I love these kind of blank statements. No explination, no details, and best of all, no proof.

Thanks!

BTW, Purolator makes some of the very best filters available. The cheapo Fram you speak of are the same as the OEM Honda. The only difference is that color of the can where one is Orange and one Blue.

X2

That link is useless and of no importance to us Fit owners (unless we are looking for filters for our bikes.)

Honda, like most other auto manufacturers, do NOT make/ produce their own oil filters. They contract one of a few companies to make them.

Who knows what took place in the negotiations when contracting the filters for their motorcycles. Maybe a different company was cheaper than the Frams or maybe the engineers said the Frams won't meet the specs in the cycle applications. Who really knows?

What we DO know, is that the OEM Honda filters for our Fits are very similar to the Frams Cycle filters you posted and gave negative opinions about.

 

yikes!

 

I have no interest in being nit picky or tromping on someone elses opinion

but, couple things here are illogical.

1. Hell yeah Honda is gonna put a buck (at least) extra mark-up on the filters BECAUSE THEY CAN, they are honda! Price does not prove anything.

2. You say they are not fram, but Honeywell (who ones Fram)
So they make the Honda filters in their programmable thermostat factory and not their filter factory?

 

I'm not disagreeing or agreeing with any of the above comments, but it is possible that honeywell (fram) makes them to honda specs.

Alpine makes our headunit, but our headunit is definitely not up to typical alpine specs.

We need someone to get two filters and cut them open so we can see some relevant results.

now we should probably keep this thread a little more on topic.

 

They are different specs, HONDA specs are very specific, and the Fram ones are meant to be the cheap, universal, fits a wide range of applications. That is why I posted a pic of the same filter made by Fram, OEM Honda, and K&N. I have worked for car dealerships since before I could drive, and racebike dealers, and have hacksawed some of the filters myself. It's a difference in quality.

It is like buying wine, A winery can make a couple similar types of wine, with one bottle being super highly rated, and the other one not getting any fanfare. Yes, they may be made at the same winery, using a similar process, but depending on the grapes and the wine chemist, the wine can be an award winner or putrid. That is why I put up the racebike filter pictures, so you can see the difference between FRAM and OEM, even though they are both made by honeywell.

Its also like running a Tein Basic versus a full Race damper with EDFC suspension adjustment. It may be the same company, and same application, but one is made BETTER than the other for its specified use.

Take for example, CHEVY vs GMC. They use 95%+ of identical parts, yet chevy has 10x the failure rate compared to GM. Even though they have the same pieces, the GMCs are higher quality due to more stict tolerances. I can go on for days, which is why I use OEM filters or better. You always pay a lil more for a quality product, but it pays off in the long run.

Here is another one comparing oil filters for fords, and the FRAM scored TWO of the lowest scores
http://home.earthlink.net/~cewhite3nc/id3.html
http://home.mindspring.com/~cewhite3nc/index.html

I am trying to find a cheapo filter for my fit to compare the OEM one to since pictures and comparisons of CUT APART oil filters don't do it for you picky bastards. The links aren't honda fits, but they are the same for the respective vehicles, showing a major difference in quality from OEM to FRAM.

Also, http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ is a great resource for those getting oil analyzed or filters tested. They have a forum of people comparing test results. ENJOY. And I have had plenty of support to back up what I am saying, so to any doubter's, SHOW me I am wrong about the fit having similar quality issues as honda racebikes, or fords, or any other car. Don't just say, ITS THE SAME COMPANY, and then bitch out without supporting info that they are indeed the same filter. Hack a fram and an OEM and then post it up.

also, http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start...mLq0J8iv5zRdvQ

a post from honda tech where 8 of 10 core engines with issues have frams instead of OEM honda honeywell

and BTW, OEM honda fit filters are made in Canada, while Frams are made in KOREA...

 

I guess that the only way to settle this is to do just what you said and hack open a Fram and a OEM Honda made by Fram and see is the specs are indeed different.

I would love to hear that they are indeed different, but I doubt it.

 

And compare to mine at 5500 miles:



Values are real close. I think this proves that the oil needs to be changed before the maintenance minder, at least for the first oil change. Two independent labs agree, silicon is high.

 

I think a vast majority of the Fram-bashing comes from read-it-on-the-internet accounts. A lot of people point out the cardboard endcaps but seem to ignore that most filters have paper or cellulose-based filter media. And in some cut the filter apart comparisons, some Frams like the ToughGuard or better models were judged (by visual inspection) to be a step up from the ExtraGuards.

With the millions of Fram filters on cars, I've yet to hear of a class-action lawsuit about bunches of cratered engines due to catastrophic Fram filter failure. Obviously a smaller sample, but I've used Fram filters on and off for 25 years on everything from new 4-cylinder turbos to old 289 V8's and never had one so much as leak.

All the above said, I'll be the first to agree that there are better filters for the money, and lots better filters than the cheapest Frams if you're willing to spend more. But I also don't buy into the Framophobia either.

A couple discussions from BITOG...

This one has some of the long-time contributors posting...

Is it ok to use Fram if it's free? - Bob Is The Oil Guy

And one from this week...

Frams - Bob Is The Oil Guy

 

Even in those threads it says most people would rather use anything but the fram but they would use the fram if they already have it. I have used them plenty of times when they are on sale as a package deal with oil discount. I had one where the seals broke on my gf's lexus, and it pissed out the bottom after about a month, and I torque everything to spec. I have used Fram, and if it free with some oil, I will use them on my older vehicles because they don't see many miles or hard use.

I have a ProLine that I found in my garage that was for the fit, when I bought oil last(may as well have a spare for a vehicle you own). Proline is pep boys brand generic. I was pretty surprised comparing it to the OEM.









So it is the same idea as what I was saying earlier. It may perform the same function, but is the performance really the same.

-The OEM has the rounded edges for a more flush seat. The flat gasket rings are the point of failure on most aftermarket oil filters. If they superheat or break during removal they can create gaps in the new seal.
-The inside core has 10x as many perforations on the OEM than the ProLine, and the flow holes on the honda have a one way valve. where the ProLine has open flow and it can slosh in or out
-The OEM holds more physical volume of oil, meaning you have a little more oil in your system, and some say larger filters cool oil slightly(fractional)

The moral of the story, You get what you pay for. If you are gonna spend the money on mods for your car, don't chince on oil filtration, that is the oil IN your engine.

Maybe I will get a free fram with my next oil, I wouldn't cut it until after its used, but I would take pics of the inside of the filter. In the meantime, if I ever get contaminants in my oil, I am gonna use the proline if I have to do oil flush, then when it comes out clean, Switch back to OEM or upgrade to Mobil1 or K&N