Doing lots of research on oil filters for the next oil change...have fram ultra on now, but many are saying this is a restrictive filter compared to Hondas standards...I heard that the K&N oil filters have good flow, but poor filtration..I need this car to last a long time so the engine needs to be protected, if i go K&N will the poor filtration add up over time and actually be worse? Which would you use for a honda k24 motor? the Fram Ultra, or K&N? honda filters have good flow, so im assuming that honda needs to have good flow. I do MANY MANY starts per day so i need protection to be there for each start up.
Another oil filter queston...K&N
- Thread starter gregk24
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I thought k&n oil filters were pretty good and their air filters we're bug guards.
The K&N filter is OK, but I think it's a little expensive. I had one customer who wouldn't use anything else. His filter was difficult to reach and the fact that the K&N has the hex 'nut' on the bottom was the entire reason. I'm a fan of the Bosch Distance Plus but The Fram Ultra is a good choice.
Originally Posted By: silverrat
Stop over thinking your oil changes. You are wasting your time and money.
I believe that qualifies as heresy and grounds for immediate excommunication from BITOG. People ask these questions so other people can over think their oil changes for them.
Stop over thinking your oil changes. You are wasting your time and money.
I believe that qualifies as heresy and grounds for immediate excommunication from BITOG. People ask these questions so other people can over think their oil changes for them.
You have a Accord with a vtec engine. I would not worry about the oil filter if I were you.
From what I've read here, some filters are biased towards filtration, others biased towards flow rate...K&N gets high marks here as being a quality filter, if over-priced (though often on sale with rebates).
...and IIRC, K&N isn't reported to have poor filtration; it's just biased towards flow...something to consider with regards to your engine's needs.
...and IIRC, K&N isn't reported to have poor filtration; it's just biased towards flow...something to consider with regards to your engine's needs.
Originally Posted By: gregk24
I heard that the K&N oil filters have good flow, but poor filtration
That's K&N air filters. K&N oil filters are among the best, but over-priced according to some. You will not notice any different using Fram Ultra versus K&N, and more importantly, neither will your engine.
I heard that the K&N oil filters have good flow, but poor filtration
That's K&N air filters. K&N oil filters are among the best, but over-priced according to some. You will not notice any different using Fram Ultra versus K&N, and more importantly, neither will your engine.
MolaKule
Staff member
Just to let you know, there is a filter forum so people can do searches when looking for filter discussion:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=6&page=1
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=6&page=1
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Originally Posted By: gregk24
Doing lots of research on oil filters for the next oil change...have fram ultra on now, but many are saying this is a restrictive filter compared to Hondas standards...I heard that the K&N oil filters have good flow, but poor filtration..I need this car to last a long time so the engine needs to be protected, if i go K&N will the poor filtration add up over time and actually be worse? Which would you use for a honda k24 motor? the Fram Ultra, or K&N? honda filters have good flow, so im assuming that honda needs to have good flow. I do MANY MANY starts per day so i need protection to be there for each start up.
If you're getting it with the Pennzoil Platinum deal at Advance Auto for $29.95 then it's a home run. Stock up on deals like that and you're set.
If the K&N flows similarly to the Honda OEM then I'm sure it's a great match. I believe in OEM flow/filtration rates. Also, the K&N can probably remain in service longer than the OEM filter.
On the other hand if you're always paying retail for it then I'd just use the Honda OEM filter. You will get 500,000 miles out of that engine with the OEM filter. The best filter in the world won't take you one mile further.
Doing lots of research on oil filters for the next oil change...have fram ultra on now, but many are saying this is a restrictive filter compared to Hondas standards...I heard that the K&N oil filters have good flow, but poor filtration..I need this car to last a long time so the engine needs to be protected, if i go K&N will the poor filtration add up over time and actually be worse? Which would you use for a honda k24 motor? the Fram Ultra, or K&N? honda filters have good flow, so im assuming that honda needs to have good flow. I do MANY MANY starts per day so i need protection to be there for each start up.
If you're getting it with the Pennzoil Platinum deal at Advance Auto for $29.95 then it's a home run. Stock up on deals like that and you're set.
If the K&N flows similarly to the Honda OEM then I'm sure it's a great match. I believe in OEM flow/filtration rates. Also, the K&N can probably remain in service longer than the OEM filter.
On the other hand if you're always paying retail for it then I'd just use the Honda OEM filter. You will get 500,000 miles out of that engine with the OEM filter. The best filter in the world won't take you one mile further.
If you get lonely and lack something to do then try YouTube and enter "oil filter" in the search box. You will find enough cut open oil filters and other vid's to keep you entertained all night long. Some soda pop and popcorn and you'll be "good-to-go".
Originally Posted By: NMBurb02
Originally Posted By: silverrat
Stop over thinking your oil changes. You are wasting your time and money.
I believe that qualifies as heresy and grounds for immediate excommunication from BITOG. People ask these questions so other people can over think their oil changes for them.
+1 thats the entire point of this website, to ask these kinds of questions. OP, good on you for asking ! and to your question, how often are you changing the filter ? K&N is good, but there are cheaper alternatives with equal or better protection. Push comes to shove the filter has to pass the industry standards to be sold, and what ive learned from BITOG over the years is that the minium standards for oil and filters is pretty good, so even the cheap stuff (for the most part) will protect you for a given time. Buy most any quality name and your pretty much in good shape. If you get the itch to do Long OCI's then you should think longer and harder on what you choose to use.
P.S. that nut on a K&N is pretty nifty, if yours is in a hard spot and that nut makes things easier, continue using the K&N.
Good luck.
Originally Posted By: silverrat
Stop over thinking your oil changes. You are wasting your time and money.
I believe that qualifies as heresy and grounds for immediate excommunication from BITOG. People ask these questions so other people can over think their oil changes for them.
+1 thats the entire point of this website, to ask these kinds of questions. OP, good on you for asking ! and to your question, how often are you changing the filter ? K&N is good, but there are cheaper alternatives with equal or better protection. Push comes to shove the filter has to pass the industry standards to be sold, and what ive learned from BITOG over the years is that the minium standards for oil and filters is pretty good, so even the cheap stuff (for the most part) will protect you for a given time. Buy most any quality name and your pretty much in good shape. If you get the itch to do Long OCI's then you should think longer and harder on what you choose to use.
P.S. that nut on a K&N is pretty nifty, if yours is in a hard spot and that nut makes things easier, continue using the K&N.
Good luck.
The Fram Ultra is a full synthetic media. The OE Honda is a cellulose. Per square inch of media, lofted synthetic media has a sizable edge in flow over cellulose, not to mention a sizable increase in capacity. No reason not to choose a synthetic media except cost and/or under utilization of the features (I.e. using a 15K FCI filter for a 3K FCI). We can only speculate as to why Honda's efficiency is too low but "flow" is the least likely answer as I see it.
Chasing "flow" is more or less a fool's errand anyway because almost all filters have 3-5 times the flow any engine needs, even VTEC Hondas or VCT Fords.
K&N is a very good filter but the media is nothing wonderful in terms of efficiency being at the upper end of average. Some K&N applications have a little more media than an OE or average replacement filter. Which may result in some incidental increase in flow. That gives K&N something to advertise over but the extra potential flow doesn't do many ordinary folks any good. There are a few high-revving HiPo type that can use some extra flow now and again but for a grocery getter, it serves little useful purpose.
Chasing "flow" is more or less a fool's errand anyway because almost all filters have 3-5 times the flow any engine needs, even VTEC Hondas or VCT Fords.
K&N is a very good filter but the media is nothing wonderful in terms of efficiency being at the upper end of average. Some K&N applications have a little more media than an OE or average replacement filter. Which may result in some incidental increase in flow. That gives K&N something to advertise over but the extra potential flow doesn't do many ordinary folks any good. There are a few high-revving HiPo type that can use some extra flow now and again but for a grocery getter, it serves little useful purpose.
If you want good syn media combined with a Robust ADBV,
- NAPA Platinum
- Purolator Synthetic
- FRAM Ultra
All high quality, Syn media, Well made oil filters.
No need to overthink this.
- NAPA Platinum
- Purolator Synthetic
- FRAM Ultra
All high quality, Syn media, Well made oil filters.
No need to overthink this.
Well from what ive seen i guess ill stay with the fram ultra...but why would honda have a filter made for them with less efficiency and more flow if it wasnt important? They could just use an aftermarket and have them painted and branded honda, it would save them money...so why do they have filters specially made with less filtration/ more flow if it wasnt important? Idk, is it normal for the oil light to stay on a sec after starting your car? mine does this with the Ultra.
If you are thinking of buying the K&N (a very well made filter) forget the goofy nut on top, which is silly, since an oil filter is supposed to be torqued only hand-tight (unless you have a very rare vehicle with incredibly difficult access, then the nut might be worthwhile for this 1% of vehicles you can't get a hand on.)
So for the vast majority of vehicles, where the nut is frivolous and in the way, realize that the Mobil 1 filter is the same exact filter internally as the K&N, just without the silly nut, even the media is the same, and the Mobil 1 can be picked up on Amazon for around $8.66 and with free shipping.
Also the TRD (Toyota Racing Design) filter is also the same as the K&N (and has the nut) and the Royal Purple filter (no nut) is the 4th one that is also made on this same assembly line (though pricey and thought to have different media)
So for the vast majority of vehicles, where the nut is frivolous and in the way, realize that the Mobil 1 filter is the same exact filter internally as the K&N, just without the silly nut, even the media is the same, and the Mobil 1 can be picked up on Amazon for around $8.66 and with free shipping.
Also the TRD (Toyota Racing Design) filter is also the same as the K&N (and has the nut) and the Royal Purple filter (no nut) is the 4th one that is also made on this same assembly line (though pricey and thought to have different media)
Originally Posted By: silverrat
Stop over thinking your oil changes. You are wasting your time and money.
+1
It seems to be more of a cry for attention than looking for legitimate technical advice that has already been received in multiple,, multiple postings on the same issue.
Stop over thinking your oil changes. You are wasting your time and money.
+1
It seems to be more of a cry for attention than looking for legitimate technical advice that has already been received in multiple,, multiple postings on the same issue.
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