3 oil filters compared

Well, i got my snazzy oil filter cutter, and opened 3 filters in my garage:

1) A Honda 15400-PT7-005 (Fram?)
2) A Honda 15400-PCX-004 (current S2000 filter)
3) A Denso 150-1006 sold on a Honda parts site as "better than the cheap Fram filter Honda is selling".

Let's count pleats:
1) 47
2) 53
3) 47

Advantage: Honda S2000 filter

Let's measure the filter media height:
1) 53mm
2) 53mm
3) 44mm

Advantage: Hondas

What about external flow holes?
1) 6
2) 8
3) 8

Advantage: Honda PCX & Denso (combined with the internal holes, these 2 clearly have higher flow capability)

Symmetry of pleating:
1) Good
2) Fair
3) Excellent

Advantage: Not sure. Are symmetrical pleats better?

Bypass valve material:
1) Treated paper
2) All Metal
3) Plastic

Bypass diameter:
1) Approx 19mm
2) 20mm
3) 10mm

Advantage: Honda S2000 filter

Bypass valve tension (estimated):
1) Moderate
2) Higher
3) Moderate

Advantage: Honda S2000 filter (assuming higher tension means less bypass/higher oil pressure needed for S2000 engine - clearly not an "all-purpose" design

Internal holes (for oil flow)
1) 104
2) 220 (slightly smaller than #1)
3 165

Advantage: Honda S2000 filter - Denso close with smaller filter size

Filter media depth:
1) 12mm
2) 12mm
3) 12mm

Advantage: Both Honda filters had more surface area

End seal anti-drainback gasket material:
1) Silicone rubber
2) Silicone rubber
3) Silicone rubber

Advantage: None - all had fine quality materials.

Oil flange mating gasket:
1) O-ring type with torque limiting design
2) O-ring type with torque limiting design
3) O-ring type with torque limiting design

Advantage: None. All had quality gaskets unlikely to leak if properly torqued using the "7/8's rule".
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General analysis of filter quality"
The generic Honda (#1) had a cheap bypass construction, cardbard end caps, and fewer flow holes. It appears to be a typical Fram filter.

#2 was all metal, and had indications of having been purpose built, especially based on the size and opening pressure of the bypass valve, and the number of flow holes. These are important to maintain proper oil pressure and ensure bypassing ony when needed.

#3 was well made, but the smaller filter area and the narrow bypass suggest this filter was not specifically designed for the S2000.

very interesting stuff indeed.

I've been curious about the new S2000 filter. Thanks, RR.

That is the result I was hoping for, since I already ordered several of the PCX filters

Road Rage, nice job!

Oh, and it has a few more holes on the top for flow...

OIL FLTR - old on left, new on right[/PHOTO]

Thanks again Road Rage.

Destiny, yes, that's right - I only got so "deep" into the analysis, so yours is a nice build. It also strengthens the point that the PCX filter is a dedicated design, not a universal. For me to use anything else, I am going to have to see a lot of similarities between the contender and the PCX.

Thanks RR, I Just bought 4 pcx filter last week, so im glad there were no suprises.

What about the HAMP filter? When do you get your hands on one of those?

Wait, the part number for the HAMP is H1540-PLC-004. Could this be the same as the PCX 004, only green?

Thanks for the comparison. This is a great tool to give to my Honda dealer to show them there is a differance between the S2000 filter and the generic Honda filter.

I'd also like to know, I'm currently using the HAMP filter as well.

I believe the HAMP PLC# filter is the same size as the new one size fits all filter that Honda adopted a few months back.

The PT7 filters I believe are made in the USA by FILTECH.

As mentioned above, there seems to be more than one variety of pre-PCX Honda oem oil filter. When I did my last oil change, I removed the filter on the left in the picture below. I couldn't find a part number anywhere on it that had the same format as the numbers mentioned in this thread.

In any case, it has the same number of "external flow holes," but they are bigger and positioned closer to the middle. The PCX filter is on the right.

IMG_0109 Filter Comparison.jpg[/PHOTO]

Road Rage,

Have you ever done a comparison of various aftermarked filters? I am not one who readliy believes the stock Honda parts are necessarily the best for every application; this being one of those cases.

On my car right now is a Purolator PureOne filter, as I believe it is one of the few filters that goes down to 5 microns. I'd be curious to see the differences between the PureOne, Fram X2, Mobil 1, and Bosch Premium filters. Granted, I'm not asking for sophisticated filtration analysis, but your visual comparison would probably be adequate. I have used each of these filters before on various cars, but admittedly never took the time to physically compare them. Your input on various lubricants is well-respected (and appreciated) on this site, and I'd like to see how these aftermarket filters stack up. Perhaps a "showdown" is in order? What say you?

The NSX Filter won't fit, The threads are different.

Thanks for the info...

I don't know about the Purolator, but I do know that the Fram has a plastic bypass valve. If you think about it, the more a filter filters, the less flow you will have. The less a filter filters, the more flow you will have. A far as filtering down to 5 microns, keep in mind that you would need a microscope to see a micron, I think the Toyo Roki 15400 PCX-004 is the best for our cars being that is was designed specifically for the S2000.

If I wanted a filter that would filter down to a micron, it would be a Heppa filter in my livingroom:D

Is the filter on the left the stock filter that came with your car? Or was it installed at a service center? It's kinda funny that there is no part # on it.

My car came stock with the Toyo Roki 15400 PR3 which is 100% identical to the filter on the right of the pic. I believe the PR3 was replaced by the PCX. As far as I know, these filters are identical. I have seen both of them apart.

The Toyo Roki 15400 PCX was designed for our car and it is the filter that Honda will continue to sell to S2000 owners.

Make sure you ask for the PCX for the S2000. When I was at a Honda dealer in Santa Rosa, the parts guy tried to sell me a Filtech part # 15400 PLM-A01. He said "this is the filter that the technicians install on the S2000's". I said "really". He said "really" So I told him about the PCX filter and that it is identical to the PLM-A01 except the PCX filter is larger than the PLM-A01. The Filtech is a good filter (has the metal bypass valve) but it is intended for 88-04 Civic's and Accords.

The parts guy then ordered a case of the PCX's.

More good oil filter stuff (not Honda specific):

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultima...p?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000513

Jeremy Lucas
Team Honda Research
Kumho-Cobalt-Comptech

i hope its still ok to use the old honda filter. i ordered 5 a long time ago and I still have one left I haven't used yet

Hamp doesn't make that larger 1540-PR3-408 filter anymore. The ones that are being bought in the Group Buy are the much smaller 1540-PLC-004. My hamp small filters would bottom out and not go tight enough... much like the post from BrewCityR in the above thread. Just be careful using those small hamp filters.

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm saying here. At some point there will exist a compromise between oil filtration and oil flow. The reason I mentioned the 5 micron interval (didn't just pull it out of my head) is because on my roommates BMW 330i, they specify filters that go down that small. Because of this, they insist on doing oil changes every 15,000 miles. Granted, I'll never go that long between oil changes, but it's nice to know the filter I'm using theoretically COULD. Yah, a HEPA filter would be great for filtration, but the flow would absolutely suck. Racer, I can definetly see your point, but I'd still be curious to see how all the other filters stack up.