My mindset is that I can’t see Honda using something that isn’t reliable. Efficient? I gueS not from what I’ve seen here, but I wonder how efficient a filter has to be in the end? Make sense? Do we need to chase 99% efficiency? Or is 65% ( or whatever Hondas filter is ) sufficient for a daily driver?
Honda filters are are manufactured by Honeywell/Fram. Nothing wrong with OE per se, but there is better. I was using Honda filters for my Civic until I cut one open. Paper end caps, sloppy glue job, uneven pleats, the filter media seemed meh, & they are way overpriced. Never again. I have been using the Fram Synthetic Endurance FE7317 for my Civic, & will not change unless something better comes out. If it's not available, I use a Fram Ultra. Both 99% @ 20, but the Endurance media is wire backed like the old Ultra used to be, & the baseplate/can seem more robust. That said, the best looking filters I've ever cut open have been the Microgard Select from O'Reilly. Perfectly spaced pleats, metal end caps, coil spring bypass, not a drop of excess glue to be found, silicone anti drain back valve AND gasket, high flow center core, & thick baseplate/can. They are the nicest I've seen as far as quality control, but efficiency is 99% @ 25, & are made in Vietnam which doesn't matter to me. Better than a lot, just not "best." I joined bitog, because at some point I was no longer content with good enough, or better, & was on a mission to find the "best." The amount of information here is amazing.
My oci's used to be every 5k or 4 months, with whatever synthetic caught my eye in the recommended 5w20 grade & Honda filter. Nothing wrong with that at all, but after months of homework found that 5w40 would provide the best protection for my little high reving civic, & my driving patterns. Initially I felt uneasy about neglecting the CAFE recommended 5w20 grade, but a conversation with David from HPL put that at ease. I'm currently running Mobil1 FS Euro 5w40 in my Civic just so I can switch to HPL @ 210k miles & change every 10k on the odometer with HPL PCMO 5w40 while using any of the 3 filters I mentioned above. I have just under 4k miles to go. Now that I found what I was looking for, my OCI's are going to be boring. No more wondering how a particular oil will perform, or what filter to use. I feel I've reached the end & found the best. Not everyone will agree, call me a "fanboi", but that's ok. I don't care. Plus I will actually be saving money not changing my oil every 4 months.
Do whatever you like, but if it were my car, I would throw a Fram Endurance or Ultra, or Microgard Select filter in, talk with someone from HPL on here about your driving patterns, conditions, & your environment to figure out what grade oil would provide best protection, then make a purchase through them or take their advice & find something on the shelves from M1 FS Euro line that best matches if approvals are necessary for you. Remember that viscosity grades are a recommendation NOT a requirement.