A guy on one if the local boards said he put on a new K&N oil filter and even gave it another 1/4 turn with a wrench
And checked it, and took off for a ride, stopping and checking for leaks, and about 100 miles into the ride,
It started leaking from the oil filter, come to find out that K&N switched the people who make it for them,
And they changed the design of the filter, and they are made in Mexico now, not that that is necessarily a
Bad thing, in and of it shelf, but just thought I would give a shout out.

I don't use K&N, there are to many better options, but in case you do, just thought I would let you know,

This guy almost lost it, due to oil on his rear tire, but was able to save it.

Be safe brothers !!!!!

* Last updated by: carabuser on 7/21/2014 @ 10:44 AM *

See now that brings the debate on big name brands vs smaller name brands and now I ask....Which do you use?? I use KWI filters and would like to know if there is something better as I am always looking for the best.

K & N oil filters are crap......their air filters are good. OEM filters are hard to beat, use them!!!

Now I use the K&N #303 on Priscilla. I have never had a single problem. I'm not debating, I would just like to learn, what makes them crap? What oil filter brand is better and why? I wanna know because if there is a better product for the life of my engine I will switch right now.

check out this info

peep this too.

we ain't done yet... more brain food.

* Last updated by: hagrid on 3/28/2014 @ 9:07 AM *

Hagrid is right, I have been using that site for years, here is one note about Purolator Pur one filters :

"This is how an oil filter should be made. The anti-drainback valve is double the thickness of any other here, and obviously seals very well. The media is the best available, and there's a lot of it. The bypass valve is made from a laser-cut piece of stainless steel, and just can't bind or jam."

That being said, the OLD K&N I thought were made for them by Hi-Flo, but someone else said the old ones
Were made by champion, if that's true, champion usually makes very good filters, the new K&N is NOT made
By champion or Hi-Flo (I believe). I use Purolator Pure one usually, but am using the kawasaki one because I got a bunch of the ones made in japan for free or close to free, and when it was under warranty

* Last updated by: carabuser on 3/28/2014 @ 9:48 AM *

Pure one here. PL14610 and Rotella T-6.

Purolater diehard here...use them on all my bikes and would have bought one for my Chevy Cruze but they didn't have the newer cartridge type so I hit up the dealer and scored 4 AC Delco ones for $25..

On the King Kawi I use the Purolater 14610 and Rotella T6 synthetic. (Which I also swear by and use religiously, T6 5W-40 if it needs synthetic and the standard white-jug 15W-40 for everything else)

I also use the K&N 303 and never had an issue- I really like the 17mm nut they weld onto it as it makes removal and properly torquing it down a breeze.

Ive run the Purolator's in my cars. And I know lots of people have run them in bikes for ages with no issues (and the supertech cheapy walmart filter). What about the bypass pressure. I read somewhere that we may not want to run a car filter on a bike because the oil pump in a bike may not be able to handle the rated pressures like a bike specific filter would. Something to do with rated volume vs bypass pressure or whatever. Or maybe at high rpm it would go into bypass too easily, not allowing proper filtering?

Hogwash? or......

quote from Purolator. "If you're thinking you want to install a PureONE oil filter on your bike, please think again. PureONE oil filters are designed for vehicles, not bikes. Because of PureONE's high efficiency, the motorcycle oil pump may not be able to handle the pressure. The Purolator motorcycle filter line is designed to meet the specific needs of a bike; therefore we highly recommend the use of a Purolator ML filter over a PureONE oil filter."

I realize it may be lawyerspeak, or just for them to justify charging more for the MC specific filters. I think I'll just stick to Kawi branded filters. They may not be the best, but if I have a warranty issue; I'd like to be able to say I used the proper stuff.

On that note... a zx14 has 70 psi oil pressure, and a honda s2000 (example used on website) has 85 psi. Enough to make a difference?

Because of PureONE's high efficiency, the motorcycle oil pump may not be able to handle the pressure.

Lol... so, the pump's construction is insufficient to handle the pressure eh? Lest we forget, when the pressure differential across the media reaches a preset the media is bypassed relieving any "filter induced" pressure.

AND, you forgot to include the portion of the article which states Purolator mc filters are generics manufactured in China, shipped here, and branded Purolator.

I use Kawi filters as of late because Napa gold filters now cost more the Kawi filters. I think the Napa gold number was 1358. I use Kawi full synthetic oil since about 1200 miles.

Where was your Kawi OEM filter made?

Click me to find out!

I ain't hatin', I'm just sayin'.

Hagrid I saw that post. Made in China. WOW. I see the part number is different. This is where I get mine. I think its a decent deal and these are made in Japan.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251255708445?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Assistification:

Your text to link here...

Once word gets out about the Chinese ones these will sell themselves. Good find 345.

* Last updated by: hagrid on 3/29/2014 @ 10:14 PM *

Ok, so the new OEM filters are made in China.......does anyone have any hard evidence that they are of less quality than the Japanese ones?

Everything made in china is of lesser quality. They have the most cnc machines of any country, just for producing exact copies, using lesser quality materials.

Look at guitars. Materials and workmanship.

Japan
S. Korea
China/taiwan

* Last updated by: fatsix on 3/30/2014 @ 8:00 AM *

The hard evidence I'm looking for is more along the lines of....actually cutting one open to see if the media is of the same micron rating and same amount of pleats, glue joint quality, etc. Other than that, it's just an assumption....just like assuming that because it's made in the USA, it's of better quality. Just my opinion.....

* Last updated by: johnnyo on 3/30/2014 @ 8:15 AM *

I use Wix oil filters. I don't care where they make 'em, I think Wix is the best.

Danno, Wix are very good filters from what I hear, about the Chinese stuff, china is capable of producing quality products, the problem is, that many times they don't, I have no knowledge of the Chinese kawasaki filters,

I will donate a Japanese Kaw filter, if someone donates a Chinese Kaw filter if someone wants to cut them open...

I emailed the guy that runs the site that Hagrid metioned, he said that the Kaw filters are ok, but he still thinks the Pure one is the best, just his opinion though ....

I have run OEM Suzuki, (which this guy hates) for 11 years, and never had a problem, have been running the OEM
Kaws since got bike, and no problems either .....

I don't see why an OEM would skimp on a cheap part like an oil filter, that has so much to do with the engines
reliability, but that is kinda what this guys thinks ....

Ride safe brothers ...

* Last updated by: carabuser on 3/30/2014 @ 9:51 AM *

This is a fantastic thread. Thanks Cara. And thanks To everyone jumping in with links and info! I had most definitely assumed some stuff about oil filters. This is tons of good stuff. It's also great to learn a little more about where some of these are made, country of origin matters to build quality with every other component. Same with oil filters.
Great stuff here!

I think the problems only arise when you dont change your oil regularly. Didnt the fram filters have cardboard in them?

Yea the frams had cardboard in them, stay away from frams at all cost !
I remeber vance and Hines was tuning my hayabusa and putting it on the dyno, so I had them change the oil while it was there, I get home and look under my bike, and see a fram !!! Man I was pissed ! A brand new hayabusa too !

That was the last time I had anyone change my oil, about 15 years ago .....

* Last updated by: carabuser on 3/30/2014 @ 10:42 AM *

Where it says Made in Japan: look up at the fiber. 12 o'clock is a silver speck. 9 o'clock is a red speck. Look at the lower broken pleat in the pan: to the left of the cartridge. A silver speck on the right side of the stick. Look at the top left broken pleats laid on top of each other: the very top one. A lot of red locker material is more of what I see being filtered out. 2 silver specs and are they out of a threaded hole that was tapped out and now floats out of a threaded open end? That's the 3,000 mile OE filter. If it's paper or cardboard, then it sure is thicker than those glued in paper pleats. These are more like fiber sticks and the U connections are twice, maybe 3 times as thick you lay a mic on the thickness scale> pleat for pleat.

I'm going to hire a sloppy shop pity to make my warranty filters shotty and a lotty so I pay out the ass out for warranty claims. The QC is 4shit for my 4-strokes needing a filter cartridge. I'm going to find sing taw bing bang sweat shop, take over that cocktail umbrella factory and start making pleats that way for kayanend instead.

Does the 14 filter meet or exceed the average made (umbrella) filter? Dissaint yo momma's filter any mo, come rain or come and show me your pleat, tie wan HA tell you, maybe south core wee HA!

* Last updated by: Hub on 3/30/2014 @ 1:16 PM *