GM 2.4L Ecotec Oil Filter Replacement: PF457GO Cartridge Cross-Reference & Torque Specs That Actually Matter

August 04 2026, by iFJF Direct, 9 min reading time

GM 2.4L Ecotec Oil Filter Replacement: PF457GO Cartridge Cross-Reference & Torque Specs That Actually Matter

If you've been under the hood of a 2.4L Ecotec more than a couple times, you already know the oil filter setup on these engines is not like what you're used to on an old small-block Chevy. No spin-on can hanging off the block. Instead, you've got a plastic housing cap with a paper cartridge element inside. Get the torque wrong, skip an O-ring, or use the wrong filter number — and you're looking at a mess. Maybe an expensive one.

This guide covers the PF457GO cartridge filter — the one that crosses to GM part 19260345, ACDelco PF457G/PF2244G, and a handful of others. I'll run through what vehicles take it, what socket you need, the torque number that'll keep your housing cap in one piece, and the dumb mistakes I've seen people make in bays across 15 years.

Cartridge vs. Spin-On — What Ecotec Owners Need to Get Right

GM switched the 2.4L Ecotec family to a cartridge-style oil filter housed inside a black plastic cap on the passenger side of the block. It sits sideways near the oil pan rail. The cap threads onto an aluminum housing — and this is where things go sideways if you don't pay attention.

The spin-on filters you're used to are one-piece. Gasket pre-installed. Hand-tight, maybe a quarter turn with a wrench. Done. Cartridge filters are different. You're pulling the cap, swapping the paper element, replacing two O-rings (not one — two), and torquing the cap back to a specific number. Skip the small O-ring on the stem tip and you'll have a leak that'll drive you nuts trying to diagnose. Over-tighten the cap and you'll crack the plastic — which means $80+ for a new housing, plus coolant crossover pipe interference on some models, which turns a 15-minute oil change into a two-hour headache.

The PF457GO from iFJF is a direct cartridge replacement that matches OEM media spec and comes with both O-rings. At $23.99, you're paying a fraction of dealership parts-counter pricing for the same filter.

Vehicle Compatibility — Who's Running This Filter

This cartridge fits the naturally aspirated 2.2L and 2.4L Ecotec L4 across a stupid number of GM nameplates. If you've got one of these in your driveway, the PF457GO is what you need:

Buick Regal 2.4L — 2011 through 2017
Buick Verano 2.4L — 2012 through 2017
Chevrolet Cobalt 2.2L — 2005 through 2010
Chevrolet Equinox 2.4L — 2010 through 2017
Chevrolet Impala 2.4L — 2014 through 2016 (yes, the mild-hybrid eAssist ones)
Chevrolet Malibu 2.4L — 2013 through 2016
Chevrolet Orlando 2.4L — 2012 through 2014
Chevrolet Captiva Sport 2.4L — 2012 through 2015
GMC Terrain 2.4L — 2010 through 2017
Pontiac G5 2.2L — 2007 through 2009
Pontiac G6 2.4L — 2006 through 2010
Saturn Aura 2.4L — 2007 through 2010
Saturn Vue 2.4L — 2008 through 2010
Saturn Ion 2.2L / 2.4L
Fisker Karma 2.0L Turbo — yeah, the same filter. The Karma uses a GM Ecotec 2.0L turbo and shares this cartridge.

That's 15 platforms across four dead brands and two dying ones. If you run a shop or work on family cars on the side, there's a good chance this filter number comes up every week.

Cross-Reference Numbers — What Parts Stores Call This Thing

Hand the counter guy one of these and you'll walk out with the right part:

iFJF	PF457GO
GM / ACDelco OEM	19260345
ACDelco	PF457G, PF457GF
ACDelco	PF2244G
ACDelco Professional	PF456G

PF457G is the most common number you'll hear at parts stores. PF457GF is the same filter with a slightly different O-ring kit. PF2244G and PF456G are earlier ACDelco numbers that cross directly. The GM factory part number stamped on the filter housing itself is 19260345.

Oil, Capacity, and Socket Size

Oil spec: 5W-30 full synthetic. GM dexos1 Gen 2 approved. Don't use conventional in these engines — the timing chain tensioner relies on clean, consistent oil pressure and the VVT solenoids clog fast with sludge.
Capacity: About 5 quarts with filter change. Buy the 5-quart jug. It'll take pretty much the whole thing.
Socket size: 24mm or 15/16" shallow socket on the filter housing cap hex. The 15/16" is slightly looser but works in a pinch. Use a 6-point, not a 12-point — the plastic hex rounds off easy.

Torque Spec: 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs). Do Not Wing This.

I'm putting this in its own section because it's the single most expensive mistake people make on an Ecotec oil change. The filter cap threads into an aluminum oil filter housing. The cap itself is glass-reinforced nylon. It does not take a lot of torque.

The spec is 25 Nm — that's 18 foot-pounds.

For reference, 18 ft-lbs is about what you'd use on a spark plug. If you're cranking on it with a half-inch ratchet like you're tightening lug nuts, stop. You'll either:

Crack the plastic cap — $35-$50 for a replacement. Ecotec plastic parts don't forgive over-torque.
Strip the aluminum housing threads — now you're replacing the entire oil filter housing assembly, which on the Equinox and Terrain means pulling the intake manifold and coolant crossover. That's not a $100 job anymore. That's $600-$900 at a shop.

Use a torque wrench. Set it to 25 Nm. Tighten until it clicks. Walk away. This is not the place to show off your forearm strength.

O-Rings: Two of Them. Always Both.

The PF457GO cartridge kit comes with the large O-ring for the cap and the small O-ring for the tip of the center stem. Replace both every time.

I've seen leaks that were traced back to a reused small O-ring more times than I can count. The small one hardens from heat cycling and loses its seal. It's a slow, annoying drip that pools on top of the subframe and doesn't hit the ground until you're moving. People chase that leak for weeks thinking it's a pan gasket or a rear main. It's a $0.20 O-ring.

Lube both O-rings with fresh oil before installing. Dry O-rings twist and pinch during tightening. You want them sliding into place, not binding.

Pro Tips from the Bay

Tip 1: Crack the Cap Before Draining the Oil

Sounds backwards, but here's why: once you pull the drain plug and the pan empties, the filter housing drains too. Cracking the cap before draining lets gravity help you — the oil in the housing flows back to the pan instead of dumping down your arm when the cap comes off. Less mess, fewer rags.

Tip 2: Check the Housing for Cracks Before Reinstalling

With the cap off and the old cartridge out, shine a flashlight into the aluminum housing. Look for hairline cracks radiating from the threaded section. If you see any, stop. Replace the housing. If you don't, and it's already cracked from a previous over-torque, the new cap and O-rings won't fix the leak. You'll just waste a fresh filter and 5 quarts of synthetic.

Tip 3: The 15/16" Socket Trick

Lost your 24mm? A 15/16" shallow 6-point fits. It's 23.8mm vs 24mm — close enough. But it's a looser fit, so go slow and keep the socket fully seated. A 12-point will round the plastic hex in about half a second if you're not dead straight. Ask me how I know.

Tip 4: Double-Check the Small O-Ring Seating

The small O-ring on the stem tip needs to sit in its groove — not above it, not below it. When you push the new filter cartridge onto the stem, you should feel it seat. If the cartridge feels loose or wobbly on the stem, the O-ring isn't in the groove. Pull it off, check, and reseat. Better to catch it now than chase a leak later.

FAQ

Can I use a PF457G instead of the PF457GO?

Yes. PF457G is the ACDelco number. PF457GO from iFJF is the direct cross — same dimensions, same media spec, same O-ring kit. You're getting the same filter without the GM-branded box markup.

What happens if I over-tighten the filter cap?

Best case: nothing yet. Worst case: you crack the nylon cap (leaks immediately) or you strip the aluminum housing threads (leaks eventually, or the cap blows off under pressure). Either way, you're buying parts and redoing the job. Stick to 25 Nm.

How often should I change this filter?

Every oil change. These Ecotec engines run a timing chain — not a belt — and the chain tensioner is oil-pressure-actuated. Dirty oil, clogged filter, low pressure at the tensioner, and you're pulling the front cover to replace a stretched chain. Change oil and filter at 5,000-7,500 miles with full synthetic. Don't push past 7,500, no matter what the oil life monitor says.

Does this filter fit the 2.0L Turbo Ecotec?

No. The 2.0L turbo (LTG engine, found in the Regal GS, Malibu 2.0T, etc.) uses a different filter — typically ACDelco PF64 or equivalent. The PF457GO cross-references are for the naturally aspirated 2.2L and 2.4L engines only. The Fisker Karma 2.0L turbo is the one exception — it uses the GM LNF Ecotec architecture which takes this cartridge.

Can I use 5W-20 instead of 5W-30?

Don't. GM spec'd 5W-30 dexos1 for a reason. The VVT system, timing chain tensioner, and piston oil squirters were all calibrated for 5W-30 at operating temperature. Thinner oil at temp means lower oil pressure, which means the tensioner doesn't pressurize properly. You might save $3 on a jug of 5W-20 but you'll spend $2,000 on a timing chain job. Not worth it.

Get the Right Filter for Your Ecotec

Order the PF457GO Oil Filter Cartridge — $23.99. Ships with both O-rings and factory-direct pricing you won't get at the dealership parts counter. While you're at it, check out the full oil filter collection — we stock filters for Duramax, Powerstroke, Cummins, and a growing line of GM passenger car parts.

Related reading: Kubota Fuel Filter Assembly Replacement Guide and Cummins B6.7 Fuel Filter Cross-Reference & Install. Filter maintenance is filter maintenance — the principles are the same whether you're wrenching on a 2.4L Ecotec or a 6.7L diesel.

Working on an Ecotec with oil leaks from the top end? Take a look at our Ecotec Valve Cover replacement. And for you Duramax owners — don't sleep on the Duramax Fuel Filter Housing if yours is showing its age.