1996 Oil Filter

[Don G.]

The original oil filter on the 1996 Corvette was a PF-52 painted black with a black and silver label. All replacement filters were painted blue with a multi-colored label.

If anyone has a known original filter, I would like to know the specific words on the black and silver label and, if possible, the build date or VIN of the car.

[George C.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

Is this what you are looking for ? Hope it helps. Save the Wave.>George

[George C.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

The original black from Bowling Green came marked as a PF51, same as PF52's. This is the original black shipped filter.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

The original black from Bowling Green came marked as a PF51, same as PF52's. This is the original black shipped filter.

George-----


I believe the PF-51 was installed only for the 1992-E1993 model years. After that, I think the PF-52 was used. However, it's possible the black PF-51 was used in PRODUCTION after 1993. Did the filter you have pictured come off a 1994-96 Corvette?

By the way, the PF-51 and PF-52 are not the same, although the PF-52 did supercede the PF-51. The PF-52 has an oil drain-back valve; the PF-51 was not.

[George C.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

George-----


I believe the PF-51 was installed only for the 1992-E1993 model years. After that, I think the PF-52 was used. However, it's possible the black PF-51 was used in PRODUCTION after 1993. Did the filter you have pictured come off a 1994-96 Corvette?

By the way, the PF-51 and PF-52 are not the same, although the PF-52 did supercede the PF-51. The PF-52 has an oil drain-back valve; the PF-51 was not.

Hi Joe,
This filter came off my 1995 Corvette. I saved it when I did the first oil change at 1500 miles. Because it was black, I knew I had to keep it.
My 1995 Corvette had a built date of November 1994. Can get the vin if you'd like. >George

[Jim T.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

My 96 owners manual specifies PF52 oil filter. I really don't remember much about the original factory installed oil filter I removed 10/15/1996 after 3374 miles. I did install a new PF52 according to my records.

[Don G.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

George, Joe, Jim

Thank you all for your input.

Here is what we know:

• All OEM filters were black with black/silver labels
• 1994 and 1995 specifications called for PF-51
• 1996 specifications called for PF-52
• The elimination of the PF-51 was driven by the objective to reduce oil filter types in the field with the benefit offsetting the cost of the anti-drainback valve.

What we don't know:

• Were any 1995 models produced with PF-52's?
• Did the PF-51's installed in 1995 models have both Non-DURAGUARD and DURAGUARD labels?
• Did the PF-52's installed in 1996 models have Non-DURAGUARD labels, DURAGUARD labels or both?

Any information we can get from known original examples will be helpful in establishing fair and accurate judging standards for these models.

[Floyd B.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

It appears that the PF-52's on '96's were black. Is that correct?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

George, Joe, Jim

Thank you all for your input.

Here is what we know:

• All OEM filters were black with black/silver labels
• 1994 and 1995 specifications called for PF-51
• 1996 specifications called for PF-52
• The elimination of the PF-51 was driven by the objective to reduce oil filter types in the field with the benefit offsetting the cost of the anti-drainback valve.

What we don't know:

• Were any 1995 models produced with PF-52's?
• Did the PF-51's installed in 1995 models have both Non-DURAGUARD and DURAGUARD labels?
• Did the PF-52's installed in 1996 models have Non-DURAGUARD labels, DURAGUARD labels or both?

Any information we can get from known original examples will be helpful in establishing fair and accurate judging standards for these models.

Don----

The PF-52 has a rather strange history. I've found that there at least 3 different PF-52 filters. The first PF-52, GM #25012760, first appeared in the 9/93 edition of the Corvette P&A Catalog. At that time it was specified for 93-94 Corvettes with LT1. There was no specification in this catalog for 1992 Corvettes with LT1. The 9/94 edition of the catalog specifies the PF-51, GM #25010908, as applicable to 1992 LT1 and the PF-52, GM #25012760, as applicable to 93-94 Corvettes with LT1.

The second PF-52, GM #25160560, first appeared in the 8/95 edition of the catalog. At that time it was listed as applicable to 93-95 Corvettes with the PF-51, GM #25010908, still shown as applicable to 1992 Corvettes with LT1.

The third PF-52, GM #25171377, first appeared in the 12/96 edition of the catalog. That edition has a real "hodge podge". It shows the GM #25160560 as applicable to 92-95 with LT1 and the 25171377 as applicable to 92-96 with LT1.

Officially, the PF-51, GM #25010908, was replaced for SERVICE by the first PF-52, GM #25160560 in August, 1995. The latter filter was replaced by the 25171377 in January, 1997.

The first PF-52, GM #25012760, followed a different track. It has no PF-51 in its "lineage". The 25012760 was replaced by the second PF-52, GM #25160560, in October, 1994. The latter filter was replaced by the third PF-52, GM #25171377, in January, 1997 as also previously mentioned.

So, what are the differences between these 3 PF-52's? I don't know. I have NOS examples of the 25160560 and the 25171377 but on appearances they answer nothing.

[Don G.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

Floyd

Yes
All OEM filters on all C-4's were black.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

I have been using PF51 and 52 filters on my driver cars for years, but I have no experience with PRODUCTION versions of these.
I have observed different versions (not necessarily by part number) of PF52s that include differences in the holes on the oil return side of the filter. Some have more or less holes with different diameter. The ones with fewer holes have holes with a larger diameter.

I had thought that as Delco phased out of the filter manufacturing business these differences were indicative of different manufacturers, but then it could mean something else or nothing at all.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

I have been using PF51 and 52 filters on my driver cars for years, but I have no experience with PRODUCTION versions of these.
I have observed different versions (not necessarily by part number) of PF52s that include differences in the holes on the oil return side of the filter. Some have more or less holes with different diameter. The ones with fewer holes have holes with a larger diameter.

I had thought that as Delco phased out of the filter manufacturing business these differences were indicative of different manufacturers, but then it could mean something else or nothing at all.

Terry-----

The PF-51 originally installed on my 1992 LT1 was definitely black with a black and silver label as Don described. I still have it around here (somewhere).

However, I vaguely recall something from the tour of the Flint engine plant we did at the NCRS convention in 1992. I recall they had just started to build the 1993 model year engines although they were still building the 1992 engines, too. In fact, I distinctly remember that's where I first saw the new-for-1993 LT1 composite valve covers. In any event, I saw a palletized bin of BLUE PF-51 oil filters. These had to be for the CORVETTE LT1 engines since they were the only engines built at Flint that used the PF-51.

[Don G.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

Joe

In my opinion, the most likely reason that blue PF-51's were in the plant is because they ran out of black ones and AC,just a few miles down the road, sent over the aftermarket blue ones. They used a powder coat process and a color change required significant changeover time and black was a very low percentage of their production( like maybe 5%).

If you find your original PF51 from your '92, I would be interested to know if "DURAGUARD" was on the label. I don't expect it to be but we are having trouble determining when the labels were changed. We suspect it was a rolling change whenever the label supply of the old ones ran out and then, if they later found old stock labels, I am sure they were used.

Don

[Tom H.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

Guys, I don't know if this photo has any value to this thread or not. This is the filter I removed in the spring of 1996 from my new, February 96 built LT1 powered Impala SS.

[Pat F.]

Re: 1996 Oil Filter

Gentlemen: to all of you who responded to this topic I want to thank you because you have answered a number of my questions.
Pat