Are synthetic oil filters worth it?

This isn’t the first time folks on the internet have sliced and diced spin-on oil filters. Cutting open the steel casing satisfies morbid curiosities, at the very least. 

Pro mechanics, racers, and pilots crack open oil filters all the time to get a better idea of what’s happening inside their engines. Jet black gunk means the engine runs rich. Collapsed pleats or milky goo can indicate moisture or a bad head gasket. Flecks of metal usually means something inside the engine is chewing itself up. 

The thing is, while the diagnostic benefits are obvious there’s no way to tell if one filter works better than another just by looking at it with the naked eye. We don’t have superpowers to see things at the 20-micron level, or the specialized equipment to measure oil flow efficiency. So we didn’t base our selections here solely on what we discovered inside the canisters.

It was pretty cool to see what was inside each filter, but we chose our best oil filters based on a combination of quality, features, and real-world experience with the brand. 

Let’s be clear: We do not doubt that all of our test oil filters get the job done. None of these companies would still be in business if they didn’t. We did, however, find that different companies take different approaches to oil filtration. And of course, we found that a higher price doesn't always add up to higher quality.

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

Best Oil Filter Reviews & Recommendations 2022

Quality and a perfect fit earned the Beck-Arnley spin-on oil filter our Best Overall award. We’ve used dozens of these filters on everything from a turbocharged 4-cylinder to naturally aspirated V6s with excellent results. Consistent quality and performance keep us coming back for more.

We hadn’t ever thought to slice one of these filters open, so we put a new and a used filter into the cutter for comparison purposes. Beck-Arnley’s thick steel canister nearly defeated the oil cutting tool; it took a few tries before giving up. The anti-drain valve worked perfectly; the used filter canister was nearly full of used oil even after weeks on the oil drain pan and the filter media trapped plenty of dirt and crud. 

Every Beck-Arnley part we’ve ever used meets or beats the OEM dealer part, and the oil filter even comes with a service reminder sticker.

You might think we’ve blown a gasket by recommending a manufacturer or OE part as the best value. But time after time every OEM filter, while perhaps not the cheapest, always works the way it should. So unless you've got a compulsion to pay more or really enjoy changing your oil filter a lot, the OEM filter is usually the best deal on the market.

Using genuine OEM products takes the guesswork out of the oil and filter equation, especially as manufacturer oil and filter service intervals stretch well past the 5,000-mile range. True, OEM parts are generally more expensive. But for this test, we consistently found that OEM oil filters were actually competitively priced than their aftermarket equivalents. Some even cost less.

The photo above is a genuine Mitsubishi folder filter, which beats aftermarket competition on both quality and price. However, any OEM product will meet your needs.

The K&N Performance Gold oil filter carries the higher cost of performance and quality, but those features make it an attractive upgrade. The welded-on nut is its most familiar feature, but K&N always packs plenty of the good stuff inside the canister, too. 

The thick steel shell was tough to get through, and the internal components were clearly a cut above the rest of the oil filters in our test. The parts looked similar at first glance, but extra rows and larger diameter passage holes, and a unique center tube design, clearly demonstrate K&N designed its oil filters for improved performance. 

K&N claims their synthetic filter media and end cap design allows 10 percent more oil to flow through the filter than the competition, and considering the company’s vaunted racing heritage we can sure see the advantage in that. And for what it’s worth, after fighting to remove way too many oil filters in our day the welded-on end nut alone makes K&N worth the extra cost.

It’s not a household name, but Denso is an original equipment supplier to major automakers (such as Toyota). And we found its oil filter for our application was a close match to our OEM part. Cracking open the heavy-duty steel canister revealed dual-layer filter media, a silicone anti-drain back valve, and a pre-lubricated o-ring seal.

Denso Auto Parts brings OE-quality parts like this oil filter to the consumer market that meet or exceed original equipment specifications and fit. We found availability was the only drawback to Denso, as its most popular filters were often sold out.

Our Verdict

Today’s longer oil service intervals, as well as more and more new cars being delivered from the factory with synthetic oil, make getting the right oil filter more critical than ever. Going with a genuine or OEM oil filter is an excellent choice, even if you have to spend a little more coin. Picking up an OEM-quality oil filter from an original equipment supplier is the next best thing. Aftermarket oil filters can meet and even exceed OEM specifications, but quality counts more than the brand name. Look to high-performance oil filters if track days, drag racing, or towing and hauling are in your future.

Types of Oil Filters

Spin-On

Self-contained spin-on filters gained popularity in the mid-50s, and have been the status quo in automotive engine oil filtration for the last half-century. Unfortunately, their ease of use has resulted in mountains of used, non-biodegradable oil filters clogging up landfills and shop yards. Combine that and the decline of large-displacement gas-guzzlers with today’s smaller, higher-revving engines, and their popularity is waning.

Cartridge

The cartridge-type oil filter is making a comeback. Its removable and reusable housing, combined with a replaceable filter element, results in far less waste. While slightly more labor-intensive, they’re cheaper to maintain than spin-ons. And far more eco-friendly.

Modern cartridge-type oil filter systems are not without fault, however. Some manufacturers use lightweight plastic filter housings that not only require a special tool for removal but are notoriously unforgiving and can sometimes break apart when overtightened.

Oil Filter Pricing

• Under $5: Picking up 2-for-1 oil filters at the 99-cent store may seem like a terrible idea, and it usually is. Still, there are some decent aftermarket oil filters in the sub-five-dollar range. 
• $5-15: This is the sweet spot for aftermarket, OEM, and premium oil filters. Size does matter with auto parts; more steel, rubber, and filter media add up to higher cost. 
• Over $15: High-performance, premium, extended life, and giant oil filters fall into this price range. Extra-large oil filters are simply more expensive to manufacture. 

Spin-On Oil Filter Anatomy and Features

Baseplate and Gasket

The thick steel baseplate at the bottom of a spin-on oil filter is where the filter meets the engine.  The threaded center puts the spin in “spin-on,” and the baseplate gasket (or o-ring) seals in oil. Dirty oil enters the filter through the outer ring of base plate holes, flows through the filter into the center tube, and back into the engine through the threaded center of the mount. 

Anti-Drain Back Valve

These valves close to prevent oil from returning to the engine while the engine is shut off. One valve sits between the base plate and the bottom end cap on the intake; the second keeps clean oil from being siphoned back into the engine from the center tube. 

Filter Media

Filter media is the core and most important part of the oil filter. The pleated material wraps around a center tube, and the filter assembly can be held together by steel or cellulose end caps. Some newer filters are bonded to the center tube with adhesives and have no endplates. Manufacturers use wood-based cellulose, synthetic filter media, or a combination that best meets the engine’s demands. 

Bypass Valve

The bypass, or pressure relief, valve is the filtration gatekeeper. High oil pressure opens the valve, so oil bypasses the filter during cold startups. The valve closes once the oil pressure normalizes; only then does oil flow through the filter. A dirty, clogged-up filter can block flow and create enough pressure to trick the bypass valve open; using the wrong oil filter can do the same. In either case, your oil is not getting filtered. 

Canister and Spring

The self-contained spin-on oil filter uses a steel canister bonded to the baseplate. The canister contains the filter assembly. A coil of leaf compression springs inside the canister keeps the internal assembly working together as a whole.

FAQ About Oil Filters

You've got questions. The Drive has answers!

Q: Do I need a new oil filter with every oil change? 

A. Yes. Today’s engines run clean enough that manufacturer recommendations of 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil changes are increasingly common, so a new oil filter is mandatory. Some older engines only needed a new filter every other 3000-mile oil change, but these days a new filter with every oil change is best practice. 

Q: Are OEM oil filters better than aftermarket? 

A. Not necessarily. Automakers often source parts like oil filters from original equipment suppliers like Denso, and brand them as their own. Some of those companies (like Denso) offer the exact same parts in the aftermarket, and they match OEM quality in every way except the branding. Some aftermarket companies improve on OEM shortcomings and engineer a better filter. 

Q: Will these oil filters fit my engine? 

A. Yes and no. Oil filter part numbers must match with your specific engine. You'll need to check your owner’s manual for the specific part number. Likewise, most auto parts stores will have your make, model, and engine size on file and can tell you what fits and what doesn't.

Q: Do I need to use a synthetic oil filter for synthetic oil?

A. Yes, especially if your engine came full of synthetic oil from the factory. Standard cellulose oil filter media will work in a pinch, for a little while. But an oil filter with hybrid or synthetic filter media will hold up through the longer service life of synthetic oils. Play it safe and follow manufacturer guidelines for oil and filter. 

Q: How do I know when my oil filter needs replacement?

A. By following your car’s maintenance schedule. There is no way to check and see if a spin-on oil filter is dirty without cutting it open. Some cartridge-type filters can be inspected without draining the oil, but unless it’s obviously clogged up a visual inspection doesn't tell the whole story. Replace your oil filter with every oil change. Then you’ll know for sure.

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