First the back story. Had planned on a different thread about buying another CA 9600 for ~$13.50 as opposed to the Honda oem with a suggested retail price of ~$27. Honda retail price is the lowest I've been able to negotiate to in the past for things like Z-1. H&A has the oem for ~$20.80, but after shipping their price is worse than retail. For haha's I called the closest dealer for a price check on the Honda AF, parts person responded $22.55 which surprised me based on past experience. Being only ~$1.75 more than H&A price I decided to purchase the Honda oem and compare.
The CA 9600 has ~30k miles on it, was made in Isreal has 44 pleats and more of a fuzzy felt like media, similar to/same as the new Fram 8911 shown in this thread. Cost was ~$13.50.
The Honda OEM came wrapped in cello and has 43 pleats and says assembled in the US. The media seems to be more of a cellulose type but I also noted an oily feel to the media on the blue/green fresh air side of the media. The other difference seen in pics 2&3 is the rigid frame and thus the pleats extend ~1/2" more on the throttle body side of the filter. So, the width from the side seen in pic 3 is ~1&1/2" for the Fram, ~2" for the Honda OEM.
Is the Honda worth ~$9 than Fram AF, no idea. Not much information out there on any air filter specs. The media's seem different so I can't say the the extra width/pleat depth of the oem means a thing. Both seem to have a good quality gasket and would look to make a good seal.
Making no judgement one way or the other, just reporting what I found. Used many Fram EG AF's over the years with afaik good results. Can't remember the last time I purchased other than a Fram AF.
The CA 9600 has ~30k miles on it, was made in Isreal has 44 pleats and more of a fuzzy felt like media, similar to/same as the new Fram 8911 shown in this thread. Cost was ~$13.50.
The Honda OEM came wrapped in cello and has 43 pleats and says assembled in the US. The media seems to be more of a cellulose type but I also noted an oily feel to the media on the blue/green fresh air side of the media. The other difference seen in pics 2&3 is the rigid frame and thus the pleats extend ~1/2" more on the throttle body side of the filter. So, the width from the side seen in pic 3 is ~1&1/2" for the Fram, ~2" for the Honda OEM.
Is the Honda worth ~$9 than Fram AF, no idea. Not much information out there on any air filter specs. The media's seem different so I can't say the the extra width/pleat depth of the oem means a thing. Both seem to have a good quality gasket and would look to make a good seal.
Making no judgement one way or the other, just reporting what I found. Used many Fram EG AF's over the years with afaik good results. Can't remember the last time I purchased other than a Fram AF.
