Oil filters OEM vs after market

[ROB654]

I was wondering what peoples experience with OEM kaw vs after market filters?

[dcj13]

Originally Posted by ROB654

I was wondering what peoples experience with OEM kaw vs after market filters?

I use aftermarket oil, air, and fuel filters on all my vehicles. Napa brand if they're available.

Kawasaki doesn't make filters: they write a spec and buy from the lowest priced supplier that meets the spec requirements.

[Desmoluci]

For a couple of extra bucks a year (literally), I use the OEM just for peace of mind. Not saying that the aftermarket ones are bad, but why cheap out on oil and filters?

Flame suit on...

[broilmebk]

KN-401

[Brother Michigan]

I tend to stick with the OEM filter as most of the aftermarket filters don't match the bypass pressure specification of the OEM filter.

Kawasaki might buy filters from the lowest bidder, but they aren't "cheaping out" on quality. The difference in price isn't enough, even when considered over the life of the bike, to worry about.

[MrAtom]

I use fram on my bike. Everyone says that they've seen visible inconsistencies in the manufacturing quality of their filters, but mine looks just fine. Maybe they've shaped up. Maybe they got bought out. Maybe its all in everyone's head that filters that are cheaper are bad for your bike. I have total peace of mind with a fram filter in my bike.

Bring on the hate !

[Hero Danny]

K&N oil filter and K&N air filter. The oil filters look like same quality, but the air is for sure not the same, K&N is way better.

[indomie]

Personally use puralator,or bosh. sometimes fram. Personally what ever i feel like getting and as long as the oil is changed.

[Desmoluci]

Originally Posted by broilmebk

KN-401

Made in China.

[cadd]

I buy the cheapest filter I can get my hands on. I really don't care. My bikes never reach 20k miles before I sell them. So I really don't care.

Usually Fram is the least expensive.

Maybe it'll bite me in the ass one day. But after owning 5 bikes, no issues yet.

I do the same for my cars. I buy whatever is the cheapest (oil and filter) and use that. I never put more than 50k miles on any of my cars before I sell and upgrade.

[JohnnyBravo]

I currently use WIX filters on my bike, they say they are the same as the napa's the K&N was nice, but way to expensive... An such.

[Mjj]

I use Fram. It is available down the block, so there it goes. i put 1500 miles on in a season. For winter, I remove the filter, drain the oil and refill without a filter for the winter. In the spring, it is a new filter, oil, brake fluid, new coolant and lube the lines. It's a great way to spend a spring Saturday morning.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by Mjj

I use Fram. It is available down the block, so there it goes. i put 1500 miles on in a season. For winter, I remove the filter, drain the oil and refill without a filter for the winter. In the spring, it is a new filter, oil, brake fluid, new coolant and lube the lines. It's a great way to spend a spring Saturday morning.

It's strange how soothing and therapeutic warm oil running down your hand can be when removing the filter cover.

[NevadaWolf]

I was using Kawi for everything, but the constant stocking up from the shop an hour away was getting on my nerves.

So, now Napa oil filter and whatever local synthetic I can find. No issues so far.

[InvisiBill]

http://www.minimopar.net/oilfilters/ has data from tearing apart most brands of filters. There are only a handful of actual manufacturers, then different brands slap different paint/labels on them and sell them for different prices. You can see that some are well-built and worth a little extra. Some are obviously cheaping out on certain parts (Fram is known to use cardboard endcaps and rough metal parts that inherently can't seal all that well). You'll also see that you can have two "different" filters that are 100% identical inside (K&N's car and bike filters are both made by other brands, then get the nut added on the end and $3 added to the price).

I tend to use Purlolator PureOne filters, as they're quite cheap if you buy a few at a time with an Advance Auto coupon code, and they're pretty high quality too.

From what I've seen, the Kawasaki filters are pretty good, but relatively expensive. The only thing you're hurting by using them is your wallet.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

Some are obviously cheaping out on certain parts (Fram is known to use cardboard endcaps and rough metal parts that inherently can't seal all that well).

See, I've heard a lot about cardboard endcaps and sharp metal pieces, and I even read about globs of glue being on some of them, and I was aware of this when buying the filter. I only got it because my bike badly needed a change and they didn't have K&N like everyone recommended. But, when I opened up the box and inspected the filter, I could find no sharp metal pieces, no glue, and no cardboard. I'm not a genius, but I have seen nothing that indicates that using a Fram filter will be detrimental to the health of my bike. Maybe I got lucky and got one with no visible defects, but I think that something probably happened at their corporate office, making them try a little harder with their quality control, because, to this day, if you Google Fram filters, you don't get anything good.

tl;dr/bottom line: I use fram. I'm happy with fram. If you don't like it, you don't have to. Use what makes you happy

[nickjpass]

I'm gonna send in oil that I used with a k and n filter to Blackstone labs then I'm gonna send a sample in that I used with wix. can't really keep variables constant like engine use but it'll be interesting.

[Hero Danny]

Purolator is good too, never use fram... those are junk.

[cuong-nutz]

I've used purolators, k&n, fram, OEM, and wix. Mostly wix though since I bought them in bulk. They're all the same. As far as bypass pressure, if you're having to use the bypass, you have issues that the filter can't solve.

[wardie]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBravo

I currently use WIX filters on my bike, they say they are the same as the napa's the K&N was nice, but way to expensive... An such.

I buy the WIX filters from Discount Fleet Supply. O rings fit and the filters are top quality as good a K&N which are too expensive and the large o ring too think Wardie

[ninjamunky85]

For the 250 I've used Fram or OEM over the years and both have worked well. For the 300 I've only used OEM filters which happen to be made by Denso. There's a Kawi dealer right down the street from me so I can get the OEM filters from them for cheap.

I plan on sticking with the OEM filters in the future, I figure you can't go wrong with the filter that Kawi uses.

[broken neck]

HiFlo Filtro for me...

They still come with both O-rings...

[JohnnyBravo]

Most everything I but is made in the usa... The more the better! Shopping can be a bit tricky

[Roark]

Originally Posted by cadd

I buy the cheapest filter I can get my hands on. I really don't care. My bikes never reach 20k miles before I sell them. So I really don't care.

Usually Fram is the least expensive.

Maybe it'll bite me in the ass one day. But after owning 5 bikes, no issues yet.

I do the same for my cars. I buy whatever is the cheapest (oil and filter) and use that. I never put more than 50k miles on any of my cars before I sell and upgrade.

Spend a little more and be considerate of your future motorists..

[Roark]

Originally Posted by broken neck

HiFlo Filtro for me...

They still come with both O-rings...

..and they still suck: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Oil_Filters

[Hero Danny]

Link to original page on YouTube.

Do what you want, But I don't like the idea of cardboard in my engine...

[JohnnyBravo]

Who cares about filters when there is candy...

Trick or treat... Gimme diabetes please

[broken neck]

Originally Posted by Roark

..and they still suck: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Oil_Filters

Bahhhhhhhhhh...

Nerver saw any differences compared to the OEM one I had to use earlier ths year...

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by ninjamunky85

For the 250 I've used Fram or OEM over the years and both have worked well. For the 300 I've only used OEM filters which happen to be made by Denso. There's a Kawi dealer right down the street from me so I can get the OEM filters from them for cheap.

I plan on sticking with the OEM filters in the future, I figure you can't go wrong with the filter that Kawi uses.

or not

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?p=942211

[Roark]

Originally Posted by broken neck

Bahhhhhhhhhh...

Nerver saw any differences compared to the OEM one I had to use earlier ths year...

YMMV

[Brother Michigan]

Regarding the quality of the Fram filters, it really depends on what you buy. The "Toughguard" filters seem to have a really good reputation for durability, while the vanilla Fram has a bit of reputation for coming apart during longer oil change intervals. No brand is going to have a perfect record, though; even Purolator has a spate of media in Pure One filters tearing.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by Roark

Spend a little more and be considerate of your future motorists..

If my bike/car blows up because a little cardboard got into the motor, then it's my loss. Think about it, new motors may have metal shavings flying around in there. The motor seems fine. A little cardboard soaked in motor oil that's already soft isn't really going to kill the motor (I hope).

On my 2000 Lexus ES300 (Toyota V6 motor), when I was donating the car to charity (for parts) with over 230,000 miles on it (was a hand me down from my uncle....he was a car service driver......I took it on a 5 months backpacking trip cross country with it with a few buddies right after college)...I told myself that if I need a repair job more than $200, I'll give it away. After a few months, it still ran fine. I really tried to kill the car. No oil change would do it (I thought to myself). Well, that lasted for over 2 years!!! No oil change in 30,000 miles. Still wouldn't die! At the end, I still gave it away...still ran fine.

I'm not pro-FRAM or anti-FRAM. I honestly don't care. I look at what's available at Walmart that fits my car/bike and buy whatever is the cheapest. So far, it has worked for me. I honestly believe that if a certain brand of filter is so dangerous, and destroy motors....they will be out of business.

If you guys know anyone personally whose motor blew up because of a FRAM (or another cardboard) filter, I would love to hear the story.

@Hero Danny, you can give me all the unhelpful ratings you want. I wasn't trying to push my views on anyone. I merely stated what I personally do with my personal vehicles that I own.

And it's funny....I won't spend another $1.00 more on a filter, yet I send in my oil to Blackstone Labs for testing at least once a year per vehicle. So....it's not really a money problem for me. It's just I don't see much risk with using the least expensive filters.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by cadd

If my bike/car blows up because a little cardboard got into the motor, then it's my loss. Think about it, new motors may have metal shavings flying around in there. The motor seems fine. A little cardboard soaked in motor oil that's already soft isn't really going to kill the motor (I hope).

On my 2000 Lexus ES300 (Toyota V6 motor), when I was donating the car to charity (for parts) with over 230,000 miles on it (was a hand me down from my uncle....he was a car service driver......I took it on a 5 months backpacking trip cross country with it with a few buddies right after college)...I told myself that if I need a repair job more than $200, I'll give it away. After a few months, it still ran fine. I really tried to kill the car. No oil change would do it (I thought to myself). Well, that lasted for over 2 years!!! No oil change in 30,000 miles. Still wouldn't die! At the end, I still gave it away...still ran fine.

I'm not pro-FRAM or anti-FRAM. I honestly don't care. I look at what's available at Walmart that fits my car/bike and buy whatever is the cheapest. So far, it has worked for me. I honestly believe that if a certain brand of filter is so dangerous, and destroy motors....they will be out of business.

If you guys know anyone personally whose motor blew up because of a FRAM (or another cardboard) filter, I would love to hear the story.

@Hero Danny, you can give me all the unhelpful ratings you want. I wasn't trying to push my views on anyone. I merely stated what I personally do with my personal vehicles that I own.

And it's funny....I won't spend another $1.00 more on a filter, yet I send in my oil to Blackstone Labs for testing at least once a year per vehicle. So....it's not really a money problem for me. It's just I don't see much risk with using the least expensive filters.

Hey, i'm sure it's completely fine. I just hate that mentality people have "well it's not my problem, i'm just gonna spring it on the next guy" kinda crappy way of thinking.... Thank god not everyone is like you are.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

Hey, i'm sure it's completely fine. I just hate that mentality people have "well it's not my problem, i'm just gonna spring it on the next guy" kinda crappy way of thinking.... Thank god not everyone is like you are.

How about the majority of people who DON'T work on their cars/bikes? They bring it to the mechanic. Guess what most mechanics use by default? I have a few friends that are auto mechanics. The owners of their shop uses whatever they can get their hands on in bulk for as little $$$$ as possible.

So, I guess you can say apply the "well it's not my problem, I'm just gonna spring it on the next guy" mentality to include everyone who doesn't wrench on their own vehicles (which is probably the majority of the population in the US). I also thank god not everyone is like me. But the majority of the population are....and I don't like that. I like being unique.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by cadd

How about the majority of people who DON'T work on their cars/bikes? They bring it to the mechanic. Guess what most mechanics use by default? I have a few friends that are auto mechanics. The owners of their shop uses whatever they can get their hands on in bulk for as little $$$$ as possible.

So, I guess you can say apply the "well it's not my problem, I'm just gonna spring it on the next guy" mentality to include everyone who doesn't wrench on their own vehicles (which is probably the majority of the population in the US). I also thank god not everyone is like me. But the majority of the population are....and I don't like that. I like being unique.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

What does that mean? You don't agree with me?