Honda Canada no longer selling FRAM-made filters?

[Tegger]

I just bought a few new oil filters from my friendly local Acura dealer, where I've been buying all my filters since 1994.

Since that very first day in mid-'94 to about six months ago, every single filter I ever got was 15400-PLM-A02, the Canadian-made FRAM-built version of Honda's standard filter. To my very great surprise, this batch was 15400-PLM-A01, the US-made Filtech version of the same filter! I just noticed this now, long after the dealership had closed for the day.

Honda Canada has never, ever sold A01, ever, to my knowledge. In fact, if the dealers ever tried to order A01, they would be shipped A02 instead.

The dealer's parts man and I (we're on very good terms) had a discussion a while ago about A02 versus A01, and I'm a bit surprised he didn't say anything to me about it when I bought these.

I'm going to call him in the AM; hopefully he's working tomorrow.

 

[chubbs1]

What did he say in your discussion about the A01 v. A02? Was any technical or real world results that make one better than the other?

I Have used both with success, both are well built filters IMO, of course the Filtech has metal endcaps so if I have a choice I go with them. (If it even really matters, just more peace of mind I guess). Tell me I am wrong.

 

[RF Overlord]

Could it have something to do with FRAM closing the Stratford ON plant?

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: Tegger
I'm going to call him in the AM; hopefully he's working tomorrow.

He's not in today. I'll try on Monday.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1
What did he say in your discussion about the A01 v. A02? Was any technical or real world results that make one better than the other?

According to my parts guy, Honda considers the two filters identical and interchangeable. Whether a dealership orders A01 or A02, what's actually shipped to them depends entirely on warehouse stocks.

Except for the fact that they are made by different companies using differing manufacturing processes, they are the same filter, meeting identical performance specs, with identical real-world behavior.

 

[silverrat]

There was a recall recently on certain batches of A01. It had to do with the gasket.

 

[artbuc]

Originally Posted By: silverrat
There was a recall recently on certain batches of A01. It had to do with the gasket.


Do you have a link or details? I have about 6 A01's and would like to know if they are part of the recall. Thanks.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: silverrat
There was a recall recently on certain batches of A01. It had to do with the gasket.

You must be referring to TSB 04-077. This TSB dealt with the possibility of gaskets from A01 being stuck to the engine block, resulting in a possible double-gasketing condition if the technician was careless enough not to be certain that the old gasket was removed.

Affected vehicles were the '03-'04 CR-V, and certain Japanese- and British-made '05 CR-Vs.

This TSB has not been in effect since February 2005. Any A01s involved are long-since off the market.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Could it have something to do with FRAM closing the Stratford ON plant?

**UPDATE***

You just might be right. Acura Canada was sending my guy A01s for about 2 months because there was a supply interruption of A02s.

My guy isn't quite sure why there was a supply interruption of A02s, but apparently shipping of A02s has since resumed: He just got a few cases of them this morning, and they still say "Honeywell" (which is FRAM) on them. I asked him about the Stratford plant closure, but he did not know anything about that.

He only has five A01s left, and will not be receiving any more on account of the new availability of A02s.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Could it have something to do with FRAM closing the Stratford ON plant?


This was my first thought too.

 

[Mr Nice]

What's so special about Fram made oil filters with blue paint ?

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What's so special about Fram made oil filters with blue paint ?

That they meet Honda's specifications. That's the only reason anybody would buy OE Honda parts over anything else.

As of 2002, here's what Honda says about all their oil filters, regardless of where made:
"...filter out at least 70 percent of the particles
that are 30 microns or larger, and 85 percent of the
particles that are 40 microns or larger."

A micron is a millionth of a meter, so a 40-micron particle is about 1.5 thousands of an inch in diameter.