Subaru OEM filter vs the competition

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Going to do my first OC myself, the dealer has done it 'til now. Anyone compared the OEM filter to the likes of Wix and Purolator? The OEM white filter is only $7.00 at the dealer which is a fair bit lower than the good aftermarket ones in my area.
 
7.00 isn't too bad, what else is available in your area?

It's probably somewhere between the classic and the pure one in quality, IIRC it's similar to the classic but with a silicone ADBV. Nothing wrong with the wix, or special about the oem, I guess price would be the deciding factor for me.
 
My 05' Forester,I've used both types of Purolators,Wix,NAPA Gold because the local NAPA runs a half price sale on all gold filters every Saturday.I'm waiting to install a Amsoil filter .All the mentioned filters I can't tell any diffrence between the dealer installed.
 
NAPA Gold is 10 bucks which makes it about even if you factor in the cost of driving to the dealer as NAPA store is four blocks away. Wix maybe a buck cheaper but I haven't found a supplier yet.
 
See if you NAPA has a "secret" Saturday half price sale on all Napa Gold filters.I just happened to be in there one day and was buying a fuel filter but it was out of stock. The clerk told me it would be in that Sat. and it would be half price.I asked why,she said they has a "secret" sale on ALL Gold filter very Sat.My Subaru filters cost like $5.40 if memory serves me.I get my oil and air filters there.
 
There are multiple threads on this site and other Subaru enthusiast sites about the new Suby blue filter made by Honeywell (a.k.a Fram) and the different arguments/discussions on the importance of the by-pass valve in the unique high PSID (23) of the Subaru boxer engine. In Canada, isn't the dealer part made by (or named) 5 Star? I've never seen a comparison twixt it and a US blue one (which is made by Honeywell of Canada), so I can't say if they are the same or not. The only aftermarket filter, that I know of, that meets the 23 PSID by-pass valve spec is the Purolator 14460 (L or PL). Though millions of miles have been put on any number of aftermarket filters that don't meet that spec and engines aren't blowing up, so I don't know how important that might be. What model/engine are we discussing?
 
Originally Posted By: WagonBoss
The only aftermarket filter, that I know of, that meets the 23 PSID by-pass valve spec is the Purolator 14460 (L or PL).


I would assume that includes the SL14460 Purolator made Power-Flo filters? I hope so, because I just bought several of them for $2.44 each.
 
When I worked at Tires Plus, there was a filter marked 4460, and it fit Subaru cars only. Perhaps that is because of the 23 PSI bypass setting?

It was identical in size to several other filters.
 
Originally Posted By: sw99
Originally Posted By: WagonBoss
The only aftermarket filter, that I know of, that meets the 23 PSID by-pass valve spec is the Purolator 14460 (L or PL).


I would assume that includes the SL14460 Purolator made Power-Flo filters? I hope so, because I just bought several of them for $2.44 each.


I would imagine so also (and I've bought a few myself), but Purolator probably won't comment on anything that is not labeled as a Purolator.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
When I worked at Tires Plus, there was a filter marked 4460, and it fit Subaru cars only. Perhaps that is because of the 23 PSI bypass setting?

It was identical in size to several other filters.


Yes, that would be why. Some manufacturers (like Fram and WIX) use a common honda filter (14459 equivalent) as a crossover that is technically not correct. Bypass pressure is wrong, mounting thread depth is different, and they have anti-drainback valves that the Subaru doesn't use/need.
 
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