Honda Oil Filter Alternative?

Casey · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:18 am Post subject: Honda Oil Filter Alternative?

Can anyone tell me which Fram/Napa/AC (or whatever...) oil filter will replace the standard blue Honda oil filter? My impression is that the Honda filters are the same as the one's used on Honda cars, but I'm not sure.

We arrived back in Lake Montezuma (from the Powell CBGT) yesterday and although I thought there was an extra filter in the shop ... I can't find it, and the nearest Honda dealer is about 45 miles away, and i want to do an oil/filter change before putting Katmai to bed for the winter.

Thanks!

Best,
Casey&Mary

journey on · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:04 am Post subject:

Well, it all depends on what size Honda you have. For the 150 I just go to the parts store, find the right filter for a Honda 2.4 liter 4-cyl Accord of that year, find one that's made in the USA and use that. Worked well for 6 years.

If you have a 9.9 kicker, not a clue.

Some of the most popular filters are now from China; at this time Bosch says USA.

Boris

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 2:30 pm Post subject:

If there is a NAPA near you, they do sell them. Just ask them to get out their marine book as sometimes you get someone who doesn't have a clue as to what they have on the shelf. The NAPA in Wasilla has all the honda filters I have ever wanted for my boat, snow machines, 4 wheelers, and lawn mower. If you have one near you, I'd check it out.

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject:

Be very careful with aftermarket filters. We have a customer that bought a generic filter online for their Suzuki and while it fit, it wasn't the right filter. $10,000 later they were back on the water.

thataway · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:52 pm Post subject:

I agree you want a quality filter--The top rated filters are: NAPA(Gold), Wix, Bosch and Purolater. Most auto parts stores have cross reference to outboards. I avoid Fram and other cheaper after market filters. In my diesels I use the manufactures Fleetguard. The Onan: NAPA gold.

Desolation Cruiser · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:05 pm Post subject:

If there is a Honda number on your existing filters call your local NAPA store they should be able to cross them to NAPA Gold (Wix) which are top quality. I agree that the less expensive (lower quality) filters should be avoided for marine applications.

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:59 pm Post subject: oil filters

I found oil filters under the Mercury brand that fit Merc's as well as Hondas. They models that it fits are on the box.
The one for my 200hp Honda costs approx. $8 and Walmart carries them here in Anchorage.
For the 9.9 Honda I buy the Honda filter as Merc. does not have one.

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:02 am Post subject:

You needn't worry. NAPA doesn't make a "cheapo" filter for honda marine applications as they are all NAPA gold - at least so I was told...at go figure...NAPA....as I asked if they had one that wasn't 20 bucks. And as somebody pointed out, those NAPA gold filters are top of the line.....And they are priced like they are too.

As for Matt's advice, it is good. However, even the best ones do fail. Buying one from honda doesn't mean it can't fail. Buying one from someone else doesn't mean it will fail. You probably get what you pay for. Probably.....I'm not going to lie about it, I trust the honda ones for sure. The NAPA gold seem fine too.

starcrafttom · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:11 pm Post subject:

Matt, how could a filter that fit and worked cause a motor to blow? for 10k it has to be that. Was it clogged and stop allowing oil to pump? or did it leak or split? i am not a marine mech but I have stayed at a cheap ass hotel with bed bugs, not to mention working on motors all my life. I just cant see how a cheap filter could cause 10k in damage unless it was a loss of oil. Even if you had no filter and just a empty can in place , as long as the oil kept going round and cooling/lubing the motor I just dont see it. Not great for the motor but would not cause a failure.

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:11 pm Post subject:

My point was that some online sites have questionable cross references, and that just because a filter fits doesn't mean it's the right one. That was the case with our Suzuki customer. They saved a few bucks buying from an online oil filter dealer (who private labels their filters) and then had the failure. It was NOT from a reputable parts company like NAPA.

If a motor is under warranty I encourage owners to use the factory parts. It's too big an investment to risk a failure and have any warranty claim denied because of improper parts.

After the warranty expires then I think it's personal preference. But again- when one looks at what their motor cost, saving $10 bucks a year may not be the best place to find savings.

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject:

Matt,
Your point is absolutely correct and well taken.
Thx.

chucko · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject:

I found a merc filter at Gander Mtn,sports .IT fits Honda so it says ,on the box.Cheaper than OEM for sure

sebastien · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 6:28 pm Post subject:

I just purchased and received four
Honda 15400-PLM-A01PE oil filters (the blue ones)
but received four 15400-PLM-A02PE filters.

from what I've read the A01PE was discontinued in 2003 and replaced by the A02PE when the company actually making them for honda changed.

Are they the same filter? I read somewhere the new ones where not nearly as good.

do I send them back? they ARE a honda part!

ssobol · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 6:47 pm Post subject:

I found filters for my Yamaha O/B at the local motorsports store. A lot of the ATVs, dirt bikes, etc., used the same filter. You might try the same thing for Honda parts.

sebastien · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:20 pm Post subject:

So you are saying I should return them and try to find the
15400-PLM-A01PE?

I contacted the seller (from Amazon) with some questions and concerns - I'll wait to hear back from them re.
the difference.
they ARE OEM Honda parts - just made for Honda by a different filter company since 2003 apparently and the only way I knew about the 15400-PLM-A01PE is from looking at a spare that came with the boat... that might be from that time.