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Are bigger/oversized engine oil filters better?

4K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  BM5VS 
#1 ·
Is bigger really better, or is it a myth?
I have spent some time on the computer trying to find this out. The more I read the more confused I am. I find that opinions are all over the place.
I would be interested in what the community has to say, specially from those of you that have a big one (there, it's out of the way now) done this.
2020 Versa manual tranny
 
#2 ·
I really can't answer the question with certainty but a larger filter does have more filtering media so I'd think if nothing else the filter would hold more contaminants before getting filled and going into bypass mode. If you're doing a reasonable oil change interval I see no reason the factory filter wouldn't be sufficient. I will say though that in 44 years of car ownership my Versa has the smallest filter of any car I've owned. Back in the '60's/'70's the Ford FL-1A that was used on the 6 cylinder and V8's was nearly the size of a quart can of oil. If you remember when they put oil in cans. I drove an '88 Ford Escort to 518K miles on the standard size (FL400S) filter for the engine without any issues. The filter for the 1.9L Escort engine was probably about 2 times the size of the filter for the Nissan 1.6 in our Versa. Several years after the Escort came out all manufacturers downsized the filter for the 1.9/2.0 Ford engines but I had a large supply of the larger filters and never did have to use the smaller version. I still have an Escort that I use a lot around home and still have a good supply of the older larger filters in various brands. A larger filter isn't going to hurt anything but, I don't know for sure that it will help either. Lots of people use larger filters on their cars and if it makes them sleep better at night then I don't blame them. You might get a clearer more technical answer to your question over at www.bobistheoilguy.com.
 
#3 ·
There is one other point I forgot to mention about a larger filter. With the use of a larger filter you'll have slightly more oil capacity therefore the oil/engine will probably run a little cooler.

I don't know about your Versa but going by the dipstick my '16 doesn't have near the oil capacity as the owners manual states. As best as I remember the owners manual says it should take about 3 5/8 or 3 3/4 quarts of oil. When I change my oil/filter I put 3.2 quarts in and it shows about 1/8-1/4" above the full mark on the dipstick. I do 7500 mile intervals and by the time oil change time rolls around again it's usually about 1/8" below the full mark on the dipstick.
 
#4 ·
As best as I remember the owners manual says it should take about 3 5/8 or 3 3/4 quarts of oil. When I change my oil/filter I put 3.2 quarts in and it shows about 1/8-1/4" above the full mark on the dipstick.
Years ago I had the same thing with my Toyota (overfilling at least 1/2" on the dipstick if put amount of oil stated in the owner's manual).

I reached the Toyota corporation customer service. They stated that the required volume of engine oil listed in the owner's manual is just for reference, and the correct amount of oil is indicated only by the dipstick.

I guess the same would apply to other car makers, including Nissan.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Thank u for the responses.
This question came about when I saw the filter size. In over 45 years driving I have never seen an oil filter this small on a sedan.
Went on another internet search and found these two engine oil filters from Wix(sold at O'Reilly):
1.- 51358: $13.49. This is the recommended size. (At NAPA: Gold Spin-On Oil Filter M20-1.5, part # 1358, $13.49. At Rockauto is $1.64 + shipping.)
  • Micron Rating: 21 Micron
  • Thread Size: M20-1.50
  • Height (in): 2-3/4 Inch
  • Outside Diameter (in): 2-11/16 Inch
  • Bottom Outside Diameter (in): N/A
  • Gasket Inside Diameter (in): 2-3/16 Inch
  • Gasket Thickness (in): 1/4 Inch
  • Top Outside Diameter (in): 2-11/16 Inch
  • Gasket Outside Diameter (in): 2-1/2 Inch
  • Bypass Valve Included: Yes
  • Removal Nut Included: No
  • Anti-Drainback Valve Included: Yes
  • Gasket Or Seal Included: Yes
  • Filter Media: Enhanced Cellulose
2.- 51356: $10.49. Not the recommended size. (At NAPA: Gold Spin-On Oil Filter M20-1.5, part # 1356, $8.99)

  • Micron Rating: 21 Micron
  • Thread Size: M20-1.50
  • Height (in): 3-3/8 Inch
  • Outside Diameter (in): 2-11/16 Inch
  • Gasket Inside Diameter (in): 2-3/16 Inch
  • Gasket Thickness (in): 1/4 Inch
  • Top Outside Diameter (in): 2-11/16 Inch
  • Gasket Outside Diameter (in): 2-1/2 Inch
  • Bypass Valve Included: Yes
  • Removal Nut Included: No
  • Anti-Drainback Valve Included: Yes
  • Gasket Or Seal Included: Yes
  • Filter Media: Enhanced Cellulose
As you can see the specs are the same, except the bottom one is 5/8 in longer in height and is cheaper.
Yes, it will take a little more oil but that's ok. I always go by the dipstick.
 
#7 ·
If you plan to run either of these filters I'd run the larger filter since they're $4.50 each cheaper. Only 5/8" longer amounts to less than an extra 1 oz. of oil. When I bought my Versa I went on Rock Auto and bought a dozen oil filters made by Premium Guard at a final cost of $2. each including shipping to my house. I've seen pictures and videos of Premium Guard filters that have been cut open and they seem to be a well made filter. Just though I'd let you know in case you want to check out Rock Auto filters and their prices.
 
#9 ·
There's no harm in doing this unless the larger filter sticks out into harms way or doesn't seal properly. I used to run "PH8A" size over the shorter one on my Jeeps eons ago. I'll run larger oil filters on my outdoor power equipment engines as well. I've never tried a larger size on my Nissan vehicles.
 
#10 ·
I don't know about Supertech, but this one, Super Tech Spin-On Oil Filter, 2 1/2", ST6607, is $2.97 at Wal-Mart.
They are coming out with a new one, supposedly good for 20K miles, which seems a bit too long. I don't know specs or price.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I've used Super Tech filters in the past. They are made by Champion. Several manufacturers are making oil and filters that claim 20K mile life but I'm like you and think it seems like a long time for oil or filter. In '68 my dad bought a new Mercury and Ford recommended 6K mile intervals at that time. I bought a new Buick in '77 and GM recommended 7.5K mile intervals then. Neither of us used their recommended interval, but 3-4K. I just went to 5K mile intervals maybe 20 years ago and have just gone to 7,500 mile intervals in the past couple years. If I begin to see a negative effect I'll go back to 5K miles. I'm sure there have been improvements in oil and filters since the '60's-'70's but are they 3 times as good? I just mentioned the Rock Auto price on Wix because you were referencing Wix in a previous post and everyone I've spoke to seems to think highly of Wix filters. I've had a PM conversation with another older man on another Nissan forum and he said he does 9K mile intervals on conventional oil with no negative effects. I use conventional motor oil at 7,500 mile intervals and it doesn't look bad at all when I drain it. I had much dirtier looking oil years ago on carbureted vehicles at 3K mile intervals.
 
#12 ·
I'm the first owner of my other car, a 2002 GS430.
I started OCIs (mostly with synth oil) every 7500 miles until the car hit 75,000 miles. After that, every 5K miles.
When I started driving much less, I started doing yearly OCIs. The car will have been driven 2-3K miles/year. That explains how a 19-year-old car has 116K miles. The Versa, which I bought 6 months ago, has 720 miles.
I need to have a life!
 
#13 ·
A bigger filter (more surface area) will hold more contaminants, but unless it also has a smaller micron rating it won't be any more effective. If you want a filter that's better at catching smaller particles rather than more particles, look for a smaller micron rating. These are usually your higher tiered filters like the Purolator Boss, Fram Extra Guard, or NAPA Platinum.

BM5VS listed the Wix numbers, or if you shop at a store that sells Purolator (same parent company, different labels) it's a L14610 (Wix 51356 or Fram PH2808) being the taller filter and L14612 being the shorter factory-style model. I've run both on my 2015 Versa, and I quit using the longer one because I felt like it was more of a PITA to fish up to the threaded post and then try to run it up tight.

If you want to try a wider filter, look at the L14459/55334/PH9688 filters. This was the standard Japanese filter up until the 1990s and is still used on most Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The thread and the o-ring inner diameter are the same size as the Nissan filter.

For what it's worth, the L14612/51358/PH6607 filter is the same one Nissan specs on the Titan V8 (and literally everything else), and Honda has used it on every car they've made for the past 20 years as well, or has superseded the shorter one in place of the longer one.
 
#21 ·
I just put in about 3.5 qts of the recommended oil, put on a Nissan filter, and never wonder if something is going to happen. Not all filters are the same, but the OEM one is plenty good.

I looked at a 2010 maxima today that was in for a check engine light, ran terrible, knocked, oil light on...they said the oil light intermittently comes on, which makes me think they've been driving it like this for a bit. It had maybe a half a quart in it. Half of the oil leaking junkers are running around the same way.

Don't sweat this stuff.
 
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