Subaru oil filter - cardboard endcaps!!!

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rcy

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I know Halloween was a week ago, but I had quite a scare this morning. I had been using the Napa Gold (Wix) filer on my Subaru H6 Outback, but was concerned that the bypass setting was 8-11psi and Subarau spec is supposed to be 23psi. So I switched back to the filter from the dealership. It's a Subaru dealership in Canada, but the filter does say "Made in USA" on it.

Anyway, did an oil change today and cut open the Subaru filter. CARDBOARD endcaps. Does anyone other than FRAM use cardboard? Too late now, as I've put another Subaru filter on, but 1/2 way through my 10,000 KM OCI, I'm going to switch back to Napa Gold.
 
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Right...but is FRAM making them? I don't think Nissan and Toyota make their own filters, but someone makes the filters for them. Could FRAM be making filters for all those companies.
 
Originally Posted By: rcy
Right...but is FRAM making them? I don't think Nissan and Toyota make their own filters, but someone makes the filters for them. Could FRAM be making filters for all those companies.


Toyota does have some filters with cardboard end caps (one for sure is Toyota 90915-YZZA2); however, not all of their filters have this. Purolator probably makes the Toyota model filter listed above.

From corolland:
"This filter is probably a Purolator as the by-pass valve is a Purolator-type design. It has a nice glue job on the filter element end caps, but I don't particularly like the cardboard end-caps, though they have to work OK or Toyota wouldn't use them. I like the seal that goes against the engine block being rounded on the surface that contacts the block. The pleats of this filter are turned 90-degrees from the pleats of all the other filters (you'll have to see the photo's). This filter is made in the USA."
 
Donaldson has higher bypass settings in your filter size, but they all xref to generic in Wix or Baldwin.
 
Many of the Toyota filters are supposedly made by Denso, and many are made in Thailand. I have a YZZF2 on my Corolla now. I will cut it open after the next oil change and have a look.
 
Is it normal for a manufacture to completely remove all stock when a new supplier comes in? I figured they would sell all of the existing filters first since there isn't anything wrong with them. From Solo2's post linked above:

From various sources in Subaru Of America parts, and message boards--

1. Old "black" filters are fantastic, very durable and very high-quality.

2. New blue filters are made by Honeywell Canada, and the innards are identical to orange-can Frams.

3. Dealers are pulling the old "black" filters off of the shelves for some reason, and replacing only with Blues...so no more blacks for sale.

-Dennis
 
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Maybe it's possible that the factory wanted all the black filters back to use at the OE level, and the only filter stocked at the dealer now is the blue.

Toyota does the exact same thing. The factory filter is different from the one they use in the field. And it makes sense to me. I've heard that 80% of the dirt that every single oil filter on your car will capture, COLLECTIVELY, gets passed through the very first filter...so it has to be robust.
 
Originally Posted By: Jason Adcock
Maybe it's possible that the factory wanted all the black filters back to use at the OE level, and the only filter stocked at the dealer now is the blue.

Toyota does the exact same thing. The factory filter is different from the one they use in the field. And it makes sense to me. I've heard that 80% of the dirt that every single oil filter on your car will capture, COLLECTIVELY, gets passed through the very first filter...so it has to be robust.


The factory first oil filters also make it easier for the dealership service departments to determine if you have changed the oil filter ever. Make the idiot who runs there car for 25K without ever changing the oil to not get a warranty claim.
 
I use a bosch 3323. look it up with google, and someone cut one open and checked the medium and everything, looks like a really good filter, they recommend even for a motorcycle. looks like it's just as good as a pure one. so the relief opens at 8-11, this means nothing, just the relief valve opens sooner - what this means in practice is a moot point. just use the wix - there will not be any problem. subaru will just outsource to whoever gives them a cheap deal, they will not be a "premium" filter by any means, probably it will just be a relabeled "supertech" (if you're lucky), or a "fram" (if you're unlucky). at least if you buy a known brand you know what you're getting.
 
Funny you should mention the Bosch - I was just on that site looking up the filter for my car. I'm supposed to use a 3312 for the H6 Outback. Where do you find yours? There's a Partsource near me, but they didn't have it on the shelf, and I never bothered asking if they could order one. The Napa Gold (Wix) is easy to grab at a Napa near me.
 
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I ordered it from the states, can't remember, might have been Amazon, I used the google search to find a supplier. i'm also supposed to use the 3312, but i checked my clearances and i'm still far away from the exhaust pipe that i'm not worried about cooking the oil. purolator pure one pl14610 if the corresponsing filter to size bosch 3323, and it is supposed to be a nice premium filter as well. at one time subaru used purolator filters. now they seem to have outsourced to cheaper filters.
 
How much larger is the 3323 than the 3312? I put a 3312 on my moms 02 LL Bean, but it seems like a really tiny filter in a place where a much larger one could go.
 
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