Do you think Honda contracts with a refinery to make their "special break-in oil"? I can't help but wonder if using propriatary disclaimers as a way of avoiding the question. The mystery continues.

 

Sheister, good point :tailtuckedbetweenlegs: so the 12-point question is, who makes their oil for the Japanese market.

Boit, I suspect your intuition might be right on! Based upon your described conversation, he said I don

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B] Quite ingenius marketing,if you ask me.

 

This is a service bulletin from the fall of 2001. It also mentions the "special breakin" oil.

 

OK, I just had my first oil change today. The car hit 4200 miles and I couldn't stand it anymore!

The part numbers they put on the car was:

15400-PT7-005 Filter, Oil
94109-14000 Washer (14MM)
08798-9015 Oil, Motor (10W

So what kind of filter is that?

 

I was curious, so I pulled out my 4 Customer Copies of Honda oil filter purchases.

June 2002 15400-P0H-305
August 2002 15400-PT7-005
November 2002 15400-PT7-005
May 2003 15400-PT7-005

Sometimes the crush washer was free, once $.25, and once $.30.

The filters are made by a U.S. company called FILTECH Inc. and they are made here in Findlay, Ohio. As far as I know they only make Import filters primarily for Honda.

 

StowK,

Here's a link to an oil filter study:
http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml

Specifically, here is what they say about 15400-P0H-305:
"This filter looks identical to the Toyo Roki-made JDM filter at first glance- externally the same construction, the only indicator is the "FILTECH" stamped on the outside (a large US manufacturer of filters under various brand names). Internally it's *almost* identical to the JDM filter- steel end caps, steel bypass valve. What makes it stand out as different is the radically different filter media. The material on the Japanese filter looked like the STP or Bosch units. The US media looks much, much worse than the Fram. The media is noticeably "fuzzy" with small fibers protruding out from every angle. While the filter itself is constructed very well (like the Japanese one), the furry nature of the media makes me question how long it lasts and what it will release into the oil system. It also has the least surface area of all the Honda filters (though only a few inches less than the Canadian one)."


Here is what they say about 15400-PT7-005:
"Externally, this filter looks like the other 2 Honda filters (except for the "Made in Canada" stamped on the end). All 3 Honda filters have unique part numbers (see the summary tables). This filter, though, when opened, is identical in construction to a Fram. Same "fuzzy" media, dent from string in media, glued cardboard end caps, bypass valve... the build quality looks fine but again, those cardboard pieces don't leave me with a very warm feeling. With increased surface area and increased inlet area, though, this filter should flow more than either of the FRAM units.

Dissasembly of a used filter shows that some of the fibers do part from the filter. While the detail can't be seen in the photo above, there were fibers that were "hung up" in the perforated center portion. The material did not look quite as "fuzzy" as it did new, which I presume is from some fibers having left the filter. This filter had 1000 hard miles over the course of one month on it. The cardboard was perfectly intact, though I suspect this would deteriorate over time."

The study also has some interesting information about some other filters that you can use.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sheister
StowK,

Here's a link to an oil filter study:
http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml

 

I read that site from end to end. I can't help but wonder about Honda now. The impression I have now is that Honda is being lax on critical quality components. For en engine that redlines at 9000 RPM, it would seem to me that the lubrication system is extremely critical and the oil filter should be designed accordingly. Are the filters that Honda now supplies to us through the dealer adequate? I don't know but I have an uneasy feeling now. The Mobil 1 gives me some peace of mind so I'll use it.