[bigbluesd]

This video makes me cringe & want to run up the hill to Napa & buy a gold filter. I'm new to Honda so please help prove to me that the 15400-plm-A02 oil filters are ok... I'm a little spoiled with the exposed filtering element of 3g prius. 10k miles oil&filter changes. No surprises. I barely settled in to the idea of 10k intervals - Yes we are using synthetic oil. But 20k interval filter.... Gulp & now seeing the build quality from the same manufacturer of fram filters in this video.

Please comment, especially those who follow Honda's ~10/20k Mike recommended interval. Has anyone cut open their filters after 20k?

 

[Duke69]

I've seen this video and other ones like it a while back and learned something. I've used fram and I never had any engine trouble cause by any oil filter. Then again, I've always done oil changes 2x a year or a little more than 3k mi. I wasnt paying attention when I ordered a 6 pack of the ao2's but when I changed the oil filter on my '19 RL, it had a02 filter. So if honda use it, I'll confidently use it as well. I think people are overthinking the filter unless you are racing and dont care about maintaining their vehicles.

 

[bigbluesd]

@Duke69 Thanks. As off-putting as it sounds to find rust in a brand new oil filter, is it harmful? Would rust increase engine wear or clog an oil passage?

 

[smufguy]

To be honest, you are not the first one to ask this question and I suggest that you not get anxious and get any filter and/oil that fits the Ridgeline specs, stick to your MM on the dash and you will be fine. As long as the vehicles does not see consistent and frequent heavy duty use (Unpaved roads, colder than average climate, high altitude, towing, etc etc), you will be fine. The A02 is fine, but the A01 is 'considered' best. For the price, I cannot justify it.

I go between the Mobil1 and Purolator One, whichever is cheaper. Again, please dont sweat it.

 

[Farther]

I won't dispute the conclusions of the video maker but a visual inspection is just the start of quality evaluations. Where is the performance part of the evaluation?

 

[Duke69]

@Duke69 Thanks. As off-putting as it sounds to find rust in a brand new oil filter, is it harmful? Would rust increase engine wear or clog an oil passage?

Rust "in" the oil filter??? I wouldn't know what that would look like with oil inside of it. Ive never seen one rusted from the inside and Ive done countless of oil changes. But if I were to assume that you meant the exterior of a brand new filter then that's a different story. If so, the extent of the rust depends if it needs replacement. Surface rust is just that, but I'd check it and run a wire brush ones in a while. If it's rusting through or about to, oil will leak out and you don't want that. Either way, it is safer to just replace it for a piece of mind if you aren't sure about it.
There's nothing wrong with using "top of the line" oil filters. They are cheap insurance but members here will tell you that they are unnecessary and are a waste of money. There are a wealth of knowledge and vedios in the net and you yourself, eventually, have to figure out what action to take. I'd stick what Honda recommends.

 

[Davegvg]

Couple things -

the Honda/fram A02 is built better than the Fram orange can he cut open - it has a metal seam clamp, a silicon ADBV and thicker endcaps.

This was a classic apples and oranges comparison - Had he put a fram ultra in the mix it would have risen to the top.

Length of filter media isn't as important as the media itself. He avoided actually talking about filtering specs.

A guy that cuts filters open with regularity will have a filter cutting tool.


UD

 

[Sparkland]

The filter should never be used for 20K miles. There is absolutely no reason to skip the filter change when changing the oil. We used the 10K service interval on our Camry Hybrid and I was a little apprehensive at first.

I agree with many of the other posters, use a good quality oil filter and you won't need to worry about it. Several forum members like WIX, Mobil 1, Honda A01, Napa Gold or Platinum, etc. It's a discussion that will never end, similar to what brand of oil should I use.

Certainly others will weigh in on this issue, but the most important thing is that you change the filter and oil on a regular basis. I use the MM on the Ridgeline. With my driving habits and mileage it results in the oil being changed every 5K miles.

 

[F6Hawk]

The filter should never be used for 20K miles. There is absolutely no reason to skip the filter change when changing the oil.

Well, except for that pesky little fact that Honda says to skip it. >

 

[Lokim4]

Who knows what this filter was subjected to prior to the making of the video. Despite anything the maker says it could have easily been neglected or intentionally abused just so that the video would make the point the poster wanted to. It’s irrelevant BS and I agree 100% with UD that anyone serious about filter dissecting would have a cutter and not be using a grinder.

That said the apparent and much exaggerated nature and failings of your average OCOD are about as true as what your average politician promised. Show me the heaps of cars in scrap yards that they caused engine failure on and I’ll eat one.

To answer the OP’s question. Filtech makes my oil filters, I use the A01’s from Honda-I have a case and a half left.

 

[longboat]

Well, except for that pesky little fact that Honda says to skip it. >

They're just trying to save the environment. Pay no attention to them. >

 

[Sparkland]

Well, except for that pesky little fact that Honda says to skip it. >

You made your point, Hawk. However, when I take my Ridgeline, CRV or Accord in for an oil change, the Honda service department ALWAYS tell me the oil and filter will be changed. Evidently, they do not follow their own manufacturer's advice.

I will stick with changing the oil and filter at the same time.

 

[bigbluesd]

@Duke69 yes rusting from the inside of a new filter
@Lokim4 hmm maybe he poured acid into the fram to cause the rust & the brittle medium
@Davegvg the a02 used the same medium design as the low end fram, that & the bypass valve design point to the same manufacturer, honeywell. I've also seen fram filters with dissolved mediums.

Apologies, if I come across like chicken little. I'm just an avg Joe trying to learn how to take care of my truck. From personal experience with dealer's & corp, I've learn greed is behind a lot of decisions. Not always, but I have to be on guard. Please continue sharing what you use & experienced. Collective knowledge is very helpful. Thanks.

 

[Lokim4]

@Lokim4 hmm maybe he poured acid into the fram to cause the rust & the brittle medium

Apologies, if I come across like chicken little. I'm just an avg Joe trying to learn how to take care of my truck. From personal experience with dealer's & corp, I've learn greed is behind a lot of decisions. Not always, but I have to be on guard. Please continue sharing what you use & experienced. Collective knowledge is very helpful. Thanks.

Never underestimate those with an agenda....

 

[F6Hawk]

You made your point, Hawk. However, when I take my Ridgeline, CRV or Accord in for an oil change, the Honda service department ALWAYS tell me the oil and filter will be changed. Evidently, they do not follow their own manufacturer's advice.

I will stick with changing the oil and filter at the same time.

Hey, if it makes you feel better, then do it! There are those who still swear by 3,000 mile oil/filter changes. To each their own. As for the service department, they make money on parts, don’t forget. What they recommend is not always what is best for the customer, sadly.

 

[Captive8]

I've got 1 A01 filter left, then I'll be into my stock of Mahle OC707. Decent filter at <$4 at Rock Auto.

 

[Slaz420]

I was at the Honda dealership and they had a box of Honda filters ending in 03 and they are made in Japan not sure any specs or anything

 

[marsh]

I've been using Baldwin filters for many years now on all our farming equipment and vehicles . It's one of the few brands that make filters for almost all the equipment that we have and a lot cheaper that oem . I have a filter cutter from Baldwin and one from goodson - both use a disc cutter like a pipe cutter and have cut many filters apart . I have had the opportunity to cut some fram filters apart and have found that they were very cheaply made with way less filter media than Baldwin with a lower quality paper as well . The ends of the media was just overlapped rather than being glued or a metal crimp put on . I had also found that the can was thinner and the crimp wasn't as robust as baldwins . Wix , hastings, fleetguard , purolater, all have better quality than fram it seems . Now I haven't taken any higher quality filters apart from fram just the orange top ones so I don't know if they are any better .

 

[Davegvg]

@Duke69 yes rusting from the inside of a new filter

@Lokim4 hmm maybe he poured acid into the fram to cause the rust & the brittle medium

@Davegvg the a02 used the same medium design as the low end fram, that & the bypass valve design point to the same manufacturer, honeywell. I've also seen fram filters with dissolved mediums.

Apologies, if I come across like chicken little. I'm just an avg Joe trying to learn how to take care of my truck. From personal experience with dealer's & corp, I've learn greed is behind a lot of decisions. Not always, but I have to be on guard. Please continue sharing what you use & experienced. Collective knowledge is very helpful. Thanks.

I cut open and inspect every filter I remove from every vehicle I change oil on.

I've not seen a dissolved Fram that was within the time Fram agrees upon.
I've seen problems at 3 and 4X the rated life- but at some point with a cheap filter failure is be expected.

The A02 doesn't use the same medium as the cheap frams, but actually one that is less effective filtration wise.
The spec on the A02 is less than that of every Fram Orange can.
Im uncertain why they do this- perhaps because they expect it to stay in for as long as 20K they are worried about filter packing, but these engine run very clean so that seems like a boogeyman that doenst exist.

Its worth noting that Fram doenst rate any of its orange cans to 20K like the A02.

I have not seen a filter that does not use wire backed media rated to 20K elsewhere on the market.

UD

What I saw

sorry if its repeat for some but it seemed thread appropriate.

You made your point, Hawk. However, when I take my Ridgeline, CRV or Accord in for an oil change, the Honda service department ALWAYS tell me the oil and filter will be changed. Evidently, they do not follow their own manufacturer's advice.

I will stick with changing the oil and filter at the same time.

This is always fun discussion.

1 OCI 1 filter never hurt any car. There is also something to be said about a potential filtration failure point being removed from the oil system on a more frequent basis.

As much as it never hurt, with a known set of parameters - it simply isnt necessary or desirable and I actually agree with Honda, who agrees with the oil filter manufacturers.

A high-end filter can easily go 20K IF starting with a clean engine, AND as long as that engine has no problem like a coolant leak or previous abuse or is sludged.

Gas auto contamination output is typically less than a gram per 1000 miles so they don't fill up either.

IN a clean and clean running setup throwing away a filter at 10K is like throwing away a 1/2 used product- its messsy and for no actual reason.

If you cut them - you'll know.


UD

 

[Farther]

Particulate efficiency is important and thanks to Dave for posting. I suppose as filter efficiency increases so does resistance to flow and filter effective life decreases, but I am just guessing. There must be some actual repeatable scientific method studies done comparing oil filters. Is there additional performance data available for example from the waste oil testing outfits. Do the oil testing outfits track oil filter usage?