Have an 07 HHR LT2, 2.4L.
We use Mobil 1 synth oil, and I have changed the oil/filter myself every 5000 miles.

For my second oil filter (5K miles ago) I used a Purlator, as the GM shops were all closed on Saturdays.

Took out the Purlator to replace it this weekend and it was near death.

The center area of the filter looked as if it had been sucked inward a bit.
So, instead of a filter which looks like a perfect cylinder, it looked more like a cylinder which was tapered in the center. Also, the pleats in the center were all crimped.
My first thought was that the filter had been crushed going into its little hole, but after measuring the filter, the center of the filter was clearly getting pulled in by something.

It looked to me like there was a mismatch between the flow rate through the filter and the actual oil pressure. It appeared that the filter did not flow too well and over time the center of the filter material got 'sucked into' the center of the cartridge trying to get oil through.

Had I left the filter the 9000 miles our D.I.C. recommends, I fear that the pleats would have pulled out from the top/bottom of the filter cartridge and the oil would have just run over the filter and not through it.

Should note that when I took out the first filter, it was an A/C Delco filter and it looked perfect.

So, I will be using the A/C parts from the dealer from now on.

I would strongly recommend you avoid the Purlator filters for now.

 

I have run Purolator Pure One filters for many years and will continue to do so.

 

>>>I have run Purolator Pure One filters for many years and will continue to do so.<<<

As have I. Had them on my current big truck and our previous Chevy.

I once saw a video on some car program where they cut away at a number of cartridge filters. The Purlator and Wix were clearly better made than the others, which included Fram.

But if you saw my Purlator filter after only 5000 miles, you may have second thoughts in this case.

I am secretly hoping someone will chime in who has used the same filter on their HHR and did not have a problem. Perhaps my experience was a limited one.

May try to contact Purlator to let them know what happened.

 

You should contact Purolator and let them know what happened.

They do like to see these kinds of anomolies to better understand what happened in what should be an isolated incident.

I am trying to track down Wix or Carquest Blue (made by Wix) filters for my HHR (we don't get Purolator filters up here).

 

Mine has a Pure One in it now.. But not due for a change yet.

 

I changed my HHR's oil this weekend and saw the same thing but with a fram filter. Although I think it was because I cranked on the filter cap too hard. This time once the filter cap met the block, I just turned it about a 1/4 of turn more. Also, I was at 13% according to the D.I.C. So I'm pretty sure I went well beyond the 5,000 miles. I'm at 18,000+ miles right now on my HHR.

Didn't see this before on my previous oil changes. I'll monitor the filter cap to make sure it isn't leaking and will check the oil filter again on the next change (used fram again).

Ng

 

Take a look at the FRam Filter and the Walmart Super Tech filter for the HHR next time side by side...same exact filter made in Bulgaria...save some $$ next time and get the SuperTech...


Goose


PS I'm usually a Purolator guy but as far as the HHR filter goes the Fram and the Supertech look like they are made better in this instance

 

You might try this site...after I compared their prices to some other online sellers,they beat them all. http://www.fleetfilter.com/index.html

 

I am waiting for fleetfilter to add the option to use USPS for shipping (coming soon).

Fleetfilter is a site sponsor over at BITOG.

 

Egads!!!!! What would the BITOG folks think of those positive Fram comments