I have them sitting on the bench to do it when I get 15 minutes to myslef. This losing pressure really fast has me concerned so I want to get to the bottom of the problem. So far I'm on the 5th one of the 1218's, the first 2 that I had on it didn't seem the have a problem then the next 2 did and I want to know if I need to chunk the current one sooner rather than later.

Here is something else interesting that maybe somebody knows about. I have always run the standard regular green Prestone AF in the older cars I own but I flushed the system about 2 months ago and switch it to the new style orange AF and now it won't stay full and I have to keep adding water/AF to it. This is the same car, 79 Malibu wagon with a mild 350 I built about 15 years ago, it's got around 200k miles on it. No leaks I can find but this bugs me and my 97 Probe GT which came from the factory with the orange stuff has always had the same problem and no leaks to be found. After I flushed the wagon, I had straight water in it for a couple of weeks and never lost a drop during that time. My wife's Astro seems to always need to be topped and after a year or so the stuff in it looks like rusty water so I flush it start over. I just check them a lot and keep them topped off, probably maybe a pint a month or so in each one. Anybody else seen this or have any ideas? I can tell you that I am starting to really not like the stuff and it ain't just because of the price.

Jackie

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

You don't have to cut them open, just drain them and look into the center hole. The plastic liner will be VERY obvious. It's a black plastic "frame", with a white plastic screen around it. If it has the small holes around the outside on the top, you'll know it's a cheap one as well.

The orange antifreeze is crap. It leaks out of nearly everything. As soon as my Firebird was out of warranty, I dumped the crap, because it seeped from every joint. The intake really leaked. As soon as I replaced the orange crap, the leaks were gone.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

The Hastings LF349 and Baldwin B279 (I think they're the same filter) have a 20 psi relief valve, which is nice for people who have plugged the factory 4-6psi bypass in the filter adapter. That way, you still get oil pressure and flow even if your filter needs changing, but you aren't constantly in bypass mode.

Re: NEW??? AC Delco oil filters
 

Jackie,
Those filters are not designed for thick oil or hi pressure/volumn flow.(they are designed for 10W types) The plastic liner(frame) on the inside has some large windows. It replaces the metal tubes with holes. These windows are so big that when high pressure and/or thick oil tries to pass through the filter media it collapses the media into & through the windows. This collapse causes the pleated media to stack & the oil has flow through several layers of media. Sometimes it will cause a break through or complete collapse of the media. The filter is usually in line before any oil pressure gauge taps. Remember the flow is from the outside of the filter towards the center. For many years I always used AC filters when I have an engine breaking in on the dyno. I would always do my run in procedure ,change oil & put on a race filter. Screen type, Wix or Baldwin. When these plastic lined/framed filters came out I had trouble with the first one. About the same time I had a couple of circle track customers loose engines with these filter problems. I can't afford the problems they can cause so now I stay away from them. I think it is just another case where the factory engineers have found a way to cut cost & still have a product that serves it's intended use. I don't know of any new model factory engine that is designed for thick viscosity oil at high pressure. To further prove it I think if you do a little research you will find that the gauges in some of the new GM, Fords & Mopars are just an idiot light gauge. They may show pressure & keep the needle in the center, but they are reading from an ohms specific sender(like idiot lights use). No matter how much or little pressure you put on it it centers the needle. This has come about because of customer complaints of LOW oil pressure.
Just my .02 for free