Subaru OEM filter 5,437km (13 Months) C&P

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My first cut and post! I'm not sure how you guys get your cuts so perfect. I used a hacksaw and it was a pain in the **** and made a mess. So looking at this I would ignore all the blue or shiny metal particles as they came from the hacksawing.

This comes off my 2010 Subaru STi 2.5l turbo running on Motul Xcess 8100 5W40 and this is the OEM filter 15208AA12A used for 5,437km (3,400 miles). Even though I am running some minor upgrades these are still recommended by most on IWSTI and NASIOC and my Subaru specialist mechanic shop here in town. Car has a Stage 2 Cobb upgrade package which is really just exhaust, downpipe, short ram intake and OTS map via Accessport. I've never dyno'd but others with this package get around 350hp at the engine then after that pesky 4WD system takes its toll, 280-290hp at the wheels.

There is quite a bit of residue in the bottom of the filter, surprised me a bit, but I guess it's doing its job. I will also send this oil off to Blackstone for my first analysis. Unless there is maybe a better oil lab for Canadian users? I will do some looking, but I imagine I will get raped a bit shipping it to the US, on top of the $28USD.

This is my first time doing the oil change myself, I always let Subaru do it until I was out of warranty. Then got the Cobb products installed and went to a specialist shop in Calgary, where they use the Motul. But oil changes are about $115CAD for the Motul. And I don't do any real performance racing, more of a fun not even a daily driver anymore. Picked up Tina the Toyota for work commuting and I don't think I use the Motul for what it is intended. Subrina (this car) maybe does the work trip (80km round trip) once a week and other than that just putting around town and getting groceries with some spirited driving. After buying the Toyota beater this car has probably only done 1-2k kms in the last 6-7 months, thus the 13 month oil change. Seeing all that residue I may try to keep it under 12 months though. And for my new fill I used Rotella T6 5w40 the new CJ-4 formula. I hope to get another oil analysis and see how it holds up compared to the pricey Motul. I also have some GC 0w40 and Mobil1 0w40 standing by. But I kind of wanted to give the new formula Rotella a shot after the hard time it's been getting. I'll be the guinea pig. But if I stick to 12 month oil changes it probably won't matter what oil I use because it will likely be under 3k km/year (less than 2k miles) and really any oil should be fine at that interval. Also to note this car operates in anything from -30C to +30C, she sleeps in a insulated but not super warm garage.

Going to stick to the OEM filter for the time being, even though I'm not super impressed with it (man it's tiny). The can was sturdy as heck though, I didn't even dent it during my abusive hacksawing and putting a lot of weight on it.















 
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^^ Obviously he does if he needs to drive around like this.
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Haven't added a drop of oil to date.

I was thinking about all that residue in the filter as well. The Cobb air intake uses a short ram oiled filter. Probably where some dust and particles get into the engine. I could switch back to the paper type OEM filter, but then it wouldn't sound as cool
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This looks rather good indeed. Fram made I believe. This looks like a Fram orange can which have looked very good for awhile now when cut down. Very good job mcwilly.
 
Hard to say, I've never seen it in store here. Can get it online for around $16CAD/liter or $60CAD/jug. So almost twice as much as typical synthetics. Although I paid $43CAD for the 5liter jug of Rotella. I guess I'll need the UOAs, it might be worth the extra $15.

Then again GC or Mobil1 might still be better for my usage at around $30CAD/jug.
 
That filter is equivalent to a FRAM ToughGuard (silver can) minus the Si adbv. Honda uses same thing but with a Si adbv and a lower Bypass setting.

If it clears brackets and headers the best street performance filter would be the Honda S2000 Filtech though bypass may be set less.
Nissan, Honda and Subarus and some Kia/Hyundia use the same baseplate gasket ID and thread.

I am really liking the M1EP filter I'm running obn the Rogue below - of course historically Champion makes the best filters overall (as long as they are not the E-Core junk)
 
Thanks I've been looking for alternatives to the OEM Subaru filter. From what I found what makes it different is the bypass valve pressure is set to 23psi (+/- 3psi allowance) whereas IIRC most off the shelf filters are in the 10-18psi range.

I haven't been able to find much information on that S2000 filter, but after this insanely long thread:
Subaru Oil Pump Specs as Relates to Filter Bypass
I think one possible alternative is the Mazda RX-8 Oil Filter N3R1-14-302, made by Tokyo Roki. It has the bypass pressure valve set to 20-26psi and apparently a lot of Subaru owners are already using them. They have brand affinity with Tokyo Roki who made the old black Subaru OEM filters, before Subaru switched to the Blue Fram/Honeywells. It is about an inch longer than the Blue OEM too.

I would have to stop in at a Mazda dealership and check pricing though, online shows them at $16-23 CAD (ebay/amazon). I guess sometimes just stick with what works, the Subaru Blues were I think $6 or $7 CAD at the dealer.
 
mcwilly said:
Thanks I've been looking for alternatives to the OEM Subaru filter. From what I found what makes it different is the bypass valve pressure is set to 23psi (+/- 3psi allowance) whereas IIRC most off the shelf filters are in the 10-18psi range.

The best alternative Subaru filter I have found is WIX 57712 and the 57712XP. Both have a 23 psi bypass setting and the XP version is wire-backed full synthetic media. The prices are not much more than OEM (at least for me) and you can get the WIX's from RockAuto and Napa. The can is about the same size as the OEM blue. Some say the 9-11 GPM flow rate is not enough but none of my Subies ever suffered.
 
The S2000 filter has a high by-pass, more than 25 psi, I tested it along with a Wix/Napa, Fram and a Baldwin. I run the Baldwin B202 on my S2000 but it is a very large filter compared to the other filters.
Here are some pic's that show how large the Baldwin filter is(the B7042 is the smae size as the B202) This B7042 came off my S2000 with 15k miles on it but has a lower by-pass than the B202).
http://s949.photobucket.com/user/rrounds/library/Oil Filters?sort=2&page=1

If the Baldwin will fit, go for it.

ROD
 
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There i'snt really any clearance issues, lots of room under the skid plate. I'll look into the Mazda, Baldwin, Wix and S2000 filters... Thanks for the input.
 
Motul X-Cess 5w40 is a great oil for your STI. I don't see an air oil separator or an oil catch can on your picture. I highly recommend the IAG AOS/Catch can or the Radium.

I'm currently using the Mazda Tokyo Roki filter on my VAB STI. I got the Mazda filter at the local dealership for less than $6USD. After this oil change I'll be going back to my JDM Zero/Sports oil filter.
 
Originally Posted By: Loi
Motul X-Cess 5w40 is a great oil for your STI. I don't see an air oil separator or an oil catch can on your picture. I highly recommend the IAG AOS/Catch can or the Radium.

I'm currently using the Mazda Tokyo Roki filter on my VAB STI. I got the Mazda filter at the local dealership for less than $6USD. After this oil change I'll be going back to my JDM Zero/Sports oil filter.


No oil separator or catch, pretty much bone stock other than cobb upgrades. From what I've read it can help with oil consumption, carbon build up, and maybe reduce knock. Having zero oil consumption and very few knock learn or feedback knock incidents over 2.8 on the cobb accessport is this $400 USD upgrade going to do much for someone like me who does 5k kms (3k miles) a year without any autocross/racing?

Were there any issues with the RX-8 filter?
 
I don't have an STi, but I do have an Outback with the EJ253 which I think uses the same filter. I have been using WIX 57712 when I need to do an oil change and am in a pinch.

I read over on the Subaru Forester forums that the Beck/Arnley 041-8181 is made by Nippon and seemed similar to the black Tokyo Roki that most Subie owners prefer but cannot find easily locally.

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f113/subaru-oil-filter-comparison-99130/#post1077495

Looks like RockAuto has themm pretty cheap as well: http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/subaru,2012,outback,2.5l+h4,1503322,engine,oil+filter,5340

I was thinking about getting a few at that price and maybe trying my hand at a cut and post. I'm guessing that it will be a pretty boring event though.
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