y_p_w wrote:

> Honda would never

Let me complete that. Honda doesn't really certify many parts
as OEM equivalent. About the only ones they do so with are
spark plugs. Some European manufacturers have approval lists
for motor oil, but Honda has always stuck to API approvals in
the US.

About all a parts manufacturer can do is claim they meet OEM
standards and warranty against catastrophic failure. An air
filter generally doesn't cause that kind of failure. I have
heard of oil filters collapsing, spewing their guts, with the
engine seizing. Filter companies will back up their products,
and I've heard of them making payments for engine rebuilds.