Oil Filter Comparisons??
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 599
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From: Arkansas
Oil Filter Comparisons??
It seems like I've posted on this very subject before, but I looked through all my previous threads and couldn't find anything on the subject. I remember you guys talking about microns and blow by?? You guys even went as far to compare various filters. Wix, Fram, K & N, Amsoil, Harley. The reason I ask is this, I was told Wix, had 5 micron protection?? They said that was pretty good? So I knew you guys would know the answer. Something else I've been thinking about, Harley is undoubtedly buying their filters from one of the manufacturers mentioned before. Thanks guys.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 365
Likes: 6
From: California
Bob,
Not sure i believe any filter goes to 5 microns although its possible.
Everybody says a Sporty wont oil with a 5 micron filter ? Prove it !
Most filters that fit a Sporty are about 20 micron
The Harley 5 micron filter appears to be built by Purolator with media made by Donaldson
The Amsoil synthetic filter appears to use the same media but is made by Wix.
If you showed me just the guts of 20 filters i believe i could tell you who built the filter with 95 % accuracy.
Not sure i believe any filter goes to 5 microns although its possible.
Everybody says a Sporty wont oil with a 5 micron filter ? Prove it !
Most filters that fit a Sporty are about 20 micron
The Harley 5 micron filter appears to be built by Purolator with media made by Donaldson
The Amsoil synthetic filter appears to use the same media but is made by Wix.
If you showed me just the guts of 20 filters i believe i could tell you who built the filter with 95 % accuracy.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
From another forum:
A micron rating is given to show the efficiency of the oil filter (one micron is a millionth of a meter).
This leads consumers to believe that the 10 micron filter must be better for their bike. Here is where it can get confusing though. The 10 micron filter may have a higher filtration rating it does not allow the oil to return to the tank as fast. With this in mind, the 10 micron and the later (newer) 5 micron filter filter was developed for use with the Twin Cam style engine which has a different oiling system that allows oil to be forced through a more restrictive oil filter.
The reason for the tighter filtration was explained by the manufacture as necessary to assure all of the smaller passages in the Twin Cam style engine like the piston oil jets, would stay clear of debris. If you run the 10 micron filter with an evolution style engine it will not be able to return oil through the filter fast enough causing the oil to back up into the lower end (sumping) robbing power and/or causing oil to puke out of the lower end and into the air filter housing.
The 30 micron filter is designed to work best for your Evolution style engine, the filtration is still excellent and it will not cause oiling issues.
When it comes to filtering oil, application is very important. There have been a lot of changes and updates to many filters on the market, with claims of better filtration, don't be fooled into using a filter that might not be the best for your bike.
The difference between the TC engine and the Evo engine oiling system is one is high pressure low volume and the other is low pressure high volume, thus the reason for the 10+ micron filters on the older engines.
A micron rating is given to show the efficiency of the oil filter (one micron is a millionth of a meter).
This leads consumers to believe that the 10 micron filter must be better for their bike. Here is where it can get confusing though. The 10 micron filter may have a higher filtration rating it does not allow the oil to return to the tank as fast. With this in mind, the 10 micron and the later (newer) 5 micron filter filter was developed for use with the Twin Cam style engine which has a different oiling system that allows oil to be forced through a more restrictive oil filter.
The reason for the tighter filtration was explained by the manufacture as necessary to assure all of the smaller passages in the Twin Cam style engine like the piston oil jets, would stay clear of debris. If you run the 10 micron filter with an evolution style engine it will not be able to return oil through the filter fast enough causing the oil to back up into the lower end (sumping) robbing power and/or causing oil to puke out of the lower end and into the air filter housing.
The 30 micron filter is designed to work best for your Evolution style engine, the filtration is still excellent and it will not cause oiling issues.
When it comes to filtering oil, application is very important. There have been a lot of changes and updates to many filters on the market, with claims of better filtration, don't be fooled into using a filter that might not be the best for your bike.
The difference between the TC engine and the Evo engine oiling system is one is high pressure low volume and the other is low pressure high volume, thus the reason for the 10+ micron filters on the older engines.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: East Coast
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 599
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From: Arkansas
I just did some research. Wix is 21 micron. Paper median. Fram doesn't tell the microns. It says glass and cellulose median. Checked ou the K & N filter. It sounds like a better filter. But it doesn't tell the microns. It looks like from the picture above that Harley filters are 30 micron.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,137
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From: Virginia
I guess I'm either lazy, naive, brainwashed or all of the above... but, at $10 each for the HD chrome filter, I don't see any reason to deviate from the filter sold by HD which is designated for my bike. <shrug>
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 599
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
I've just always had a problem being told by the Motor Company that I have to buy their stuff. When they probably give their business to the lowest bidder. So, if I can get the same quality at the corner parts store, that's what I'll do. If I don't have to pay four extra dollars for HD, I won't. Take spark plugs for example. I was told that HD plugs are the only ones that will work correctly?? I may not work for HD but I am fairly educated, and I plan on trying to make informed decisions. If HD has the highest quality filter, I have no problem giving them my money. But not because they tell me I have to. This thread started because someone on here asked the same question, and there were some good answers.