How important or necessary is it to have anti drainback valve in an oil filter on a race engine? I understand Wix to be one of the favored brands and see they have options with and without it.

I also notice different brands with pretty big differences in particle filtration. would smaller particle filtration have any considerable effect on any flow rate? I expect that wouldn't really be an issue, but then again, having sat on the sidelines for so long, I do have a lot to learn/re-learn.

If it matters, this is in respect to big block chevy.

Thanks.

I don’t think the valve matters at all when the filter is mounted the way it is on a BBC. I’ve used Wix 51060 or 51061 interchangeably, or the NAPA Gold equivalents.

I’ve never gotten into using the dedicated racing filters that have less filtration but better flow.