Remav wrote:Ordered 3 - 1 Purolator, 1 Ecogard, and 1 from G K Industries. $48.97 total Thanks!
The GKI was only 1 buck more than the Ecogard. I got the last one on Amazon, but it was marked as "more on the way". I'll let you know how the gaskets compare.
All 3 New Filters arrived today. I also pulled out the one in my Kizzy & it turns out to be OEM marked "Suzuki - Tokyo Roki Co LTD." and of course, made in Japan.
I just hit 50K miles (Purchased at 48,800) it just might be the original or 2nd one. In any case it has been in long enough for the rubber on the seal to be cracking out at every corner so I doubt it was less than about 20K ago; Probably more. Bad, but not totally clogged. I am anxious to see if I notice any MPG improvement.
So, comparing the 4 filters here's how they stack up (IMHO):
All 4 have 3 columns of filter paper with 28 folds ea, so even the cheap ones didn't skimp on actual square inches.
1) Purolator Classic - The Rubber Seal is the only one that feels like good form-fitting soft rubber & uniform throughout the entire circumference. Made in Korea, not China. Of the 3 new ones it was the only 1 that put its name on the product. That says something. The colored filter material is a bit more fuzzy on the back than the other two. No noticeable defects or sloppy construction.
2) Suzuki - Rubber Seal by far bore more in common with the 2 Chinese filters than with the Purolator, but unquestionably better form & fit. The filter material also had that fuzzy look to the back side that the 2 Chinese products lack. Knowing that it will crack out the corners in what is likely 2.5 yrs doesn't instill a great deal of confidence, but looking at how it seals I really don't think it can leak where the cracks are. I'll try to get some pictures up. Of course, the moral is to CHANGE IT ON SCHEDULE! and there is no issue at all.
3) GKi - Costs $1 more than the Ecogard & just *might* be worth it. Is it the exact same seal? maybe, but maybe not. It was harder to put back on & feels slightly different. Its form might be a tiny bit better, but I can say the filter itself was 1 notch above the Ecogard in construction quality as the form & edges were cleaner. The only question I have about this filter is that the material is compressed for about 3/16" near each edge where it is attached to the columns... so at 6 points across the width. I think this area cannot help but to be a bit less porous, so 3/16" X 6 = just over 1 full inch out of 7" that has trouble "breathing". (Oh, and the box has a big "WARRANTY" sign on it. Short Translation of fine print, "Your Vehicle warranty will not be void by using this product. Whoopee!)
4 {but maybe #2!}) Ecogard - OK, 1st the bad news. It has the worst seal. ...but we knew that. Mine has some excess plastic melted to a few of the filter folds. Not a big deal, but OK sloppy construction. Once I took off the seal I found non-uniform trimming of the plastic which could explain the seal just not fitting as well as the GKi. It's only saving grace is that if you plan on using the seal from your old filter (keeping in mind the cracking issue over time with the Suzuki OEM filter ...maybe others???) ...AND you dont mind filing down a bump or two of excess plastic, this filter doesn't appear to suffer from the 3/16" compressed material issue. ..so I actually can see if you like paying $10 instead of $26 for the Purolator, then it could work. (yea, a lot of "ifs" to save $16 in my opinion, but...)
My final thought is that they probably will all seal well enough that we probably dont have to be worrying as much as we are. ...but I installed the Purolator 1st
