Self supporting pleatable web and an oil filter including the same

An oil filter comprising a fibrous media, wherein the fibrous media includes a fibrous web comprising:

• (i) synthetic fibers;
• and
• (ii) a binder component which is at least one selected from the group consisting of a thermoset binder present at a concentration of at least 15 wt % by weight of the fibrous web and at least one binder fiber;
• wherein
• the synthetic fibers comprise up to 30 wt. % of glass fibers, based on the total weight of the fibers;
• and wherein
• the synthetic fibers are bonded with the thermoset binder and/or the at least one binder fiber to form the fibrous web;
• and wherein
• the fibrous media is in the form of a self-supporting, pleated oil filter which retains pleats upon contact with oil having a temperature in the range encountered in a combustion engine;
• and
• the fibrous media is not reinforced with an additional mechanical support layer.