Best Oil Filter

[VOZ]

I have always used OEM filters. Is there one out there that is better..

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Originally Posted by VOZ

I have always used OEM filters. Is there one out there that is better..

Take a look at some of these filters from AMSOIL. http://www.amsoil.com/filtration/index.aspx

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Originally Posted by VOZ

I have always used OEM filters. Is there one out there that is better..

The best way to get an answer to your question is to get a spec sheet on the OEM oil filter that you are using and compare it to the competition.

[Joe88ZX10]

OK , here's what the K&N Powersports PerformanceGold oil filter states on the outside of the box ;

- Designed for today's high performance synthetic oils
- Exceeds all OE factory specifications
- Manufactured to QS9000 standards
- Designed for high performance engines
- Unaffected by racing fuels
- Strong inner core
- Modern synthetic- blend filter media catches more dirt , yet allows more flow with less pressure drop .

I know that K&N automotive oil filters are extremely good at filtering very small particles and they have been used on some high $ racing engines on the dyno .
I'm using K&N oil filters on my 88 ZX10 and I'll have no problems getting to sleep at night !

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Originally Posted by Joe88ZX10

OK , here's what the K&N Powersports PerformanceGold oil filter states on the outside of the box ;

- Designed for today's high performance synthetic oils
- Exceeds all OE factory specifications
- Manufactured to QS9000 standards
- Designed for high performance engines
- Unaffected by racing fuels
- Strong inner core
- Modern synthetic- blend filter media catches more dirt , yet allows more flow with less pressure drop .

I know that K&N automotive oil filters are extremely good at filtering very small particles and they have been used on some high $ racing engines on the dyno .
I'm using K&N oil filters on my 88 ZX10 and I'll have no problems getting to sleep at night !

I wonder why they don't post any micron ratings? With the synthetic media they should be good filters though. I wonder why they don't make mention of what test methods they use? The QC9000 they mentioned has nothing to do with the quality of the filter as they are probably referring to ISO9000 manufacturing standards.
george
ADG
george
ADG

[zx12rider]

I use purolater pure one's on my 12

[green meenie]

I use an HS Performance reusable filter on my zx-6r and in the wifes 250-R. They are reusable and the micron rating is 35. So far, I'm pretty happy with them. They aren't cheap but if they do the job better than the OEM filters and last for the life of the bike then I don't mind spending more out of the gate. Will pay for itself in time.

http://www.hsperformanceparts.com/

[Vertigo117]

I use K&N simply because I trust the brand and they have a 17mm nut that makes taking them off and putting new ones on that much easier... no problems so far (well i got one stuck once but that was my fault)

[Tenquo]

I hate to say this but im with amsoil here :p
The K&N box statement is the typical marketting package stuck to any product, and everyone should be aware of this.... it 100% guarantees that its a REAL filter that has not have been manfactured by nazi's using aesbestos and made from questionable scrap metal from russia....but not much else.

Designed for today's high performance synthetic oils - Cuz as we all know synthetic oils kill your livestock steal your wives and destroy oil filters....

Exceeds all OE factory specifications - everyone "exceeds" the specifications, when was the last time a filter claimed to have just barely met them? The specifications and the real-world performance are very different things...

Manufactured to QS9000 standards - As usual this is very familiar on products and is almost certainly the iso9000 standard....remember what i mentioned about nazi's and aesbestos? those arnt any more irrelavent to the filter's performance than the 9000 standard.....

Designed for high performance engines - well yeah design the filter for a zx-10r and sure its a high performance engine, doesnt say its any good or not!

Unaffaceted by racing fuels - I have never heard of a racing fuel used in a road vehicle that affected the oil fiter....except when you replace your engine oil with racing fuel....but then you probably have bigger problems than your oil filter.

Strong inner core - Ok so it doesnt rip apart during use, thats nice....

And my all time favorite....Modern synthetic- blend filter media catches more dirt , yet allows more flow with less pressure drop - looking into this furthur i found this more detailed description by K&N:

"Our oil filters use resin impregnated cellulose filter media"- that is the definition of standard paper oem filter....if theyre claiming better flow and filtration based on just using this type of media then theyre either lying or comparing it to obselete

Now i got nothing against K&N but basically this is what i know about their filters....they probably filter just as good as kawasaki's original filters and they got that useful nut welded to the end which is sweet....but they arnt miles better than the oem filter and if that filter they offer for my zx-6r filters better than the oem filter its cuz they traded off their micron rating for better flow performance.

p.s. that welded nut at the end really is useful....i hate it when my oil filter adaptors get stuck on the ends.....but otherwise i treat the K&N as if it was an OEM filter....which IS a good thing i mean its not like its a can filled with wool :P

[Torino]

where do you guys buy the K and N filters ?

[Vertigo117]

a local guy near me, gets me discounts. i think ebay has a few, but they're not always cheapest.

[Joe88ZX10]

Nice translation of the specs ! In most places , ISO 9000 means they sweep the floor occasionally !

Originally Posted by Tenquo

I hate to say this but im with amsoil here :p
The K&N box statement is the typical marketting package stuck to any product, and everyone should be aware of this.... it 100% guarantees that its a REAL filter that has not have been manfactured by nazi's using aesbestos and made from questionable scrap metal from russia....but not much else.

Designed for today's high performance synthetic oils - Cuz as we all know synthetic oils kill your livestock steal your wives and destroy oil filters....

Exceeds all OE factory specifications - everyone "exceeds" the specifications, when was the last time a filter claimed to have just barely met them? The specifications and the real-world performance are very different things...

Manufactured to QS9000 standards - As usual this is very familiar on products and is almost certainly the iso9000 standard....remember what i mentioned about nazi's and aesbestos? those arnt any more irrelavent to the filter's performance than the 9000 standard.....

Designed for high performance engines - well yeah design the filter for a zx-10r and sure its a high performance engine, doesnt say its any good or not!

Unaffaceted by racing fuels - I have never heard of a racing fuel used in a road vehicle that affected the oil fiter....except when you replace your engine oil with racing fuel....but then you probably have bigger problems than your oil filter.

Strong inner core - Ok so it doesnt rip apart during use, thats nice....

And my all time favorite....Modern synthetic- blend filter media catches more dirt , yet allows more flow with less pressure drop - looking into this furthur i found this more detailed description by K&N:

"Our oil filters use resin impregnated cellulose filter media"- that is the definition of standard paper oem filter....if theyre claiming better flow and filtration based on just using this type of media then theyre either lying or comparing it to obselete

Now i got nothing against K&N but basically this is what i know about their filters....they probably filter just as good as kawasaki's original filters and they got that useful nut welded to the end which is sweet....but they arnt miles better than the oem filter and if that filter they offer for my zx-6r filters better than the oem filter its cuz they traded off their micron rating for better flow performance.

p.s. that welded nut at the end really is useful....i hate it when my oil filter adaptors get stuck on the ends.....but otherwise i treat the K&N as if it was an OEM filter....which IS a good thing i mean its not like its a can filled with wool :P

[killroy]

Originally Posted by Vertigo117

I use K&N simply because I trust the brand and they have a 17mm nut that makes taking them off and putting new ones on that much easier... no problems so far (well i got one stuck once but that was my fault)

[BULLDOG]

If the bike is new then I have almost always, used OEM for the duration of the Warranty, stops any possible bullshit if something goes awry, had this happen once before where the dealer tried saying it might not be covered because of an none OEM oil filter WTF? dumb ass.

[clarkmanning]

Originally Posted by zx12rider

I use purolater pure one's on my 12

They cost about 7 bucks at pep boys

[silverbullet2005]

I used to use only the Fram motorcycle filters but now I save my money and buy the Supertech oil filters from Walmart, Champion is the manufacturer for them.

Check out this oil filter study below, the Supertech filter is above average at an amazing price.
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/FilterStudy.html

[185EZ]

Originally Posted by silverbullet2005

I used to use only the Fram motorcycle filters but now I save my money and buy the Supertech oil filters from Walmart, Champion is the manufacturer for them.

Check out this oil filter study below, the Supertech filter is above average at an amazing price.
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/FilterStudy.html

I've also read good things about Supertech. I almost bought one but put it back. How can something cost only a couple bucks and do the job? The $10 filter probably costs the same to manufacture and is just as good but I chickened out.

[Oil Doc]

Originally Posted by silverbullet2005

I used to use only the Fram motorcycle filters but now I save my money and buy the Supertech oil filters from Walmart, Champion is the manufacturer for them.

Check out this oil filter study below, the Supertech filter is above average at an amazing price.

That filter study is very outdated and nothing more than comparison cut-aways. I have emailed with the author and he said that NO TESTING was performed on the filters... So yes, we can see construction and tell what a P*** Poor filter the Fram is... Also, you cannot tell how a filter performs by cutting it apart and counting pleats. There are approximately 75 different types of media available to filter manufacturers. Just because a company Mfg's a filter for different companies, does not mean they use the same media, by-pass valve, type of by-pass spring, can guage, rolled or cut threads, etc...

The same company, such as Hastings for instance, makes a very good filter in the $10.00 range.... They also make a $1.50 Filter for use by Quick Lubes. They are not the same filter, not even close.

Originally Posted by 185EZ

I've also read good things about Supertech. I almost bought one but put it back. How can something cost only a couple bucks and do the job? The $10 filter probably costs the same to manufacture and is just as good but I chickened out.

You were probably wise in your choice. Although price should never be the thought in buying what amounts to the Kidney for the Lifeblood of your engine.

I started to study the K&N when I came across a few people who made the statement that the K&N has to be a good filter because when they cut it apart, it was clean ... Great ! NOT !!!.... To me that means they are not holding the particulate and releasing it back into the oil.


The K&N Filter has nothing but a name and they are not even made by K&N. They use a compressed cellulose (paper) media, not a Synthetic material.

An anology of a K&N could be this... Corrugated Cardboard will wick up water like crazy, but compress it and what do you have ? A slick surfaced brown paper bag in which has a good filtering ability but no way to hold any particulate because it has no depth.

I started to study the K&N when I came across a few people who made the statement that the K&N has to be a good filter because when they cut it apart, it was clean ... Great ! NOT !!!.... To me that means they are not holding the particulate and releasing it back into the oil.

[Waldo]

So Oil Doc, Who's filter do you use?