Purolator Pure One oil filter?

My '07 VFR 800A remains at the dealer's shop, awaiting the completion of several winter projects. Meanwhile, I've lately been combing through the many oil, and oil filter threads here at VFRWorld, in anticipation of the upcoming riding season.

My motorcycle (of which I'm the original owner since 4/08) now has about 7000 miles on the odometer. I've had the oil and filter changed frequently (always both at the same time), using Honda OEM oil and filters. Once the bike reaches ~10,000 miles, I'm planning on switching over to "Mobil 1 Racing 4T Fully Synthetic 10W-40" for motorcycles, which is supposed to be quite safe and compatible with wet clutches. (I don't race, but I often run the engine at RPM's well above 7000 when riding twisty roads.)

At this point I feel like I've made a good choice with the Mobil 1 4T synthetic oil, but lately I've been researching and trying to decide upon the best oil filter. After combing through the archives here, opinions vary widely (no surprise there), but the consensus seems to be (aside from continuing to use Honda's OEM paper filters) that the most highly recommended aftermarket oil filter for late model VFR's is the Purolator Pure One PL14610.

That said, today I looked up Purolator's official web site (Motorcycle Filters), and upon reading about their motorcycle oils, I found the following advisory statement:

If you're thinking you want to install a PureONE oil filter on your bike, please think again. PureONE oil filters are designed for vehicles, not bikes. Because of PureONE's high efficiency, the motorcycle oil pump may not be able to handle the pressure. The Purolator motorcycle filter line is designed to meet the specific needs of a bike; therefore we highly recommend the use of a Purolator ML filter over a PureONE oil filter.

According to Purolator's web site, they instead specifically recommend their ML16817 oil filter for a 2007 VFR 800. Moreover, I recently found the following comments from Bitterpil on 11/07/08 here at VFRWorld:

All oil filters are not created equal. Some filters have so much filter media that it inhibits the flow of oil when cold which requires the activation of the bypass valve to allow oil through to lube the engine on cold starts. Only issue with this is that some filtes require a higher PSI to open the valve than the OEM filter from Honda. While the higher PSI will be reached and oil will flow, the OEM filter's valve will open quicker to let oil flow during the start. This is not to say there aren't other quality filters on the market, there are. I am just saying do your research before you switch off of the OEM.

So, my question here is obvious, but I'll state it: Does the increased resistance to the flow of oil through the Purolator Pure One oil filter pose a danger to motorcycles, for the reasons mentioned above?

 

I cant really say but I just installed a Baldwin filter (mazda rx7) with Delo 15w40 so Im no help....But if your worried why not just keep with OEM.

 

Shell Rotella 5-40 synthetic is a cheap-motorcyclists method of getting excellent quality base oils and additive packages at bargain price. I use it on my FZ1. It's a VERY common trick; diesel oils have much better additive (as they're meant to survive much longer change intervals), its designed to be shear stable (something truckers and motorcyclists have in common). The only downside of Rotella is that it's got a higher ash content than is desirable. However, Rotella's trying be put of JASO cert, which means it would have a lower the ash content.

My oil filter is the walmart SuperTech ST7317, made by Champion (the same company that manufactuers Bosch filters).

Seriously though, as long as you run a quality oil and change it regularly you'll be fine; any oil that's safe to use in your machine from a reputable brand is going to be just fine. Filters are a different ballgame, some have cardboard endcaps that can disintegrate and clog oiling passageways, though do your research and you'll find people that will have cut the filters and inspected them for you.

 

I'm sure I'm one of the folks you've seen that have previously recommended the Pure One 14610.

I've used them for years on a number of different bikes with no apparent issues whatsoever.
I have no concerns about spending considerable time in the very highest regions of the tach, frequently into 5 digits, and occasionally "test" the rev-limiter...

However, if it gives you greater peace-of-mind, go with the Pure One ML16817, per Purolator.

I think the Pure One is just about the highest quality filter available, along with the K&N 303, and the Mobil-1 filter.
The Pure One has the advantages of being cheaper and readily available in many places, typically right alongside the automotive/diesel oils...

Personally, I've used the Mobil-1 MX4T (as well as regular Mobil-1), and wasn't impressed.

I've also used Rotella, but currently use Delo 400 15/40 (non-syn) for about $10-/gallon (WalMart, Bi-Mart, etc), and like it most of all.
The shift action is noticeably slicker than either the Rotella or MX4T, and MUCH cheaper than the MX4T.
I've noticed that the clutch feel is also really good with the Delo.

My all-time favorite is still Golden Spectro, but it's spendy and hard to find.
The Delo is 95% as good, and much less $$.

Go with the Pure One 16817, and Delo or Rotella, synthetic versions if you prefer, and you'll be well protected and will save a few bucks for gas.

I'll stick with PL14610 & Delo non-syn and I'm happy.
I generally do oil & filter changes (always both) between 4-5k miles, whenever the shift feel starts to degrade and the oil gets noticeably darker.

 

Motorcycle Oil Filters & Air Filters

 

Honda filters are a little less depending on where you buy them if you buy say a dozen at a time.

After watching the price of Golden Spectro go through my local dealers roof and his raising the prices of in stock oil, I switched to Rotella. There is an article in the archives right here about the quality.

I think we shall find that most filters (not all by a longshot) are made by Fram somewhere.

Something you guys (gender non-specific) might want to looksee is one of these. Not a bit of anything rubber, plastic or paper in one of these pupples. The "holes" are laser cut. Put on on my 91 about ten years ago. It's now amortized and still truckin.

Scotts Performance Products


"Cogito Ergo Zoom" I am fairly sure, was the brainchild of Dave Richardson owner of Moto-International in Seattle with possibly a little push and shove from Mark Pfennig now a big wheel with Triumph USA.

Somewhere in my pile of little treasures, I have a MOto_International liscense plate frame with those famous words. They still may have a few laying around.

My current plate frame says, " I WISH YOU WERE SHOPPING AT NORDSTROM".

Me transmite sursum, Caledoni!

 

While they make a great steering damper, I don't think the Scott's filter's filtering capability (smallest micron size x %) is anywhere near one of the high-end synthetic fiber filters, such as Pure One, K&N, Mobil-1, etc.


My inspiration for the "Cogito Ergo Zoom" comes from way back, from either Road & Track, or Sports Car International magazines.
I would suspect that Moto International was likely inspired by the same source.

I suppose it could also read "Cogito Ergo Veloce", which is also cool, but I love the "Zoom" being somewhat heretical, and clearly suggests tha meaning for non-Latin speakers...

I once bought a custom engraved 24k gold plated license frame for a friend that read "In ain't much, but it's paid for!".
It was for his Rolls Royce Corniche... Yes, it was paid-for!

Live long and prosper...:wink:

 

Thanks to all for your good advice. I've decided to go with Red Line 10-W40 synthetic motorcycle oil rather than Mobil 1. Red Line sounds like the bomb among synthetic oils, and after visiting their web site it turns out that there's a Redline dealer located about 2 miles from my home ( http://www.truechoice.com/).

I'm also now planning on going with the Purolator Pure One oil filter.

Thanks again!

Rover.