[Gubi]

Okay, $200 for a freakin' oil filter? Yes, I see that it's reusable, but that's still nuts. And read their marketing: "Oil can't go through" a standard throw-away oil filter? They're claiming a 25um pore size yet better filtration of 5um particles? I'm not buying it.

There's been plenty of testing done on disposable oil filters and the consensus is that if you stick with an adequately sized filter made by a reputable company (i.e., not Fram) you'll be fine. Do a web search and you'll find plenty of testing results. Regular oil or synthetic makes no difference to the filter.

 

[Gubi]

Poor construction: Fram filters have inadequate media surface area, cardboard end-caps, and crappy anti-drainback and bypass valves. Don't even get me started about the ones they preload with teflon particles.

You've got to be careful, because a lot of other brands are apparently rebranded Frams. There's a cool website somewhere that cut a whole bunch of filters apart and did analyses, but I don't remember it off the top of my head.

Napa makes a big-a$$ filter that supposedly fits the Spider...I think it's a Napa Gold 1068? Same mounting size but a bigger can and filtration area. If you go with really long oil change intervals perhaps that's the way to go. The PO gave me a bunch of them, so once I run out of the Technocar ones I'll probably switch over.

 

[Gubi]

Yeah, when I first saw the OEM ones I thought the seller had made a mistake. Now I have two lying around that I don't want to use because they just seem too tiny. Paranoia, most likely, but still.

From the left this is OEM, Tecnocar, Napa Gold 1068. I've been using the Tecnocars just out of habit. I think I got these from IAP a while back...my mechanic uses them too, so I'm figuring they're okay. The Napa Gold is nice and big but according to the PO will fit the Spider.

I'll probably stick with the Tecnocar-sized ones for the Milano due to engine compartment space reasons and then go with the Napa on the Spider next oil change.