bencervin
Full Member
Changed the oil today, and didn't realize until after I'd drained the oil and removed the filter that I didn't have the PF44 filter on hand. Found that neither Autozone, Pep Boys, or O'Reilly's -- all of the major chain auto parts retailers in Dallas -- had the PF44. Pep Boys showed that none of its stores had one, nor did its warehouse -- all of them zeroed out on inventory.
I finally was told by O'Reilly's computerized parts listing (saw it on the screen myself) that the '03 Av would take either a PF44 or a PF46. Indeed, the external physical dimensions, including the gasket diameter, seem to be exactly the same, and out of desperation I have installed the PF46. However, I noticed that the used PF44 had something attached about halfway down the center bore, which could be felt by inserting a finger (could probably be seen if some of the dirty oil hadn't still been in there). The PF46 had nothing down the center bore -- just a uniform inside diameter all the way to the bottom of the can.
I plan to call AC Delco Monday morning to get a more authoritative answer on interchangeability. Does anyone know what's going on? Has the PF44 been discontinued and superseded by the PF46? Are the PF44 and PF46 in fact fully interchangeable? With all the cars on the road that call for a PF44, including some older Corvettes, Buick Skylarks, and others, and even the brand new '04 Denali my son just bought, it seems inconceivable that none of these retail chains would stock (or would be out of stock on) that filter -- and besides, I know I've bought it at one of those stores sometime earlier this year.
I would appreciate any light that can be shed on this strange situation.
I finally was told by O'Reilly's computerized parts listing (saw it on the screen myself) that the '03 Av would take either a PF44 or a PF46. Indeed, the external physical dimensions, including the gasket diameter, seem to be exactly the same, and out of desperation I have installed the PF46. However, I noticed that the used PF44 had something attached about halfway down the center bore, which could be felt by inserting a finger (could probably be seen if some of the dirty oil hadn't still been in there). The PF46 had nothing down the center bore -- just a uniform inside diameter all the way to the bottom of the can.
I plan to call AC Delco Monday morning to get a more authoritative answer on interchangeability. Does anyone know what's going on? Has the PF44 been discontinued and superseded by the PF46? Are the PF44 and PF46 in fact fully interchangeable? With all the cars on the road that call for a PF44, including some older Corvettes, Buick Skylarks, and others, and even the brand new '04 Denali my son just bought, it seems inconceivable that none of these retail chains would stock (or would be out of stock on) that filter -- and besides, I know I've bought it at one of those stores sometime earlier this year.
I would appreciate any light that can be shed on this strange situation.