You can learn a lot in these forums, even if we don't always agree on everything. However, I just changed the oil and replaced the Fram (OCOD) filter to a Wix filter. Didn't eliminate "all" noise but within 15 seconds, could notice a difference. After all, any engine with 179K miles is going to have wear and tear.

Would not have known about this simple change without some of you more experienced vets. Not to mention made in USA. So is Fram, but still supporting USA with Wix. (Almost in my backyard) Thanks.

 

Possibly not a valid presumption........u changed 2 items and credit only 1 for the end result......they both have a direct effect on the end result.

 

Your engine will thank you for the change! Another thing you can do to quiet her down even more is switch to a diesel oil. I prefer Rotella but there are plenty of others out there. Plus Rotella tends to be a couple of $$ cheaper then regular oil, I get it for $12-14 a gallon.

 

Not to discount your theory but how could changing the filter immedieatly eliminate an engine noise? The filter has no effect what so so ever on enternal components. It does just what it says, filter contaminates from the oil. Now NOT changing a filter can lead to excessive engine noise and wear because it's no longer cleaning the crap from the oil. Only way I can see that it could have changed anything is if your engine was so dirty inside that it trapped a ton of stuff right off the bat, but seeing that you had drained the oil that unlikely. If that is what happened you probably need to change it again because its obvisouly full now.

 

The drained oil had less than 1K miles. (Used 10W40 which is exactly what was replaced, same brand, etc) Actually about 750 miles and wasn't very "dirty". Again, I know everyone doesn't agree but I know I can tell a difference. After reading the back and forth posts on this topic,...and comparing the filters, I could see why the Wix had better oil flow. So even though they all "filter", some have better flow which does have an impact to internal components, however so slight it might be. Plus the backflow bonus.

 

Inferior filter designs (ex: Fram, Champion Labs ecore) have been shown to impede oil flow, lead to increased dry starts (where the majority of engine wear occurs) and cause increased valve train noise in multiple different engines. Fram filters especially can basically disintegrate and send chunks of filter media and other components flowing into the engine. Couple that with the poorly designed and installed anti drainback valves and you have a recipe for major problems in your engine.

The experience being described by the OP is not unique to him and has been discussed ad nauseum on this and other forums. The general consensus is that there are superior oil filter designs, adequate designs, and total crap. Fram/Honeywell and the ecores are definately in the crap category.

 

Who sells Wix?

 

I've seen em at a few places. The easiest way to get one is to get a NAPA Gold filter. It's a wix with napa's name on it.

 

O'Reilly's sells Wix. Oh Lawd, heres that thread you were talking about..

 

Yup, it's like a sickness... I can't help myself sometimes

 

one thing i never considered was flow rate.

 

No big deal, we are all here to learn.

Little bit older study but great info here:
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil...reference.html

And the analysis here:
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil.../opinions.html

 

I use WIX filters and Mobil 1 in everything that I own. Those filter are pretty good.

 

Read this:

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil.../opinions.html

 

haha beat ya to it for once...