oldnslo wrote:If you care a whit about your engine, you will use a filter designed for that engine. Doing the sub thing to save a couple bucks is a gross example of false economy. Pony up and do it right. On the other hand, you could go ahead and use that Hundai filter and wait for the music from the rod bearings just before the drum solo as the rods exit the side of the block......go ahead, live on the edge.......
I'd honestly feel perfectly fine throwing on a quality Wix/NAPA Gold car oil filter on my bike. But since I don't have a screw-on type, I just go for the Wix donut filter
I know the official topic of this post is oil, but I wanted to know more about filters!
If a car filter's technical data says it filters 99.9% Microsmallthingies(:D) and that's equal or better to the performance of the actual bike filter, does it really matter which you use (other than fit, obviously)? Is there a flow restriction, and if that's the same too, then why would it matter?
If I can get the same size/performance filter at Wal-Mart for $1.25, then why should I bother paying $7 for a 'officially for bikes' filter that's technically no better?
From all my research done on oil filters, it's the construction that matters, not the filtering capabilities. I feel better dropping the extra couple bucks on a Wix filter over a SuperTech (WalMart brand), just because I know it's made right.
You can have a perfect filtering screen and it won't do jack if your filter is coming apart after a couple hundred miles. Just my $0.50 Canadian.
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Skier wrote:From all my research done on oil filters, it's the construction that matters, not the filtering capabilities. I feel better dropping the extra couple bucks on a Wix filter over a SuperTech (WalMart brand), just because I know it's made right.
You can have a perfect filtering screen and it won't do jack if your filter is coming apart after a couple hundred miles. Just my $0.50 Canadian.
have you ever inspected a super tech filter?? they are made by champion labs. which makes a very good filter. champion labs makes stp,mobil 1,etc. but i dont think they make filters for bikes. (super tech) though stp does which is champion labs.
the filter you want to stay away from is fram. the orange turds.
of course wal-mart,kawasaki,honda,ford,etc etc. do not make oil filters. just paying for their name.
[quote="Skier"]And the local WalMart has just the ticket - their brand, SuperTech, 10W-40 and 20W-40 oils without the energy conservation label or the API starburst...[/quote]
WalMart's SuperTech oil does not have the API starburst symbol? There 5W-30 has it. I just looked at the bottle for my next car oil change. Maybe the 10W and 20W 40's don't have it. But wouldn't WalMart be out of the oil merchandising business if they didn't have the API starburst. I think most cars built in the last 13 to 15 years, at least, require the American Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines starburst symbol.
Skier wrote:And the local WalMart has just the ticket - their brand, SuperTech, 10W-40 and 20W-40 oils without the energy conservation label or the API starburst...
WalMart's SuperTech oil does not have the API starburst symbol? There 5W-30 has it. I just looked at the bottle for my next car oil change. Maybe the 10W and 20W 40's don't have it. But wouldn't WalMart be out of the oil merchandising business if they didn't have the API starburst. I think most cars built in the last 13 to 15 years, at least, require the American Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines starburst symbol.
There are at least two different (maybe more?) API symbols. One is a starburst, the other is a circle. I forget exactly what the Starburst is for, but most all oils at least have a form of the 'circle'. The circle symbol reads 'API approved' (or similar) across the top, has the rating othe oil in the middle, and will either be blank or read 'Friction enhancers' (or similar) across the bottom.
My take on this is that there is only one "starburst" symbol, and it reads, API certified "For Gasoline Engines". Auto makers specify this symbol in their owners manuals so that owners of gasoline engine cars will not put diesel engine oil in their crankcases.
The other symbols are really circles. They have no stary edges around the circle.
The article you attached clarifys that 10W-40 and heavier oil won't be designated as "energy conserving".
But there seems to be no basis for concluding that WalMart's SuperTech oil doesn't meet the same standards as any other manufacturer's similar grade and weight oil, i.e., SG or SH or where ever they are at now. Most Japanese bikes, as the article says, are better off without energy conserving oil.
Eberley wrote:My take on this is that there is only one "starburst" symbol, and it reads, API certified "For Gasoline Engines". Auto makers specify this symbol in their owners manuals so that owners of gasoline engine cars will not put diesel engine oil in their crankcases.
The other symbols are really circles. They have no stary edges around the circle.
The article you attached clarifys that 10W-40 and heavier oil won't be designated as "energy conserving".
But there seems to be no basis for concluding that WalMart's SuperTech oil doesn't meet the same standards as any other manufacturer's similar grade and weight oil, i.e., SG or SH or where ever they are at now. Most Japanese bikes, as the article says, are better off without energy conserving oil.
The 'For gasoline engines' starburst isn't required for oil to be used in gas engines. It's more of a 'no brainer' for people who aren't sure. Or so it seems, at least.
SuperTech might not have the 'starburst' even if it is still ok for Gas engines and, while it might not have that particular symbol, it should still have the regular 'API certified' symbol, rating it just as good as any other oil.
