The latest research tells a wholly different story than any internet car forum's ancient understanding of filter technology. I don't typically bother weighing in on the subject because filters and oil are like religion and politics - there's no changing minds. I'll just say I use these on everything and I've yet to get an oil analysis result that said anything other than "you could've run this oil for another x,xxx miles".

 

I like to say changing your oil often is more important that what filter or oil you choose. I use a wix with Mobil1 Synthetic. If I run out, I'll use any filter I can find. If there's a oil/filter combo sale, sometimes I'd do that but that's pretty rare since i almost always have the next oil change ready at home. I use to only run cheap Castrol with the cheapest filters in my hotrods and that was fine until I started with these Modular engines. The expectation of work & longevity is much greater with new engines.

 

I don't know much about the "improved" Fram filters. I'll just tell you that I'll never put the old school orange can on anything I own. I've two personal experiences that have led to this, not just internet sensation.

 

Everyone in on the local Fox Body page is up in arms today. Until 01/01/23, all vintage registered vehicles were exempt from emissions testing. The state apparently sent out emails last night, officially telling people they have to pass emissions if it's newer than 1980. There is a mad panic for people to register their vehicles at addresses of those of us in exempt counties. There is one caveat to this, and that is Utah will still allow them to be exempt, provided it has classic car insurance. So, in that regard, I am double covered. I have classic insurance, AND live in an exempt county.

I've already got people asking me, and I'm not too sure how I feel about it. A couple guys I would absolutely feel OK helping, but I don't want a bunch of cars registered at my address. I already have 6.

 

Communists gon' communist.

 

The discussion is "this didn't happen until all of CA started moving here". LOL. Very true.

Here's the official word from the DMV that a friend of mine just posted after she made an inquiry to them.

 

Californians are a pox on this nation.

My New Years surprise is discovering that I'm being fleeced $700/yr. to fund other people's vacations.

 

yep the whole FAMLI stupidity.

 

Well, that's better than Colorado:

https://dmv.colorado.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/2023_Gas_Emissions_Requirements.pdf

Basically, anything newer than 1975 is subject to testing.

I'm fortunate to be in an emissions-testing-exempt area. I've wanted to take my '95 in somewhere just to see what it would turn for results, but nobody down here does anything other than diesels. If I had to comply, it would be a mad scramble (and nearly impossible today) to find a stock catted H-pipe not to mention my smog pump is long gone.

 

Test-fitting my intake gaskets, I discovered this:



I assume this is just so FelPro can make one gasket instead of two but I wonder if I should trim off the excess.