Higher Performance Alternative Oil Filters for NA/NB
Feb 6, 2022 23:30:19 GMT
howardb66, dave6, and 2 more like this
Post by atlex on Feb 6, 2022 23:30:19 GMT
Since Mahle pissed the bed with Chinese oil filter production [ link ] I've started to look at the alternatives and also look back at the Mazda boxed Tokyo Rokis.
I've also had more time to think about this. And I've kind of been prompted by a few people as a result of my write up on the Mahle things (thanks swordspork and batou and others!)
My perspective is that a JDM filter is best on abstract principle but a good European one will be excellent also, especially if it was chosen by the Japanese OEM as a local partner.... Call it quality mindset.
Now your dogsbody cockerelwobble will go 'buy the one specced' and I will say yes, you have a point, get back in your Touareg and get to your pedicure session already.
If there's one thing I can say about the last two years is that our world is more fragile than it appears. That thing you want in the spec you want may not be available next month.
So down to basics: If you look at the filter housings, almost every car that comes out of Japan is made to take the same format oil filter.
A screw in the middle and and a flat face to accommodate a seal surface anywhere between about 56.5mm and 62mm. Be it flat or o-ring style both can work well if manufactured correctly.
[ Note for Toyota, Suzuki and Daihatsu they actually use mostly UNF 3/4 - 16 threads . so their filters aren't suitable for consideration in most cases. even though the seal might be right ]
And as far as Mazda (and Honda and Subaru) go we need M 20 X 1.5 thread.
I think it can be assumed that higher performance motors have higher oil flow demands. Thus the manufacturers would spec higher flow rates for the filters for those beefcakier motors. The aftermarket tries to supply an appropriately flowing oil filter...
Consequently if you've tuned up your 1.6 or 1.8 to twice/thrice the power, higher revs etc, you might fit an oil filter from a newer, higher power motor and you might benefit. I'm not sure if that's tangible but that is my consideration going into this.
So we look for filters that'd fit, that are specced for larger more powerful motors....
I'm going to call out two motors that are high performance from Japan - the RX8's Rotary (up to 230HP) and the Honda K series (K20A up to 215 HP)
So let's look at what is out there - JDM OEM or EU-made Aftermarket:
Mazda:
OEM MX5: Tokyo Roki B6Y1-14-302A (short) - the JDM and Excellent filter. The Americans swear by them and horde them.
RX8: Tokyo Roki N3R1-14-302 (long) - also very popular with Subaru owners, amusingly... as they may poke a bit out the bottom of the engine bay on a boxer!
Honda:
Honda K20: HAMP H1540-RTA-003 - Made in Japan, By Mahle - the HAMP is considered the gold standard for K-series
Honda K20: 15400-RBA-F01 - Was made by Purflux but not available any more.
Mahle/Knecht:
If you can find an Austrian made Mahle OC195/OC196 (big version) I think they're a good choice.
MX5 Spec: OC195 (short)
Honda K20: OC617 (long) is tagged as being for Hondas specifically but appears to be Physically Identical to the OC196.
If there is a difference it can only be in the pressure release valve? or is it just differently coded to keep track of sales ? I write this having both in front of me.
Mazda RX8: OC195 (short) but ought to be the OC196
OC196 is a well known longer version of the OC195 and I've used them for years. And it matches the OEN N3R1-14-302 in the compatability.
These were my favourites but I'm weary of buying any more if they're Chinese-made.
However if the HAMP is a JDM Mahle, it'd be the best of all worlds.
Mann:
MX5 spec : W 67/1 - (short)
The W 610 series are a longer version of the W 67 and so, with more filter medium, should flow more.
Honda K20 spec : W 610/10 (long)
RX8 spec: W 67/1 (short) or W 811/85 (long)
At least in Sergiu Gabor's testing, Mann doesn't have the best oil flow, so I think if you had to buy Mann you could get a longer one to improve that. If it's made in Germany, go for it!
Purflux:
Still Made in France. This was the EU-sourced Oil Filter Manufacturer for Honda. For over a decade.
MX5 Spec: LS892 (short)
Honda K20 Spec: LS350 (long)
Mazda RX8 Spec: LS225 (long)
But even Purflux suggest part equivalence between them (and LS287 and LS910, which I think are deprecated part numbers)
What shines for Purflux is they seem to achieve very good oil flow. I suspect that's why they were picked by Honda back when.
Their filter media crinkle setup does seem to give more surface area, maybe it's related.
See this video by Sergiu Gabor
Bosch:
Bosch have a huge presence in the spares market where I am. On par with Mann/Mahle if made in Europe.
MX5 Spec: P7210 (short)
RX8 Spec: P7210 (short) or OZ061 (short)
Honda K20 spec : P7077 (long) (88mm)
Hengst:
I'm just mentioning it here because they exist and are European and popular as one of the EDM OEMs (Tailgate McNoIndicate?) but I've never tried one.
--
So to round it out, If you can get an oil filter as above, specced for a higher performance motor, I think you may benefit. I'm thinking of trying out the LS350 at some point on my Turbo car, for example. I'd also consider running the HAMP on the MX5.
What I consider short: under 70mm or so. As you'll see above this tends to be the standard for the MX5 or RX8 filters..
Long - 80mm+ - notice the K20 spec oil filters are ALWAYS longer. the RX8 ones are SOMETIMES longer, but notice that Tokyo Roki for the RX8 was definitely longer. (gold standard)
The point of longer filters is that they'll have more capacity to hold dirt and more capacity to flow oil.
I've also had more time to think about this. And I've kind of been prompted by a few people as a result of my write up on the Mahle things (thanks swordspork and batou and others!)
My perspective is that a JDM filter is best on abstract principle but a good European one will be excellent also, especially if it was chosen by the Japanese OEM as a local partner.... Call it quality mindset.
Now your dogsbody cockerelwobble will go 'buy the one specced' and I will say yes, you have a point, get back in your Touareg and get to your pedicure session already.
If there's one thing I can say about the last two years is that our world is more fragile than it appears. That thing you want in the spec you want may not be available next month.
So down to basics: If you look at the filter housings, almost every car that comes out of Japan is made to take the same format oil filter.
A screw in the middle and and a flat face to accommodate a seal surface anywhere between about 56.5mm and 62mm. Be it flat or o-ring style both can work well if manufactured correctly.
[ Note for Toyota, Suzuki and Daihatsu they actually use mostly UNF 3/4 - 16 threads . so their filters aren't suitable for consideration in most cases. even though the seal might be right ]
And as far as Mazda (and Honda and Subaru) go we need M 20 X 1.5 thread.
I think it can be assumed that higher performance motors have higher oil flow demands. Thus the manufacturers would spec higher flow rates for the filters for those beefcakier motors. The aftermarket tries to supply an appropriately flowing oil filter...
Consequently if you've tuned up your 1.6 or 1.8 to twice/thrice the power, higher revs etc, you might fit an oil filter from a newer, higher power motor and you might benefit. I'm not sure if that's tangible but that is my consideration going into this.
So we look for filters that'd fit, that are specced for larger more powerful motors....
I'm going to call out two motors that are high performance from Japan - the RX8's Rotary (up to 230HP) and the Honda K series (K20A up to 215 HP)
So let's look at what is out there - JDM OEM or EU-made Aftermarket:
Mazda:
OEM MX5: Tokyo Roki B6Y1-14-302A (short) - the JDM and Excellent filter. The Americans swear by them and horde them.
RX8: Tokyo Roki N3R1-14-302 (long) - also very popular with Subaru owners, amusingly... as they may poke a bit out the bottom of the engine bay on a boxer!
Honda:
Honda K20: HAMP H1540-RTA-003 - Made in Japan, By Mahle - the HAMP is considered the gold standard for K-series
Honda K20: 15400-RBA-F01 - Was made by Purflux but not available any more.
Mahle/Knecht:
If you can find an Austrian made Mahle OC195/OC196 (big version) I think they're a good choice.
MX5 Spec: OC195 (short)
Honda K20: OC617 (long) is tagged as being for Hondas specifically but appears to be Physically Identical to the OC196.
If there is a difference it can only be in the pressure release valve? or is it just differently coded to keep track of sales ? I write this having both in front of me.
Mazda RX8: OC195 (short) but ought to be the OC196
OC196 is a well known longer version of the OC195 and I've used them for years. And it matches the OEN N3R1-14-302 in the compatability.
These were my favourites but I'm weary of buying any more if they're Chinese-made.
However if the HAMP is a JDM Mahle, it'd be the best of all worlds.
Mann:
MX5 spec : W 67/1 - (short)
The W 610 series are a longer version of the W 67 and so, with more filter medium, should flow more.
Honda K20 spec : W 610/10 (long)
RX8 spec: W 67/1 (short) or W 811/85 (long)
At least in Sergiu Gabor's testing, Mann doesn't have the best oil flow, so I think if you had to buy Mann you could get a longer one to improve that. If it's made in Germany, go for it!
Purflux:
Still Made in France. This was the EU-sourced Oil Filter Manufacturer for Honda. For over a decade.
MX5 Spec: LS892 (short)
Honda K20 Spec: LS350 (long)
Mazda RX8 Spec: LS225 (long)
But even Purflux suggest part equivalence between them (and LS287 and LS910, which I think are deprecated part numbers)
What shines for Purflux is they seem to achieve very good oil flow. I suspect that's why they were picked by Honda back when.
Their filter media crinkle setup does seem to give more surface area, maybe it's related.
See this video by Sergiu Gabor
Bosch:
Bosch have a huge presence in the spares market where I am. On par with Mann/Mahle if made in Europe.
MX5 Spec: P7210 (short)
RX8 Spec: P7210 (short) or OZ061 (short)
Honda K20 spec : P7077 (long) (88mm)
Hengst:
I'm just mentioning it here because they exist and are European and popular as one of the EDM OEMs (Tailgate McNoIndicate?) but I've never tried one.
--
So to round it out, If you can get an oil filter as above, specced for a higher performance motor, I think you may benefit. I'm thinking of trying out the LS350 at some point on my Turbo car, for example. I'd also consider running the HAMP on the MX5.
What I consider short: under 70mm or so. As you'll see above this tends to be the standard for the MX5 or RX8 filters..
Long - 80mm+ - notice the K20 spec oil filters are ALWAYS longer. the RX8 ones are SOMETIMES longer, but notice that Tokyo Roki for the RX8 was definitely longer. (gold standard)
The point of longer filters is that they'll have more capacity to hold dirt and more capacity to flow oil.