Caution: Two Different Oil Filters on Buick Encore -- Not Interchangeable

[ken-clifton]

So looking at the parts manual at GMPartsDirect there was only one oil filter listed for my 2018 Encore Premium Trim. Since I have always done my own oil changes, I ordered six of the AC PF2257G oil filters. Unfortunately when I went to change the oil, in spite of what the parts manual said for the "premium" trim, the engine had the AC PF2263G oil filter. That meant an unexpected trip to the dealer paying full retail price for the other oil filter. And, if anyone wants some of the PF2257G filters for the Hengst housing I have six brand-new ones that I can't use -- lets talk.

Here is a comparison of the two oil filter designs that are used from 2013 to 2019 on the Encore, and it occurs to me that someone in a hurry could easily put the wrong oil filter in -- as the two are very close, but the one on the right (UFI) has a built-in bypass valve! Installing the PF2257G into the UFI housing can cause serious engine damage! It might be advisable to at least show or print a tech note (link) about this and take it with you. There have been many reports of the wrong filter being installed in Chevrolet Trax, Sonics and Cruzes with the UFI housing.

 

[DocBrown]

That's interesting and good to know. Thanks for the heads up. I do know that they have made a lot of changes to these engines each year.

 

[oregon_rider]

I ended up taking a trip to the parts store to get a wix filter when the pf2257 looked totally different from what was in the car. The WIX does have an anti drain back valve - but I wonder whether it is incorrect too...

I ordered the pf2263g from amazon and will swap it in when I get home from a business trip on friday.

Thanks for the heads up.

jeff

p.s. found this doing a web search :

https://napafilters.com/wp-content/uploads/GM-1.4L-Oil-Filter-Product-Alert-English.pdf

 

[ken-clifton]

Jeff, WIX makes most of the NAPA filters... And, WIX does not currently make an oil filter for the housings with the dark brown cap (UFI). If your car had the filter with a check valve (PF2263G) then putting the Hengst filter without a check valve in can cause serious engine damage.

As far as I know, the only filter supplier other than GM right now for the UFI housing is FRAM. Their part number is: CH12246 . Plenty of manufacturers are making the filter without a check valve that fits the Hengst housing.

I have seen several posts where folks checked behind some dealerships after oil changes and their UFI housings had the wrong filter (without check valve) installed. Again if you are worried, I would print the GM Tech Note above and take it with you...

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

Oil filters for 2018 Buck Encore....

Engine 1.4 (LUV) - GM part # 55594651 - ACDelco part # PF2257G Letter B in the middle of VIN #

Engine 1.4 (LE2) - GM part # 12640445 - ACDelco part # PF64 Letter M in the middle of VIN #

 

[ken-clifton]

Actually, there are two possible filters for the Encore with the LUV engine :
PF2257G / GM# 55594651 (Hengst Housing)
PF2263G / GM# 25195785 (UFI Housing)
Again, you can simply read the GM Tech Note from the original post to verify this.
If I followed your instructions for the (LUV) I would have the wrong filter because mine has the UFI housing.

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

Hmm... so your VIN # has the Letter B or M somewhere in the middle of it ???

I guess the best thing for someone to do is open the hood and see weather it says "Hengst" or "UFI" on top of the oil filter cap.

Here is another link trying to explain some of it.

https://napafilters.com/wp-content/uploads/GM-1.4L-Oil-Filter-Product-Alert-English.pdf

But I still think you probably have the 1.4 LE2 motor and not the LUV. Please prove me wrong.

 

[oregon_rider]

ZeroBoostBuick - You are not correct - at least not for my vehicle....

My engine is LUV (B). This is the older port injected motor design. The original oil filter was the one with the spring checkvalve shown in the image above - the pf2263G.

The owners manual lists the incorrect filter for my vehicle - the PF2257G.

 

[ken-clifton]

Consider yourself proved wrong: my 2018 Encore Premium has the "B" VIN code for the engine, it is not the LE2 engine! And, again, if you simply read the GM Tech Note (from the original post) it plainly states the engine they are referencing is the LUV engine.

Just to be clear, the LE2 (153HP) engine is the start/stop version, which should be a spin-on filter -- not a cartridge.

 

[ken-clifton]

ZeroBoostBuick - You are not correct - at least not for my vehicle....

My engine is LUV (B). This is the older port injected motor design. The original oil filter was the one with the spring checkvalve shown in the image above - the pf2263G.

The owners manual lists the incorrect filter for my vehicle - the PF2257G.

Yep, my owner's manual is wrong too. They really need to fix this!

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

Now I understand.

I am surprised GM let this slip for so long with out fixing it. Kinda Sad.

 

[oregon_rider]

It is bad on so many levels...

1. Wrong oil filter listed in owners manual...
2. The wrong oil filter can easily be installed into the vehicle as it has the same or a similar "form factor" as the correct filter.
3. Damage "may be possible"....

Relative to #3, I do wonder under which scenario damage to engine can occur. What is mechanism for damage? Restriction? Lack of bypass? Constant bypass? What?


jeff

 

[MelsRegal]

Actually the PF64 mentioned above isn't even close, it is a conventional full case oil filter, not a cartridge. How did GM screw this up this badly?

 

[ken-clifton]

Actually the PF64 mentioned above isn't even close, it is a conventional full case oil filter, not a cartridge. How did GM screw this up this badly?

The PF64 spin-on is the correct filter for the 153HP Start/Stop LE2 Engine Option.
Caution needs to be exercised when replacing the Oil Filter on the LUV (B-VIN) engine as there are two possible housings that are used and their cartridge-type filter elements are not interchangeable.
Here is a paste of my 2018 Owner's Manual with my suggested corrections made in red:

 

[KevinJ]

Yep, Ken is completely correct on this one.

For additional reference, I'm "pretty sure" the GM Part # for the UFI Filter is: 25195785
And it is listed as a "special order" item at the online GM Parts websites.
Just buy the acdelco PF2263G, it's easier and most likely cheaper.

My brother went thru the same confusion with his 2017 Encore.
His VIN has engine code B (LUV), but it has the UFI filter housing and cap.
And the 2017 owners manual is "inaccurate", the same as the 2018.

I quickly found the online NAPA PDF explaining the difference for him.
https://napafilters.com/wp-content/uploads/GM-1.4L-Oil-Filter-Product-Alert-English.pdf

One thing to note...
The NAPA link indicates a Brown color for the UFI filter cap.
My brothers is more black than brown.
It's probably better to note the raised ridges/ribs on the UFI cap v/s the smooth Hengst cap.

An oil filtration design change from one engine model year to the next, ok ... maybe...
Two different oil filter assemblies within the same model year? Only if really needed!!
But to continue on with 2 different oil filter assemblies over multiple years is ridiculous!
To not have this correctly documented in the owners manual or service manuals!! INEXCUSABLE!!

Not surprising if some dealerships and oil lube shops are using the wrong filter.

 

[KevinJ]

Side question....
Wonder if you can swap out the UFI Oil Filter Assembly for the more common Hengst Assembly?
You would then have a greater availability of Oil Filters to choose from.

 

[ken-clifton]

Side question....
Wonder if you can swap out the UFI Oil Filter Assembly for the more common Hengst Assembly?
You would then have a greater availability of Oil Filters to choose from.

Yes, as long as you don't mind changing out the whole oil cooler and filter assembly.
Hengst Oil Cooler & Filter Assembly GM# 55566784
UFI Oil Cooler & Filter Assembly GM# 25200134

Not surprisingly the UFI is cheaper. Just an observation, but the Hengst assembly has an integrated bypass valve. With the UFI, the bypass valve gets changed out with every new filter.

 

[ken-clifton]

And, there is a TSB about this issue too, complete with a NHTSA reference number:

Date Reported: JULY 28, 2017
NHTSA Reference: #10126083
TSB Reference: #17-NA-184

Description: This informational bulletin provides information for dealers and technicians about the 1.4L turbocharged engine use two different suppliers for the oil filter housing which results in two different filters being used.

 

[guyc66]

This is from the 2019 Owner's Manual (see highlighted note):

 

[KevinJ]

This is from the 2019 Owner's Manual (see highlighted note):

Finally!!! How many years did it take to get it corrected in the Owner's Manual?

What I find more interesting is that GM can't seem to source enough of a single oil filtration assembly, forcing them into this mixed bag.

A bigger downside to this problem, is that those needing the UFI (PF2263G) filter have very few brands to choose from.

In fact these are the only UFI filters that I know of....

ACDelco (PF2263G)
FRAM EXTRA GUARD (CH12246)
Purolator (L29177)

Feel free to list additional brands that I may have missed....