Oil and Filter recommendations

[DawsonsDada]

After having the local dealer trash my K&N air filter (twice) during routine oil changes I have decided to do it myself from now on.

So to my question, does the brand of oil/filter really make that much of a difference? I am driving a 2003 Honda Odyssey with over 150,000 miles on it. I put about 450 miles a week in highway miles on it.

All I know about oil/filters is the general marketing that everyone sees so I figured I would ask for some advice from "real" people.

Thanks!

If you need more information to make recommendations let me know and I wll provide.

 

[DVad3r]

Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

 

[Vette73]

For oil filter just about anything that is not fram. You can even use the cheap one at wal-mart (super tech) and it is better then your oprange fram filter.
I bought a case of filters from www.rockauto.com called pro-tec (made by wix).


For oil if you change it 4-5000miles then any name brand oil that meets the SM spec is fine. if you go from 7-10,000miles then any syn will do as well.
Look for sales and stock up. I have a pile of name brands and never had issue with oil. So don;t buy the name, look at the specs and the price.



Oh and get rid of the K&N. They are junk.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

Oh shit that sucks. I do my own oil changes or when I do take it somewhere I specify exactly what I want, I even stand there and watch them do it.

And don't listen to Marlin, I bought a K&N for my car and it owns, I get lower RPM's now

 

[T2urtle]

just get with the $9.99 oil specials they have at autozone and pepboys. normall proline 5 qts and a no-name oil filter.

a honda anything other then the NSX doesn't require fancy stuff.

all oils have to go thru certifications, any filter works just as good. your not doing anything high performance. no need for anything extra.

 

[DawsonsDada]

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

Sorry don't mean to "scare" anyone.

I think they did it without thinking about it. The sad thing is I have the "Do Not Discard" sticker that came with the filter on top of the intake box. The second time they had to cut the SECOND sticker to open the box! Ugh!

 

[DawsonsDada]

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

Exactly! They ignored the stickers both times! I complained to the service manager and his reply was to the effect of it is "their policy" to use only genuine honda parts for all maintenance and to replace non-standard parts with OEM parts to ensure proper operation of the vehicle. I said thanks for the info and haven't been back since.

 

[DawsonsDada]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
For oil filter just about anything that is not fram. You can even use the cheap one at wal-mart (super tech) and it is better then your oprange fram filter.
I bought a case of filters from www.rockauto.com called pro-tec (made by wix).


For oil if you change it 4-5000miles then any name brand oil that meets the SM spec is fine. if you go from 7-10,000miles then any syn will do as well.
Look for sales and stock up. I have a pile of name brands and never had issue with oil. So don;t buy the name, look at the specs and the price.



Oh and get rid of the K&N. They are junk.

Why do you think they (K&N filters) are junk? Have you had a bad experience with them or did you find something better? Either way please share the knowledge! I am always willing to try learning from other's experience. I have had great results with mine in the cars that I used them in.

 

[DawsonsDada]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

Oh shit that sucks. I do my own oil changes or when I do take it somewhere I specify exactly what I want, I even stand there and watch them do it.

And don't listen to Marlin, I bought a K&N for my car and it owns, I get lower RPM's now

I have used K&N with great results in the last four cars I have owned. Until someone shows/tells me something that is better I will keep using them.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: DawsonsDada

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

Oh shit that sucks. I do my own oil changes or when I do take it somewhere I specify exactly what I want, I even stand there and watch them do it.

And don't listen to Marlin, I bought a K&N for my car and it owns, I get lower RPM's now

I have used K&N with great results in the last four cars I have owned. Until someone shows/tells me something that is better I will keep using them.

There's a thread about it when I posted that I got lower RPM's at the same speed with my new air filter.

I think the people who truly trash them are the performance junkies who dyno and shit. I have no clue if they perform good or bad when it comes to that, but I imagine for regular cars like we use they are more than sufficient.

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: DawsonsDada

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

Oh shit that sucks. I do my own oil changes or when I do take it somewhere I specify exactly what I want, I even stand there and watch them do it.

And don't listen to Marlin, I bought a K&N for my car and it owns, I get lower RPM's now

I have used K&N with great results in the last four cars I have owned. Until someone shows/tells me something that is better I will keep using them.

There's a thread about it when I posted that I got lower RPM's at the same speed with my new air filter.

I think the people who truly trash them are the performance junkies who dyno and shit. I have no clue if they perform good or bad when it comes to that, but I imagine for regular cars like we use they are more than sufficient.

You can't get lower rpms at the same speed without changing a gear somewhere between your tires and engine.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: DawsonsDada

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

Oh shit that sucks. I do my own oil changes or when I do take it somewhere I specify exactly what I want, I even stand there and watch them do it.

And don't listen to Marlin, I bought a K&N for my car and it owns, I get lower RPM's now

I have used K&N with great results in the last four cars I have owned. Until someone shows/tells me something that is better I will keep using them.

They will NOT increase your gas mialge and at best they can onyl increase power at WOT which is rare. Even most race car drivers use plain ole paper filters.
Also K&N allow in more dirt. i have cleaned many MAF sensors and throttle bodys when I was a tech for people that had K&N's. The person i got my Corvette from used one. I had a hell of a time finding out why it was spark knocking. After I removed the intake I saw the K&N and replaced it and cleaned my MAF and now no problems.

 

[Gillbot]

There are loads of threads here with data about K&N filters. Do a search and you'll get all the info you need on them.

IMHO, they are garbage and belong in the trash. I use a good old paper filter and I just replace it often.

 

[Atrail]

Corolla - Shell Oil from Costco/ProTec filters from RockAuto
Volvo S40- Castrol Synthetic from Costco/Wix filters from RockAuto

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Atrail
Corolla - Shell Oil from Costco/ProTec filters from RockAuto
Volvo S40- Castrol Synthetic from Costco/Wix filters from RockAuto

I think most if not all Costco's are gettign rid of their Castrol oil. Also the Pro-tec is a wix filter.

Like pro-tec = napa silver and Wix = napa gold.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: DawsonsDada

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Does your car use synthetic oil or regular?

I've got a 2001 Lexus and it uses synthetic. I use quaker state synthetic with the quaker state oil filter. Works like a charm, got 115,000 km on the car so far

I don't understand how your K&N air filter got trashed during an oil change though? I've got one too and you are scaring me!

He means the idiots threw it away thinking they were helping him out by chaning his air filter. Extra service to go along with the oil change. I'd be pissed, K&Ns are expensive but that's why they ususally come with a sticker you put on the airbox saying DO NOT DISCARD!!!11

Oh shit that sucks. I do my own oil changes or when I do take it somewhere I specify exactly what I want, I even stand there and watch them do it.

And don't listen to Marlin, I bought a K&N for my car and it owns, I get lower RPM's now

I have used K&N with great results in the last four cars I have owned. Until someone shows/tells me something that is better I will keep using them.

There's a thread about it when I posted that I got lower RPM's at the same speed with my new air filter.

I think the people who truly trash them are the performance junkies who dyno and shit. I have no clue if they perform good or bad when it comes to that, but I imagine for regular cars like we use they are more than sufficient.

You can't get lower rpms at the same speed without changing a gear somewhere between your tires and engine.

My old air filter wasn't replaced for 70 k miles and was dirty as fuck, there was a plastic cap inside my air filter box (BELOW THE FILTER!). Trust me, when I put that new filter in and cleaned everything out, including leaves and grime, my engine has to work less and I get better RPM's.

 

[desy]

Doesn't mean it was the fancy filter
A new paper filter would have had the same results in all likleyhood

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: desy
Doesn't mean it was the fancy filter
A new paper filter would have had the same results in all likleyhood

Probably, but myself and the car are on a placebo effect

 

[bobdole369]

Woah that new of a car with that many miles - yikes. Was any of those miles with synthetic oil?

I use K&N filters and would have sued the service center and the tech personally for destroying my equipment. Usually that gets your K&N back with an apology and the cost of service.

I use them not because I think they help the car runb better, but simply to ease maintenance, and that they are quite possibly the absolute best at filtering the air going to your motor.

Your opportunity to save any motor wear by switching to synth went out at about 50k miles. Your motor is worn and a rebuild will probably need to happen by 200k. In any case - change the oil - as long as its a name brand you are OK, change every 3-4k like clockwork - and don't use FRAM, I was shocked at the oil pressure difference when switching from FRAM to - well anything but FRAM.

My old air filter wasn't replaced for 70 k miles and was dirty as fuck, there was a plastic cap inside my air filter box (BELOW THE FILTER!). Trust me, when I put that new filter in and cleaned everything out, including leaves and grime, my engine has to work less and I get better RPM's.

You can't get "lower" rpms at the same wheel speed without changing a gear somewhere between your tires and engine. Your engine may work less, but the speed/rpm ratio is exactly the same - perhaps some variance in there due to slippage in the tranny/tc.

 

[JDub02]

Originally posted by: bobdole369

My old air filter wasn't replaced for 70 k miles and was dirty as fuck, there was a plastic cap inside my air filter box (BELOW THE FILTER!). Trust me, when I put that new filter in and cleaned everything out, including leaves and grime, my engine has to work less and I get better RPM's.

You can't get "lower" rpms at the same wheel speed without changing a gear somewhere between your tires and engine. Your engine may work less, but the speed/rpm ratio is exactly the same - perhaps some variance in there due to slippage in the tranny/tc.

That one was

I went through a phase when I was younger where I wasted alot of money on stupid parts. Most engines will get a power bump when increasing the efficiency of air moving in and out of the motor, especially at WOT. But 99% of the time, the bump is not really worth the money spent on the part(s). My worst purchase was a shiny throttle body spacer that was nothing but a worthless puck of aluminum. It looked cool, though.

 

[exar333]

My #1 choice is the Purolator oil filter, but I also really like the K&N oil filter. The K&N is more expensive, but it have a socket "nipple" on the top of it. This is really great if the space around your oil filter is very cramped, and it works way better than a cup-style oil wrench. The K&N is a little more expensive, but it saves me a lot of time and let's me change my oil very quickly.

 

[desy]

"You can't get "lower" rpms at the same wheel speed without changing a gear somewhere between your tires and engine. Your engine may work less, but the speed/rpm ratio is exactly the same - perhaps some variance in there due to slippage in the tranny/tc."

This is interesting because I do and I see it everyday when I drive in the winter.
When I start my car out and its -20F I get up to HW speed set cruise RPM's are at 2700
By the time I get to town RPM's are 2400 and as I watch the RPM gauge its a slow drift down over 10 min or so, 4 spd auto

 

[LTC8K6]

This is interesting because I do and I see it everyday when I drive in the winter. When I start my car out and its -20F I get up to HW speed set cruise RPM's are at 2700 By the time I get to town RPM's are 2400 and as I watch the RPM gauge its a slow drift down over 10 min or so, 4 spd auto

Your torque converter does not lock up until the tranny fluid is warm. When it does, your RPM will drop.

Also, the fluid gets thinner and flows better as it heats up.

This also happens in the summer, just faster.

In fact, if you experiment, you will find the speed at which your converter locks up. If you stay just below that speed, your revs will be higher, and just as you speed up a bit, you will see the revs drop.

So you can actually have a lower rpm at a higher speed in top gear.

 

[zerocool84]

I use Purolater PureOne, K&N sometimes but usually too expensive, and Mobil 1 filters. Only use Mobile 1 oil. Tried Royal Purple but too expensive and didn't notice any difference except a lighter wallet and tried Quaker State Synthetic but didn't really like it so staying with Mobile 1.

Also use AEM DRYFLOW Filters to go with my SRI.