Need Input on this Honda Filter

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
I thought the A02's were made by Fram. That doesn't look like a Fram to me. There was a recent thread on here comparing the two (A01 and A02) I'll see if I can find it.

The OP said it was supposed to be an A-01, but yes the A-02 is made by Fram.

 

[KCJeep]

Now I'm really confused, the filter box says A01 but the eBay listing says it is for A02's. I don't know if that is a real A01 or not.

Here's a thread with A01's and A2's but the pics aren't that great.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1754278

 

[kschachn]

I smell something. Maybe it's nothing but still...

Besides, I'm not sure I would be willing to put an oil filter on my car, any car, that was made in China. Or maybe was made in China.

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Now I'm really confused, the filter box says A01 but the eBay listing says it is for A02's. I don't know if that is a real A01 or not.

Here's a thread with A01's and A2's but the pics aren't that great.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1754278

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Now I'm really confused, the filter box says A01 but the eBay listing says it is for A02's. I don't know if that is a real A01 or not.

Here's a thread with A01's and A2's but the pics aren't that great.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1754278

You are correct is does say A-02 on the ebay filter. Too many discrepancies here for me, I'd pass. Now really thinking it may be Chinese knock off.

 

[JTK]

Cut one open and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how nice those Honda/Filtechs are. The cans take some doing to cut through, even with my filter cutter and the media, ADBV, etc, are awesome on them.

I bought a 6-pack of them from eBay some months ago for my 2008 Odyssey 3.5L. Came to $4-5/ea.

 

[trx250x92]

Originally Posted By: Tegger
Originally Posted By: trx250x92
I just received a (what is supposed to be) a geniune Honda A01 oil filter for my civic that I bought from eBay. The filter itself has "Made in China" on the canister, but the shrink wrap says made in USA. The seller was in the U.S., but it came from Puerto Rico that the listing didn't specify. I'm not too familiar with the A01, but can I get some input? Is it a genuine Honda part?

This looks like a filter meant for use in Asia. Probably not fake. US-market filters say "Assembled in USA" on them, or at least they did until very recently.

I'm not too sure about the Filtech diamond logo on the bottom: The US examples I've seen don't have little circles, but instead have what resemble punch-marks, and the diamond only has a single line.

US-market Filtechs also have a crimp flange that stands totally proud of the body of the filter. This one looks slightly recessed, but that may be just image distortion caused by the the shrink-wrap. The shrink looks wrong. You don't usually see it where the seam is split like that; that's a poor-quality shrink job; and shrink tunnels are everywhere.

As for the red Honda sticker, it's impossible to tell if it actually says "Made in USA" on it. Are you sure it doesn't say "Assembled in USA"? Either way, there's some kind of mismatch, which is troubling unless the filter was meant for some part of Asia where point-of-origin labeling isn't important and the factory simply used whatever stickers they had lying around. Is the sticker actually orange, or is it definitely red with no orange tint? How crisp is the printing? It should be sharp as a knife, with every detail in the text clearly visible. Check the text at the bottom of the red sticker, specifically the Spanish word "removida" and the French word above it, "enleve". The right-hand edges of the final "e" in "enleve" and the "D" in "removida" ought to be in perfect vertical alignment.

Sorry for the bad picture quality. The shrink wrap sticker says "assembled in USA." The sticker itself is red. I'll have to check the Spanish and French words.

 

[asharris7]

The Honda A-01 I have has a TIGHT shrink wrap on it and I got it from a Honda dealer..with a crush washer taped on to the top of the Shrink. As someone stated before, the diamond should be only one lined diamond not 2 as yours indicates. Chalk it up as a loss, Live and learn. Don't put it on your car.

 

[trx250x92]

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Now I'm really confused, the filter box says A01 but the eBay listing says it is for A02's. I don't know if that is a real A01 or not.

Here's a thread with A01's and A2's but the pics aren't that great.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1754278


The way the listing is worded is for an A01 but it shows an A02 in the picture and mentions the cross-reference.

 

[Soobs]

Looks like the -A01 to me.

For reference this is a great place to get them: http://www.handa-accessories.com/accmaint06.html

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: trx250x92
The way the listing is worded is for an A01 but it shows an A02 in the picture and mentions the cross-reference.

To Honda, A01 and A02 are completely interchangeable. Which one you get when you order from the dealer depends entirely on local stocks.

US-market A01s are "Assembled in the USA" from overseas parts. I would expect that the bottom plate would be identical for the rest of rest of the world, and this one is not.

I'm suspicious of the OP's A01 for three reasons:
1) the mismatch between the "Made in China" on the filter and the "Assembled in USA" on the parts sticker;
2) the low-quality shrink-wrap (which I don't think I've EVER seen, since that would let in dirt);
3) the difference in the logo on the base plate.

Another point: The logo appears to be either a slug that's a separate part of the pressing die (NOT the case with US A01s), or it's a stamp that's struck after the base plate is made. Notice the rectangle around the logo? Not present on US A01s.

As for the washer that you sometimes get taped to the top of the filter: That's not done by the factory, but by the dealer.

 

[Colt]

I buy A01's from HandA Honda parts online which are made by Filtech Inc in Ohio. A company that was established in 1989 by Toyo Roki Manufacturing Co. LTD.

 

[trx250x92]

Should I run the filter or should I cut it open?

 

[Soobs]

Originally Posted By: trx250x92
Should I run the filter or should I cut it open?


You know we want to see the insides. Why do you tease us so?

Just kidding.. It's up to you. If you are at all worried about it's quality just cut it open. Better safe than sorry. If your gut says it's good then let it run.... then cut it open on the next OCI.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: trx250x92
Should I run the filter or should I cut it open?


Too suspect of being counterfeit to run it ... cut it open, maybe it's got newspaper inside it for media.

 

[trx250x92]

I'll kick around ideas on what to do with it. Now I wonder whether I should give the seller a good feedback rating or not...

 

[KCJeep]

I would not ding the seller unless you are absolutely positive it is a counterfeit knock off. While this has been an interesting thread I haven't seen anything conclusive myself.

If in doubt, don't leave feedback at all. Surely you wouldn't want to erroneously hurt a hard working, honest seller with unwarranted negative feedback. JMO.

This is however the reason I am hesitant to buy KIA filters in bulk off ebay, I am also concerned about Chinese counterfeits.

 

[Soobs]

Originally Posted By: trx250x92
I'll kick around ideas on what to do with it. Now I wonder whether I should give the seller a good feedback rating or not...


It's either a Filtech assembled in China for markets in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal (That's all the languages I see on it from your pictures) or a very elaborate counterfeit. Everything on it appears correct from the molded p-cut gasket, silicone ADBV, and that is absolutely the correct baseplate. Toyo Roki (the Japanese company behind Filtech USA) has an operation in China called Chengdu Toyo Roki Co., Ltd. and they produce filters for Honda. http://filterjoy.en.ec21.com

 

[Soobs]

I found this as well.

15400-PLM-A01 Assembled in China.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/665305039/oil_filter_15400_PLM_A01.html

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
I would not ding the seller unless you are absolutely positive it is a counterfeit knock off.

100% agree.

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
While this has been an interesting thread I haven't seen anything conclusive myself.

Neither do I. The filter could well be genuine, just intended for an overseas market with different laws and customs from our own.

 

[trx250x92]

Thanks for the help everyone! I'll probably run it on my gf's civic since it's almost due for an oil change or I'll wait and install it on mine next time. I would think the bypass pressure and etc. are the same as U.S. spec.