Now that I have a Harley, I frequent numerous H-D forums, and it blows me away that so many posters on these forums do not trust H-D to provide quality maintenance products... they commonly assume that H-D markets only products under their name that were produced to the lowest bid, yet H-D charges top-dollar for these supposedly "low-bid" products.
Just to see if this was true of the H-D 5-micron oil filters, I purchased a sacrificial chrome version and cut it open.
What I found was what appears to be a mini version of the ACDelco PF35L, a top-notch 100% synthetic element filter that Champion Labs makes for ACDelco. Besides the size difference, the H-D filter also has a threaded-end bypass, and the PF35L has no bypass. Other than that, though, the H-D filter appears to be made by Champ Labs, using their premium oil filter structure and cannister.
In fact, the H-D filter is identical to the equivalent K&N oil filter (which so many H-D forum posters seem to think is so much better than the H-D filter) with the exception that the H-D oil filter has a better filtering media and does not have the nut welded to the end of the cannister. The K&N media is a cellulose/synthetic blend and the H-D 5-micron utilizes what appears to be the same, thick white, fully synthetic, wire-backed media as a PF35L, a filter widely acknowledged to be a superb filter, both for filtering capability and flow.
And, if you check the VOA's here at BITOG, you can see that H-D's 20W-50 "360" motor oil has a pretty good additive package.
It is true that H-D oil filters and oil are not cheap (especially the oil), but in the case of the oil filters, at least, they seem to be charging a price that is in-line with what other filter companies charge for comparable quality items. Sure you can get less expensive oil filters for a Harley, but not necessarily equal or better ones for less.
So much for the top-dollar for low-bid products theory.
P.S. For those of you who know and care, happy Pioneer Day!
Just to see if this was true of the H-D 5-micron oil filters, I purchased a sacrificial chrome version and cut it open.
What I found was what appears to be a mini version of the ACDelco PF35L, a top-notch 100% synthetic element filter that Champion Labs makes for ACDelco. Besides the size difference, the H-D filter also has a threaded-end bypass, and the PF35L has no bypass. Other than that, though, the H-D filter appears to be made by Champ Labs, using their premium oil filter structure and cannister.
In fact, the H-D filter is identical to the equivalent K&N oil filter (which so many H-D forum posters seem to think is so much better than the H-D filter) with the exception that the H-D oil filter has a better filtering media and does not have the nut welded to the end of the cannister. The K&N media is a cellulose/synthetic blend and the H-D 5-micron utilizes what appears to be the same, thick white, fully synthetic, wire-backed media as a PF35L, a filter widely acknowledged to be a superb filter, both for filtering capability and flow.
And, if you check the VOA's here at BITOG, you can see that H-D's 20W-50 "360" motor oil has a pretty good additive package.
It is true that H-D oil filters and oil are not cheap (especially the oil), but in the case of the oil filters, at least, they seem to be charging a price that is in-line with what other filter companies charge for comparable quality items. Sure you can get less expensive oil filters for a Harley, but not necessarily equal or better ones for less.
So much for the top-dollar for low-bid products theory.
P.S. For those of you who know and care, happy Pioneer Day!
