Originally Posted by talmy

The poll is missing a "No" choice. I know about them and would never consider using one on any of my cars. The poll ignores the fact that these filters are controversial. Probably just another auto "snake oil" item heavily promoted by its manufacturer with claims that are unsubstantiated. Same class as oil additives (Slick 50, Bardahl, Winns Friction Proofing), water injectors, magnets on the fuel line, special spark plugs, the famous Fish carburetor, and numerous other gadgets that have been around since the start of the automobile business.

In these days of mileage and emissions goals, customer demand for more power, and long warranties (when I was a teen, one year factory warranties were the longest) if an oil impregnated oil filter offered improvements they would use them. The fact is that in 1950 all cars used these (either oil bath with a wire mesh (like a corse Brillo pad) or felt) but over the decade all domestic manufacturers had switched to the better filtering of paper. Last car I had with an oil bath filter was a 1973 VW, not exactly state of the art.