Oil Filters

ShopTalk

Title Page- Oil Filters
Original Author- Marty Rood

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It seems that they are not all the same. The Honda OEM filter has an extra check valve in it which stops any oil from flowing into the filter until there is oil pressure in the system sufficient enough to overcome this check valve. What this does is to allow oil to bypass the filter and get to the important parts of the engine more quickly, especially on cold startups.

As most of us know, most engine wear commonly occurs on cold startups before the oil has a chance to build up pressure so that it can lubricate the engine properly. Normally, on initial startup, the oil would have to fill the filter's volume (either fill a new filter completely, or whatever has drained out since the last time the engine was run). This takes a couple of seconds when the engine is in most need of the oil, especially when cold. If the oil is forced to bypass the filter during cold startups (or anytime when there is no oil pressure); then it will build volume and pressure throughout the engine more quickly causing less wear to the engines at this crucial time. The accumulated effect of this is a longer lasting engine over it's entire life, therefore increasing its durability.

Those who want to save one or two dollars on their oil changes by using an after-market oil filter may be causing their engines to wear out more quickly including compression loss and, thereby, performance. I buy my Honda oil filters by the case (10 filters/case) and it costs me no more than $6.00/filter at online discount warehouses. How much can one possibly save by buying an after-market filter which may not be as good for the engine? In other words, instead of getting 100% life, an engine might only get 90 -> 95% (this is only a conservative guess -- it may be even less) of its potential mileage due to the accumulated effects of a few seconds of increased wear each and every time the engine is cold started (especially after sitting for a week, or a month). This, of course, won't show within most Valk's lifetimes; especially for those who don't put high mileage's on their mounts. But, for those of us who consider these Valks "keepers" and/or who do put high mileage on them; the use of the Honda OEM filter becomes of paramount importance. For those others who just want to know that they are doing the best for their Valks while they have them; I recommend always using the Honda oil filter.