Not all oil filters are created equal

[pzero]

Well it's time to change out my fluids again. Oil, trans, and diff.
Oil: Mobil 1 5w-30 full synthetic
Trans: Red Line D4
Diff: Red Line 75W90 GL-5
Oil Filter: AC Delco PF64 12640445 but can't find any
Oil Filter: AC Delco PF64 12696048 plentiful and cheap

Well, what's the worry you say? Question is, is AC Delco PF64 12696048 going cheap? Is it made in "China"? Is it good as the old PF64? That's my quesiton?

Here's a good article from another Camaro member.
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=568412

What do you think?

[72 Z27]

I have been using the ACDelco UPF48R oil filter. Not saying it's 100% the correct filter (but it may be).

[pzero]

Yes, I'm going that route. UPF 48R cost $15 vs PF64 $6. GM paper say use 48R for street and PF64 for racing. Weird cheaper filter for racing.

[SIM GhostrdrZ]

That’s what I’ve found as well. The 48 is called out in the owners manual and the 64 is called out for the track prep(all be it with old P/N). But if GM updates P/N’s it could be a different vendor or a number of reasons but still must meet the 64 oil filter specs.
Just my $.02

[SIM GhostrdrZ]

Originally Posted by pzero

Yes, I'm going that route. UPF 48R cost $15 vs PF64 $6. GM paper say use 48R for street and PF64 for racing. Weird cheaper filter for racing.

I’m not the hydraulics engineer expert;disclaimer
The 64 is meant for track with 15w-50 oil and the 48 is meant for street with 5w-30 oil.
Different size filters with different bypass ratings, etc.
The 64 shall be discarded with 15w-50 after track use

[232_ray]

Originally Posted by SIM GhostrdrZ

I’m not the hydraulics engineer expert;disclaimer
The 64 is meant for track with 15w-50 oil and the 48 is meant for street with 5w-30 oil.
Different size filters with different bypass ratings, etc.
The 64 shall be discarded with 15w-50 after track use

Exactly what I was thinking. If the 64 filter is cheaper (if that's the actual case) then that would make sense to use at "track" with the 15w-50. Thicker oil with a cheaper filter (as in let more oil pass/filter less) to assure no oil starvation happens.
Pretty sure the engineers know better than me so i'll listen to them.

I took my Z to LS Fest Vegas a few weeks back ran the car on a 48R filter with 5w-20 mobil 1 and had no issues. I even ran Michelin pilot sport 4s and did well within the "late model" category.

[pzero]

Originally Posted by SIM GhostrdrZ

I’m not the hydraulics engineer expert;disclaimer
The 64 is meant for track with 15w-50 oil and the 48 is meant for street with 5w-30 oil.
Different size filters with different bypass ratings, etc.
The 64 shall be discarded with 15w-50 after track use

Ok that makes more sense. I’ve been using the wrong oil filter. 64 meant to be used one time only while 48 is long term use. I got it...luckily I change it once a year/less than 3000 miles a year.

[SIM GhostrdrZ]

Originally Posted by pzero

Ok that makes more sense. I’ve been using the wrong oil filter. 64 meant to be used one time only while 48 is long term use. I got it...luckily I change it once a year/less than 3000 miles a year.

That’s just my assumption from the literature. Plenty of folks have used only PF64 with 5w-30 for street with success. Unfortunately I don’t get to drive mine very much to share personal experience other than I don’t track it and for the street and my 100 miles a year so far, I use AMSOil 5w-30 with the 48. I have the new p/n 64 filters just to have them. I don't necessarily think the 64 is meant to be a one time track use filter except that is how I read it from the track prep documents. Don’t overthink it. I think you and I will be just fine with either for what we use our Z’s for.
Good luck

[MrRaZ28]

I run PF64 24/7 in both my Z and my wife's Z, with hers being regular oil for street and 15w50 for the track and mine being 20w50 for both street/track. Have since pretty much day one and have had ZERO issues with it whatsoever. I'm about to hit 60k miles on mine (had 42k when I bought it) and she is closing in on 25k (got hers with 20k on the clock).

[ronchev]

A couple years ago l wondered when GM changed the part number on the long part number on the PF64 when we started seeing the cheaper version that is very noticeable by the thin plate on the end where it screws on of the
this filter. The new replacement version is long number 12696048 and the original number when GM build our cars and recommended this filter for track duty service was 12640445 but is no longer available and they say the new number its a direct replacement for the earlier filter. I dont recall what all l found cutting thes e apart a couple years ago just to find the difference but l can tell you they are alot different and the only real reason for the change was just like most other GM filters is because they are built cheaper. The biggest change l recall are the inside has alot more plastic over the earlier steel parts, the outside metal housing is thinner on the later number, and the end plate that screws on the engine is way thinner and even designed alot different. I also dont recall the difference in the UP48r that l cut apart at the same time but you can tell that the filter is not designed to flow as much as the earlier PF64 just by how its made and probably why they didnt recommend this one for track duty service.

Take it for what its worth on these filters and remember this was a couple years ago but l did at that time go out of my way to find as many of the old numbers that l could find to keep on hand and even paid more for a few just to get them but figured when l did run out of the original filter l will probably go to an aftermarket filter that is made the same way as the original was over the new version filter on our dry sump engines for track day use that are so expensive to fix. Napa at the time have a filter line that looked just like it was made by the same company but just painted different and was going to look into that but never did because l found enough for the time being but this all could have changed by now. Also not saying the the new PF64 wont work in our applications but at the time l decided that it wasnt good enough for me, just sharing my findings then but really the choice is yours...

[Sinister10]

check out WIX

[camguynj]

AMSOIL Ea ...best there is! Look it up compared to WIX or anything else.

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by camguynj

AMSOIL Ea ...best there is! Look it up compared to WIX or anything else.

Speaking of Amsoil I've got an extremely important question. I've noticed many folks run the Red Line D4 in the 6060 trans. Is there an acceptable Amsoil lube? I run the Dexron III Torque Drive in my C5 Z06, I'm wondering if in the interest of chemical standardization I could use it in my Z/28. I also want to take advantage of the honor bestowed upon me by Amsoil when I was elevated to Preferred Customer Status. I realize this is a high standard that I must live up to and the pressure is nearly overwhelming.

[silversleeper]

What concerns me most watching various brands being cut up, including amsoil, is all the loose glue inside them waiting to ruin the engine
https://youtu.be/4Mxt0PDVbfY?t=169