1998 Accord 4cyl oil filter

What is the best oil filter to use on a 1998 Accord 4cyl? I have to
go back to changing my own oil. My dealer's service department is
going downhill fast ever since they opened a Mercedes dealership and
all the best techs were transferred there.

 

Lots of info and pics at:
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/reference.html

Boiled down to:
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/opinions.html


"What oil?" you ask. Muahahahah!!!
Sneak a peak at http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php for
more than you EVER wanted to read about motor oil!

I <think> the 98 Accord is like most others: The oil filter is located
on the back of the engine, about halfway up, against the firewall. You
can't access it from above; you must reach up from below the car and
unscrew it. Start looking for a set of drive-up ramps.

-Moo

 

Honda and PureOne filters are both good choices. If it rhymes with
"scam" it probably isn't a good filter. ;-)

 

Thank you to all for the information.

Ed S.

 

I think the SuperTech filter is the best one to use, other than the
Honda filter. Why? Because it is the only aftermarket filter I have
seen, where the rubber gasket is rounded and not flat. The Honda
filter has the rounded gasket. And you can't beat the price, I get
them at Wal-Mart, it's # ST3593A

 

???
What freaking difference does the O-ring shape make?

Most Supertech units are roughly on par with the eminently craptastic
Fram. Why not spend another 2 bucks and buy a Purolator, Wix, or any
one of a dozen mid-range filters? For the life of me, I can't
comprehend how people can spend tens of thousands on a car, then
thousands more on oil, gas, insurance, etc., only get all tight-assed
when picking a filter.

Low end filters can and do disintegrate, shedding chunks of filter
media, end caps, glue, and god knows what into the oil system. Clog a
single oil galley and you'll destroy your engine. Also, that cheap
media isn't going filter worth a dang...

 

@newsfe23.iad:

No fan here of aftermarket filters of /any/ kind, but I have to ask: Your
cite for this?

 

it makes a difference as to whether the o-ring sticks to the block, gets
sandwiched under a new filter, then blows out on the freeway dumping your
oil. trust me on that one.

not so. supertech are made by champion labs, the same people that make
the highly expensive and acclaimed brands like mobil 1, bosch, and some
others i can't be bothered to look up right now. don't be mislead just
because they're branded for woolmort and underpriced.

for the life of me, i can't comprehend paying $10 for a filter when the
same one with a different brand label on it costs only $2.60.

indeed. but know your facts before making sweeping statements.

 

Ahem...
Any competent home mechanic will CHECK the removed filter for the
presence of the o-ring before blindly slapping on a new one.
Failure to perform and o-ring check is almost as bad as watching a
mysterious puddle of oil form beneath your car as you pour the new stuff
in. Wanna trade screw-ups?

My basic point stands: Judging filter quality on o-ring appearance
seems a tad shallow.

You do have a point. After posting, I surfed around and found that some
ST models seem to be built on Champion's e-core design which isn't too
awful. (Personally, I think they're still a little too flimsy.) My
opinion was based on several recent discussions indicating that (some)
ST models are/were? built by Honeywell (Fram) and are flimsy junk. W/O
knowing what's in the box, I still think I'd give them a pass. If ST
ever transitions to 100% Champ ecore, I'd grudgingly use one, "if I had
to."

Um... since when does 10 - 2 = 2.60??

And don't go misquoting me, doofus. I never said $10. What's so
horrible about spending $6 or so for decent filter media (meaningful
filtration) and disintegration resistant construction. Show of hands:
who would want something like this in their car?
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1358515#Post1358515

I'm not aware of any $2.60 filter being sold for $10. Did you have an
example in mind, or were you just making an uninformed 'sweeping
statement'? The Mobil 1 is arguably overpriced at ~$10 (6~7 sounds
fair), but is FAR superior to any <$3 item I've ever heard of.

I'm also unconvinced regarding quality control. Having worked several
years in a QC department, I've found that budget products are seldom as
consistent as mid or high end offerings. When the design is marginal,
as with most low end filters, any variance can cause problems.

Heh! This, coming from someone as opinionated as you??


-Moo!

 

no, trade experience of oil changes with san francisco honda.

it's not shallow and it's not appearance. the point is, honda use a
specific gasket type for a reason - sticking. champion labs pay attention
to that. fram don't.

then you clearly haven't bothered to check one out.

eh? a "mobil 1" filter costs $10 or more. the supertech version costs
$2.60.

i'm not misquoting you "doofus", i'm giving you data that you don't seem
to have.

ubb=showflat&Number=1358515#Post1358515

again, you're wringing your hands and bleating based on misplaced
supposition.

er, i've given you the data.

i'm "not convinced" you're paying attention!

opinions are not facts. if i were giving you opinions, i'd preface them
with a statement like "it is my opinion".

 

Just as an aside - a few months ago I bought a genuine Honda oil filter for
my daughter's Accord. It felt a little funny going on - instead of gradually
tightening it got slightly tight then came to a hard stop. I was rushed and
finished up, but I was still surprised to find an oil leak a few days later.
I got a good light in there and found the filter seated metal-to-metal on
the block with oil trickling from it. I got another Honda filter and
replaced the filter again, which cured the leak. The clearance on the new
filter was not visibly greater than the defective one but it tightened
normally. Weird.

Mike