Been in the filter business many years ago, importing and exporting stuff. Visited many several factories supplying both major OEMs and aftermarket. The name of the game is branding. Same filter, different brands.

Thanks Kirk for another great video! When I get my LT, I'm going to get the Amsoil filter. I know that the engine oil, is the lifeblood of a machine, and my LT will be my baby, so it'll deserve the best! Thanks to you, I know what I need to protect my machine! Thanks again!!

I'm glad I picked the Hiflo filtro for mij K1600.... Nice to see what's inside. Great vid.

Good stuff to know and see up close. I always worry about these off brand MC filters. You didn’t chop up a high $$$ BMW filter though. I’ve always been under the impression that Molly made their filters but what do I know. Good info Kirk!!! Thank you!!

Good information, thank you Kirk 👍

Mahle and Fram. Years of use, never fail. They are both great. But its nice to see that even the Walmart filter is pretty good too.

Thanks, good job

Great post.

Great comparison. I was surprised that the KN was identical to Hiflo.

Good video.

Hello from the Europe. K1200rs 01' owner. My choice was almost always OC91D1 just because it is a "kit", a filter (from the same factory as oe) + o-ring for this little cover (hard to find elsewhere), and gasket ring for the oil drain screw.

Thank you.

Interesting video, one has to ask why certain vehicle manufacturers would void a warranty if not using one of their own branded filters. Over the years I’ve used Fram filters many times with zero failures. In fact I can’t remember any failures caused by an oil filter. I’m 68 now, and since the age of 16 when I left school and began my apprenticeship as a mechanic in the UK and worked on cars, trucks, trains, earth moving equipment and natural gas compressors and zero failures. Currently in my LT I have the K&N filter and it’s been fine. I chose it over other styles because of the nut attachment. Sometimes we humans get caught up in these scenarios of one item being better than another and basically it’s all marketing. Same as power tools. Most come out of the same factory and just rebranded. Another example is the LT brake line replacement, where Spiegler is pushed. I replaced mine from a company called “HEL Performance” and they are well known and trusted around the world in Motorsport. The fit and finish is second to none and cheaper here in Canada than the Spiegler.

My Choice is the HiFlo filter, have been use them a time.

I have used HiFloFiltro for many years on my Kawasaki KLR and prior Kawasaki bikes. I use the Bosch filters for my LT mainly because the price at BBY is pretty good, but I certainly would use HiFlo filters on my LT otherwise. I like supporting smaller outfits like BBY rather than Amazon which is part of the reason. The only filters I’ve seen taken apart that I would not use are the orange Frams. They really are substandard inside compared to the others with paper end caps and other cost cutting measures that I think go a little too far. If you are really cost conscious, I think Supertech is a better filter for the same or less money than the base Fram filters.

thanks

When I bought a used F650 CS last year, the previous owner supplied a box full of Hiflo air and oil filters. I normally buy filters from my local dealer for my Suzuki and Honda, so I was a little concerned seeing a brand I hadn’t used before. I typically change oil every 3000 miles, so I went ahead and used the Hiflo. It’s good to see they make a quality filter. I had to also change the air filter because of oil in the air box. Apparently someone who shall remain nameless had overfilled the bike with oil at some point. Haven’t had that issue since the oil change, so I’ve figured out how much oil the bike needs. I don’t want to deal with the air filter changing nightmare any more than is necessary.

I use the K&N because of the little nut on the end of the housing. Makes it easier to take on and off my Goldwing and my BMW K1200R Sport (tight fit or take the shift lever off). Wix makes Napa filters.

I’ve used the K&N, HiFlo, (same), the Wicks, Mahle, SuperTech, and Fram (once)…it, and the Wicks…my FZ1 shifted rougher…never used again….K&N, HiFlo…both good…SuperTech and Mahle also good! I’m using HiFlo for next 10 oil changes…Why? I stocked up on them a while back when they were 5 bucks per filter on Amazon….👍😝

Hi Kirk, Saying as an Austrian citizen, the Mahle filter is made in Austria, not in Germany... And the plant there also produces for Mahle, Bosch, Mann and some OEM for german manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes...

I use the Hiflo HF204RC for my Tiger 850 now that it's out of warranty. Triumph recommends a 10000km service interval, but I change the engine oil every 5000km and the oil filter every other oil change. It's understandable why bike manufacturers insist on their own branded filters during warranty - it simply comes down to product liability, and they want to keep as many variables within known specs as possible to manage that liability. Once out of warranty, any reputable oil filter will do the trick especially if you avoid long oil drain intervals (the new Trident 660 for example has a crazy service interval of 16000km - no engine oil survives that long in our tropical heat without suffering from evaporative losses). The bigger threat in my part of the world is low quality sham products or fake ones, including fake engine oils.

I will slightly disagree with you on the value of an anti-drainback valve on an LT. Yes, the valve is less useful on an upward facing filter, however, there is still oil in the passages that feed the engine and they are all well above the oil filter. The AD valve will help keep those passages full which shortens the “dry” running time at the next engine start. Obviously, this isn’t as important as keeping the filter full, but every little bit helps. Even better is having an anti-siphon valve in the filter and I could not tell if any of these had those. They are basically the same as AD, but on the “clean” oil side of the filter and specifically meant to keep oil from draining back out of the engine, not the filter. This is not so important on an old engine design like the LT with solid lifters and no variable valve mechanisms, but on modern engines with hydraulic lifters and variable valve timing, keeping oil in the engine is fairly important at the next startup.

Buenas tardes podria poner un aceite Motul 15w50 en mi BMW k 1200 lt año 2005?? En vez del 20w50

What's the best filter for my 1985 k100 rs

Awsome ! In your Amazon store link, it only lists a battery charger, no links for oil filters...

Well done. I’ve been using the Bosch 3330 in my K1200RS, but occasionally buy the BMW branded filter because it includes a new O-ring for the oil filter access plate. Do any of these filters come with that part? If not, do you just keep reusing the old ring?

What's the quality of the Walmart brand?

Amsoil oil filters are made in China. I recently purchased from amsoil MO109 and right at the bottom it stamped made in China. I don't know if 2 years ago they were made in the US

Sir can you help which oil filter fits moto morini x cape 650

Hi Kirk I got 2015 gtl with engine problem running lake repair shop ? If yes what is best way to contact u my name is Artur thx

Often it is easier to clamp the cutting tool in the vise and rotate the filter with the filter wrench. Can be messier though if the filter hasn’t drained for a while in a pan. 😁

I just picked up a 2022 BMW K1600 B Grand America on Saturday. Can you please tell me if there are any good places, other than BMW Dealerships, to order parts from online?

It would have been nice to see this comparison against an actual BMW filter.

Since I usually change the oil twice a year I will change to the amsoil filter.

MAHLE, MANN & NGK make the filters & spark plugs for BMW - the only difference in the items are the colour of the box they arrive in! BMW spark plugs arrive in a grey box (with NGK printed on the plugs)! Whereas NGK spark plugs arrive in a yellow box. BMW just get their logo printed on same, & for that privilege you pay extra!

Amsoil

Most of the filters are made on a dirt floor in India or Pakistan, painted & ID letters & numbers stenciled over.

Ok, you showed nothing, they all look the same..

Do not look for value on filters or oil, the price difference is minimal..