Given the 2x higher than Honda spec bypass and the suspect low nominal micron rating I would not run that filter - unless it uses specialized synthetic multilayer media to achieve high efficiency. Then again, maybe the nominal rating can be largely ignored
I wanted to bump this thread to give a respectful acknowledgement to
@ARCOgraphite who wisely said not to run the filter. His gut feeling was correct.
The order showed up anyway and I figured it's worth a short run since I'm doing this Valvoline Restore and Protect cleaning cycle. And WCW had cut one open and I figured it can't be too bad, right?
I noticed much longer startup oil pressure delay when using this filter. Instead of the oil pressure light going off essentially instantly (as it typical for Honda), I would notice it would stay lit for a full second or so after starting. Never any weird sounds or anything you'd panic about, but it was noticeable and repeatable. I have to wonder if the filter was going into bypass (and it does have a bypass set point nearly twice as high as stock.)
When I removed the B7318 after 800 miles, the replacement BOSS filter went back to near-instant oil pressure (light going out while cranking).
The Baldwin media was not absorbing or retaining much of anything. Keep in mind this filter had 800 miles on it and the Valvoline Restore and Protect was freshly filled when it went on.
This is quite the striking contrast to the M1-110 that I had on just before this. While the media of the M1 was full of crud to half the pleat depth, there was NOTHING in the bottom of the can-- it was shiny clean.
So, if you're curious like I was about a finer-filtration filter for Hondas,
DO NOT USE THIS BALDWIN B7318. It is much too restrictive with just paper thick media and not much of it (low pleat count).
It is designed for really small engines with very low oil flow and not at all appropriate for a PCMO Honda application.
