Honda filter by Fram - That bad?

[z917990]

I've read a lot about how the Honda "A01" filters are better than the "A02" filters made by Honeywell/Fram. I've also read that Frams are junk based upon inspections of the insides of the filters. However, as unscientific as this sounds, the Honda "AO2" filter feels heavier to me than the basic Fram, leading me to believe that the Honda filter might be built differently from the basic Fram filter. Has anyone cut open the Honda "A02" and compared it to the basic Fram? Is it possible that the Honda filter is modeled after the more expensive Frams like the Extended Guard and may be several steps up from "junk"? The Honda filter is supposed to be good up to 10,000 miles which is something that the regular Fram is not. What do you think? Thanks in advance.

 

[sambojoho]

The Fram made Honda filter is very similar to the Fram Tough Guard design. The down sides to this filter are the cardboard endcaps and the (IMO) bad bypass valve design.

A better design is the Wix or Purolator filters, and they cost about the same. Do I think your Fram made filter will self-destruct? Probably not. Can you get a better built filter for the same price or even cheaper? Yes.

The following site has pictures of a cut open Honda filter. I disagree with their overall conclusion, however.

http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=1143