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Hi Leo, The easiest way I solved this decision was to buy a couple different filter brands that I thought I liked, good reputation, and one cheapy brand, then cut the top off and compare the inside results. For less than $20, I had my answer as it's very easy to see the difference between filter brands. From my past filter experience in HVAC, a pleated filter design has alot better filtering qualitys in both liquids and air. As to check valves, bypass valves, just look to see there made to seal and again it's easy to spot the difference of a bad or poor quality design. With OEM filters at a resonable cost and available about anywhere, it's really hard to beat them in both quality and price from what I have found. I didn't use OEM filters in the past because of cost and availabilty. Are there better filters than OEM? Sure but usually at twice the cost. Next question, will I get twice the life out of my engines because of the better filter? Nope and it really doesn't matter if they did on road vehicles as the body and other componets will wear out before the engine does with cheap filters. My experience of using cheap Fram filters over the past 35yrs. I also look at how often I need to change the filters. If I change filters twice a year whats another $20yr in cost for the very best. A good rule of thumb, any filter that claims a better "flow" rate in either air or liquid, vs a OEM filter, has a very poor filtering ability. T_Bone
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