Oil filter change... again

[Justin B.]

Automotive mechanics have a very high opinion of Wix filters for automotive applications but I have never seen/used one for an Airhead.

[montmil]

Opinions?   Free shipping with purchase of either two or three kits.

Monte

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Accessories_Motorcycle-Parts-Accessories__2-BMW-Oil-Filter-Kits-R100-R90-R80-R75-R65-R60-R50-R45_W0QQitemZ260375538104QQddnZPartsQ20Q26Q20AccessoriesQQadiZ2863QQddiZ2811QQadnZMotorcycleQ20PartsQ20Q26Q20AccessoriesQQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item260375538104&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318#ht_7024wt_928

[donbmw]

Since our filters are not made like a spin on filter is I would not think that thoughs filter would be a problem to use.

Don

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I will probably always buy Mahle from one source or another.  

But that is just me, and I can be quite irrational at times.

I've seen pictures of filters that crushed under pressure.  Since the ones in the eBay store are 2-piece type, that might not be an issue.  But what about quality of filtering?

Also for the record, I switched to the 2-piece OEM quite a long time ago, as well - for the inherent strength.

[Semper Gumby]

Hey Montmil,

Used to use the paper gasket which sometimes leaked and sometimes not.  After measuring the distance between the outside edge of the motor and the lip on the canister I determined (al la Snowbum) that two shims were required.  I have not had a leak since - throwing that paper gasket away.  And Im no longer trying to overtorque those small bolts.

BTW - I used a tire tread depth gage to measure the depth of the lip of the canister.

+1 on the Wix filters.  Here is the link to the filter -

http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/PartDetail.asp?Part=24945

#24945 is the part number for the bendy filter (which I like)>  

[montmil]

Thanks, Bill.  The eBay seller is a Wix filter sales operation. Believe I'll get a two-pack for future use. They include the shims and O-rings with the filter plus my little dab of Scotch blood likes the no tax-no shipping charge.

Monte

[Bill Conquest]

Hey Monte - I checked with the local Nappa dealer here & they have the same hinged filter - made by Wix, for Nappa - with the o-ring & gasket(not sure about the shim) for $11.49. Part # ps4945. Has anyone tried these?
Bill Conquest

[montmil]

Dang! Good call, Bill. I'd tried NAPA while sourcing air filters for the R65's and forgot to try them for the oily filter. My local NAPA always gives a 15% discount.  

Monte

[nhmaf]

I took up monte's ebay store link and bought there 2-pack oil filter kit.
My local NAPA store is not well stocked, and orders often take a week to get in.   I bought the 2-pack oil filter kit on ebay on Friday, and the filters were in my mailbox on Monday morning - that was good service !!

They appear to be as sturdy/well made as the other bendy filters, with possibly an extra few pleats of filter/greater surface area, which I presume is to help compensate for the loss of filtering area from having to make the joint in the middle.  In any case, I think they'll do just fine.

[Clutch]

Rob,

I just changed my oil and filter this weekend.  I've only used BMW filters so far.  This last filter I replaced was a two-piece/bendy type and even one half of it had collapsed, so I'm not sure if these are stronger or not.  I noticed that it collapsed in the area where the outer sheath was not covering it, but I don't know if that was just a coincidence or not.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Check out Beemer Boneyard, beemerboneyard.com, for Fram oil filter deals.  Five Fram filters for airheads without oil coolers for $25.  Ten crush rings for $4.00 and a pack of paper gaskets for $6.00.  

[Justin B.]

Fram are trash, period.  Cheap filter media, small amount of media, etc.  All "professional" auto mechanics I know will not use a Fram oil filter in anything - period!  

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Justin I value your mechanical knowledge, however I think my Ford F150 with 310,000 miles would not support that claim, at least in my humble opinion.  It's my experience that frequent oil changes are really the key to a long and healthy engine life.

[montmil]

Gotta go with Bengt on the Fram filter issue. This topic has been beat to death on my Cabriolet group website. Lots of trash talk but engineering data trumps the, "My buddy knows a mechanic who says...".

I use 'em in my wife's new Cadillac Northstar -a Christmas present for her this year- plus my Cabriolet and Ford F150. 'course I change oil and filters every 90 days. Cabrio is 23 years old, F150 is 14 years young.

Monte  

[Justin B.]

A friend of mine owns a garage and has cut open and compared Fram and Wix filters and he said the difference in quality it apparent.  I also seem to remember a web site that did the same for the Beemer filters and the OEM filter had considerably more filter area.  I have since went back to using OEM filters - Mahle for the Beemers, Mann for the Volvo, and Mopar for the 'Cruiser...