by sonex1374 » Sat Jan 05, 2019 12:18 am
Tom,
I have tested and cut open more than 10 oil filters for my Jabiru engine, and I found that the really cheap Fram and similar filters are indeed really cheap. The particular model I used looked a bit different than the video, but similar enough in spirit. However, any of the upper-tier filters, and certainly all the premium filters, were "good" inside. They had well made internal construction, showing no signs of cheap assembly prone to fail. The premium filters (Royal Purple, Mobile 1, and my personal favorite Fram Ultra Synthetic XG4967 for the Jabiru) have a thicker outer case that can resist higher burst pressures, and a thicker filter media, often made of two different materials. The premium filters are usually good for 5-10k miles in cars, and look great at 25 hrs when I cut them open.
Cheap filters cost about $5 each, mid line filters about $7-10, and premium $15-20, with the exception of the Fram XG's, which run about $10 and you can get them at Walmart wich is super convenient.
My advice is to try a few out, and certainly the XG's. A few extra dollars per oil change is worth the added performance.
Jeff