AC Delco Oil Filters PF48 and PF48E

Changing the oil in my 2007 Trailblazer SS with the LS2 and bought a new AC Delco oil filter PF48 because I can't find the PF48E on the shelf anymore. Comparing the two wondering what is really the difference and can't find anything different in them. Welcoming any comments.

[@davidcampbell1899]

GM will never admit they made a mistake. I saw another video where someone cut open both filters. The PF48e has felt end caps and plastic core. PF48 had metal end caps and plastic core.

[@scotwm1789]

At 1.27 minutes, your video shows the PF48E on the left and the PF48 on the right. Looking at the inside edge of both gaskets reveals that the PF48 has 6 small "spokes" around the outer edge of the metal where it meets the gasket. I now have both filters in front of me. The gasket on the PF48 is a little thicker and the 6 spokes seem to be used only to better hold it in place. I too have personally made this side by side comparison and found this to be the only visible difference. I have been using PF48E oil filters on my 2013 Silverado 4.8 for several years because until recently I couldn't find the PF48. Now, the PF48E has disappeared. So far, after 120,000 miles, I have not had any problems. The oil filter section of my owners manual groups these motors together: 4.8L V8; 5.3L V8; 6.0L V8; 6.2L V8. The oil filter specified is: GM Part Number 89017524, ACDelco Part Number PF48. This GM part number isn't on either filter. Thanks for the video! Most of the other information about these two oil filters just adds to the confusion. I guess I can safely use the rest of my PF48E filters and then switch to the PF48.

[@ryanerb403]

This is driving me nuts, I wish AC Delco would have put out a bulletin explaining what is going on. I have bought the E's for a long time and can't find em anymore....

[@timleach6025]

Same findings here...have used 48E on my 2013 Avalanche forever, 185k miles, runs like a top. Now I can't find 48E. I do recall one time about 5 years ago I mistakenly purchased a PF48 by mistake, but for the life of me couldn't get it to thread on the stem, making me think thread size was different. I will try the 48 once again because I am unable to find the 48E. As as side note, today when purchasing the filter at Wally I took a look at the filter guide you always see hanging on the shelf of filters. The guide referenced 48 with an astrick (*). Putting on my bifocals to read the fine print at the bottom of the page, it said something to the effect of "48 named as replacement to 48E", (I'm paraphrasing....something to that effect). Hope this helps.

[@deanhoffmeyer865]

Ran into the same issue, so I switched to Purolator BOSS. No regrets

[@fearevil1]

I read where one is more environmentally friendly that is what the e means so basically the pf48e and pf48 are the same filter just one has metal in it and the other has more plastic

[@bretz71]

There is no difference now except the new box and sticker on the filter. AC Delco is playing games! They had great oil filters until they came out with the “E-core” oil filters about 10 years ago. The E-core filters had the letter “E” on the end of the part number (hence PF48 changed to PF48E). The E-cores forfeited better filtering and durability for ECONOMY (cheaper construction) and ‘EASE OF RECYCLING’. Car & Driver and Motor Trend magazines both blew up new Corvette engines during hard testing due to the e-core oil filters coming apart. And there were horror stories of classic irreplaceable/priceless, original GM musclecar engines (with matching numbers!) grenading during pure stock musclecar drag races due to e-core filter failures. Auto enthusiasts immediately caught on to what was happening and DIY mechanics quit buying the cheaply made AC Delco e-core oil filters with their felt end caps, plastic core cages, and thin metal cans. Now AC Delco, in an effort to bring back lost customers from the bad publicity on the e-core oil filters, has removed the “E” from the current part numbers. So you are buying a new cheaply-made e-core oil filter, but it is not identifiable as such, and they raised the price 25%+ to boot. The sneaky lying bastards! FYI, GM switched the oil filter spec for those Corvette engines to the AC Delco Ultraguard Gold UPF-48R filters (built more like the original PF48 filters were-steel core/metal end caps/thicker can-available at RockAuto online) after those early e-core failures.

[@steveb319]

Where did you get this info from? I’m not doubting it. I’ve just heard so many different explanations. My 2007 Chevy Vette had PF48. A few years later GM recommended PF48E as a better filter. When I recently ordered PF48E from RockAuto I received the same filter in the video without the “E” and the invoice showed PF48F. I’m told the “F” stands for the fleet unboxed version of the PF48. It’s so confusing.

[@scottmisus4678]

If anyone is stupid enough to use their numbers matching engine, while racing and pure stock drags, they deserve to have their engine grenade.

[@N2freedom]

Thanks for the info.

[@alansunday]

Thanks for the info! I couldn't stand it any more and took my last PF-48E and cut it open to compare it to the PF-48 and sure enough as you stated above, the E has the felt on the ends of the plastic caged filter. The filter without the E has metal endcaps on the plastic caged filter. I posted a video of the cutting open of said filters.

[@jidana3194]

I have a 17 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.0 and i noticed the same thing at Wal-Mart and since then I have been using the Napa 7060 filter made by WIX not problems at all and also been using the Napa full synthetic 75-520 ( part number for the 5w30 ) oil made by Valvoline they often have it on sale for 3.49 or 3.69 a qt and i buy a case and have 2 oil changes and let me tell you it is a good oil and good filter and at the same time i support the local independent business oh and if you have the AAA card you can get 10 percent off

[@SportsMusicCars]

My Saturn Aura XR 3.6 specifies to use the PF48E, but that seems to not be available on the shelf anymore. The PF48 does look a tad different and the PF47E looks identical to the PF48E.

[@fuiwfnbnufjehnfojui4251]

3.6 09 Pontiac gxp here, Manual recommended pf48 as replacement but have been putting pf48e on for several years. Can’t find the -e variant anymore so I guess I am moving back to pf48 lol

[@SANCHEZFLA863]

Walmart is probably paying less for pf48 have you noticed their new K&n filters their black different from the old white one that are a premium filter

[@anonymouse2428]

I have some data for you... 2010 Camaro SS with the L99 engine. I change my oil myself every 5000 miles and my car has always had a lifter tick when it starts and idles. This time, instead of pf48e, I used a new stock pf48 from rockauto. Looks identical to the ones you have on the right. Guess what. The lifter tick has almost disappeared. Oil pressure shows exactly the same. I too couldn't find any different between the two filters, except maybe a thicker gasket. There's got to be something else different, right? I have a bunch of these lying around so I'm set for another 2-3 years.

[@alansunday]

So I was down to my very last PF48E on the shelf in my shop and I had the new PF48 which fell on the floor of the shop during a rain storm and got wet. I decided to make a video of cutting them both open because I couldn't stand it anymore and needed to know what the difference really is between the two. The video is on my page. The PF48E has felt on both ends of the plastic caged filter. The new PF48 has metal on both ends of the plastic caged filter. That's the only difference! I think the new version is better being metal instead of felt! Thanks for the info you shared!

[@anonymouse2428]

@@alansunday Thanks Alan. That's interesting. I could have never thought that piece of felt vs metal on the exact same filter media could make any difference in the lubrication at the lifters at the very top of the engine. I did notice a rather excessive lifter tick the one time I used the mobile 1 m1 filter. I noticed that the oil pressure was a smidge lower than usual with that. I was told that it's rated for more miles hence it's more restrictive. I think the pf48e is just a tad more restrictive than the pf48.

[@N2freedom]

I have a 2013 Silverado 5.3, last year I had to have a oil pressure sensor and filter put in. Now a warning light came on “oil pressure low stop engine”. My mechanic checked it out, the pressure sensor is ok. He said the problem now is the oil filter. The dealer put on a pf48 but the engine requires the pf48E. Looking up info, the 48e comes without a filter bypass valve, where most filters have it but my 13 Silverado doesn’t need one and apparently, and it causes the sensors to get faulty pressure readings.

[@alansunday]

Oh wow! Interesting! Please let us know if the pressure is back to normal once the oil filter is changed just to put this issue you're seeing to bed. Thanks for the info!

[@N2freedom]

I will update. I take my truck in Wednesday. I am pretty sure it will work because I have used my mechanic for decades and he said he had the same problem with his Silverado years ago.

[@N2freedom]

Update: the 48E did not work as my ex-mechanic said and he now won’t respond. When I went to talk to him he saw my in the lobby and ran quickly back into the shop. I saw another video with a guy that had the same problem. After changing the oil switch and filter it did the same thing. He used an engine flush then changed the filter and oil and it solved the low pressure problem.

[@alansunday]

So sorry it didn't work. Sounds like in my opinion that the o-ring on the pick-up tube is worn enough that it's causing your low oil pressure. A friend of mine was going through this same thing you're having with very low oil pressure and the sending unit was replaced with the same issue. Another friend of mine dropped his oil pan and changed the o-ring and he's back to normal oil pressure. Hope you figure it out! Thanks for the update and a clarification that the oil filters must be the same with no difference!

[@N2freedom]

Thanks for the info. I will trying things till I find the answer. My mechanic would do the same thing but would keep charging me. I work for a lot less.

[@joseRodriguez-pk9ld]

Where's the anti drain valve it doesn't have a rubber or silicone?

[@alansunday]

I posted a video where I cut them open. kzbin.info/www/bejne/omjJi4qVeKlgr9U

[@joseRodriguez-pk9ld]

@@alansunday just watched it thanks!

[@EzMDr]

E is for Ecore which is made up of plastic, so one is made with metal core and other is made up of plastic. The so called " purists" hate Ecore filters, everyone cuts open the filter and judges them as bad without doing any filtration on them. Yet GM uses them in all their new vehicles

[@alansunday]

I read that online as well! But, when you look in the hole in the middle and stick your finger in it, they are both plastic! I didn't see any metal core on the inside on either one. That's what's so crazy. Can't tell them apart lol.

[@solstar4778]

What’s the “E” for in the pf48 ?

[@alansunday]

That's a very good question. We are trying to figure that out. So far, I don't see any difference in them.

[@kalani1987]

E-core. Plastic inner cage and thinner top plate

[@alansunday]

I finally posted a video of cutting into these two filters! Now we know what the real difference is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/omjJi4qVeKlgr9U