I really, really need to swap out the Fram filter on the MR2 as I think it's got a bad drain back valve (plus it's a Fram). Local Napa supposedly have both Gold and Platinum filters in stock, or I can drive to Summit and get a K&N filter.
What say the font?
I've never had a problem with any of the above, but I don't own anything terribly exotic.
the main thing is that the platinum filter media is designed to work for more miles. So if you use synthetic and run long oil change intervals, there's your choice. If you change it ever 5000 anyway, the gold is plenty good.
I've always bought the Golds and that is that. All they are just reboxed Wix filters.
I don't remember which is which, but Napa sells a white filter sealed in clear plastic(no box)...I think it's part of their commercial line or something...that's the same as the Gold filter but less than 50% the cost. The last one I bought was for the Vitara, and the new counter guy had no idea what I was talking about. The Gold filter was going to be ~$6-something, the white one in clear plastic was less than $2.
Just to clarify, I'm not after the cheapest possible filter as I could leave the Fram on there 
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I usually get Gold filters for the normal stuff like the CRX and the truck. Given that I won't drive the MR2 that much in the next few months/until I put the baffled sump on, I think Napa Gold is probably good enough to find out if the issue is actually with the anti-drain back valve or something more serious.
The gold is a fiberglass enhanced cellulose media, the platinum is a full synthetic wire backed media. They're the same otherwise AFAIK.
http://www.napafilters.com/do-it-yourself/goldnapafilter/
http://www.napafilters.com/do-it-yourself/platinumnapafilter/
After digging through the parts cattle dog, it appears that they only have the Gold filter in stock for the turbo anyway so that makes the choice rather easy.
Oh, I am qualified for this one. 
The Gold is the standard Wix (5 prefix in the Wix box) filter. Very good filter, easily handles 5K OCI's with a good oil. Typically around an 18 micron element made of the glass enhanced cellulose. This is a great filter and what I usually run in just about everything.
The Platinum is our "ultra premium" upgrade, think 7,500-10K mile OCI's. As mentioned above, it's a 100% synthetic wire backed media. Usually the same microns as the Gold, maybe a little better (I've seen 15ppm here and there).
The White filter is called a ProSelect, and is supposed to be for Commercial and Fleet use only (corporate frowns on over-the-counter sales, but it's not disallowed. You do NOT want these under any circumstances. They have around half of the media of a Gold filter, with a higher ppm rating.
The Silver is about half way between a ProSelect and a Gold. Not bad for a quickie 3K OCI.
petegossett wrote: I don't remember which is which, but Napa sells a white filter sealed in clear plastic(no box)...I think it's part of their commercial line or something...that's the same as the Gold filter but less than 50% the cost. The last one I bought was for the Vitara, and the new counter guy had no idea what I was talking about. The Gold filter was going to be ~$6-something, the white one in clear plastic was less than $2.
That would have been a Silver Masterpack filter, which is not supposed to be sold individually. Masterpacks come in bulk cases of 12, not individual boxes.
Part number five digits, starts with a 2?
In reply to Knurled:
Close. White colored filter is the ProSelect. It is a 2 prefix. They come individual (white and yellow boxes) or in the master packs of 12 with clear cellophane (MP suffix). You can also get a lot of the popular Gold filters in master packs.
The Silver filter is a 3 prefix, and is not available as an MP. It is painted Black like the Gold and Platinum (4 prefix) filters.
Huh, okay then. That must have been the change they did a few years back. We've always used the 2nnnn filters, they were Silver when I was paying attention.
But, now that you mention it, they have a PSL line code in our invoicing software.
@Javelin, any comments on using the Gold filters on a track driven boost buggy like the MR2 Turbo? I'll probably end up changing the oil fairly frequently on it anyway so a cheaper filter may be a good thing.
In reply to BoxheadTim:
Gold on a track car is just fine. Depending on what type of filter it is, it will have metal internal components (no cardboard), and meet or exceed all OEM specifications. I have personally autocrossed, drag raced, and HPDE'd vehicles with Gold filters, never had an issue.
In reply to Javelin:
Thanks for clarifying! That's what I get for taking the parts guy's word... 
The wire backed media wouldn't be a bad idea on a track driven vehicle, prevents tearing.
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