My apologies if this has been discussed before but couldn't find it when I searched.
I always use OEM filters unless I find a reason not to. I've found over the years that when the physical size of the filter starts changing, it's usually because the manufacturer is no longer making a vehicle specific filter and has crossed over another more popular filter that will work. Since getting my NSX, been reading about the "shrinking" OEM filter and thought that perhaps Honda was substituting a filter that had more widespread application.
I know for my wife's Accord, that over the years the genuine Honda filters have been made by a variety of companies (lowest bidder I would assume) including Nippon. I also know that I've been able to purchase the exact same filter from NAPA with even the Honda part number showing. So, decided to see if the same was true with the NSX. Went to NAPA, found a Nippon filter that was listed as fitting and ordered up three of them figuring at $5.39 each, if they were crap I'd throw them away.
Well, they arrived today and to my surprise, they look identical to the original, long, Acura NSX OEM filter and to my bigger surprise, also carried the original NSX part number, 15400-PL2-004
In addition to carrying the Nippon name, they are also branded Altrom for NAPA's use (NAPA part number is 3612905).
While I was in investigative mode, also found air filters at NAPA for $14.59 and ordered up two of them. These are WIX filters (in tiny print) branded for NAPA. I've always had good luck with WIX and don't think an air filter is quite a critical as the proper oil filter.
I've attached pictures of the oil filter and air filter so people can tell me where I might be misled. Otherwise, here's your chance to go back to the original long filter at $5.39 a piece and to stock up on air filters for $14.59.
I always use OEM filters unless I find a reason not to. I've found over the years that when the physical size of the filter starts changing, it's usually because the manufacturer is no longer making a vehicle specific filter and has crossed over another more popular filter that will work. Since getting my NSX, been reading about the "shrinking" OEM filter and thought that perhaps Honda was substituting a filter that had more widespread application.
I know for my wife's Accord, that over the years the genuine Honda filters have been made by a variety of companies (lowest bidder I would assume) including Nippon. I also know that I've been able to purchase the exact same filter from NAPA with even the Honda part number showing. So, decided to see if the same was true with the NSX. Went to NAPA, found a Nippon filter that was listed as fitting and ordered up three of them figuring at $5.39 each, if they were crap I'd throw them away.
Well, they arrived today and to my surprise, they look identical to the original, long, Acura NSX OEM filter and to my bigger surprise, also carried the original NSX part number, 15400-PL2-004
In addition to carrying the Nippon name, they are also branded Altrom for NAPA's use (NAPA part number is 3612905).While I was in investigative mode, also found air filters at NAPA for $14.59 and ordered up two of them. These are WIX filters (in tiny print) branded for NAPA. I've always had good luck with WIX and don't think an air filter is quite a critical as the proper oil filter.
I've attached pictures of the oil filter and air filter so people can tell me where I might be misled. Otherwise, here's your chance to go back to the original long filter at $5.39 a piece and to stock up on air filters for $14.59.
) but am confident that this NAPA filter was purchased from Nippon (an OEM supplier for Honda BTW) off the production line in a run of Acura NSX filters, silk screened to NAPA’s specs (but not before the Acura part number was already printed) and sold to NAPA. No telling how many of these large filters are left in NAPA’s inventory and they will not return when depleted. Usual disclaimer – use at your own risk, take nothing I’ve said as factual or accurate, YMMV and not responsible for your car blowing up due to oil starvation. I can tell you that I immediately replaced the shorty filter with one of these, oil pressures are identical as before, no leakage and ran the car up through the first two gears to redline to make sure I wouldn’t blow out the gasket.
