OEM Oil Filters are made in China, not Japan

[Jay]

Maybe many of you already knew this but I found out after buying a couple of filters at a dealership last weekend.

OEM Oil Filter 16097-0004 (made in Japan) 

has been replaced by

OEM Oil Filter 16097-0008 (made in China) 


And they charged me 33% more!! 





OEM Oil Filter 16097-0004 (made in Japan)   http://www.zx-10r.net/forum/f94/new-oem-ol-filters-223122.html



OEM Oil Filter 16097-0008 (made in China)

[Gigantor]

Good tip, I'm going to stock up on the Japan filters

[Gigantor]

The Chinese filter seems to be the same quality

[jonathan]

Thanks for the detailed dissection.

[philipintexas]

That seems to be the common method. Manufacture in a cheap labor country then raise prices so the CEO can have a higher salary. NOTHING ever gets improved, just cheaper to make.

[Gigantor]

Click on link for breakdown and analysis of top brands oil filters


http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-engine-turbo-drivetrain/637158-official-oil-filter-testing-results-thread-4g63t-4b11t.html


http://www.leroybeal.net/motorcycles/silverwing/articles/oil-filters/Motorcycle%2520oil%2520filters%2520exposed.pdf

[maxtog]

Thanks for the detailed dissection.

+1 wow!

[connie14boy]

Just buy the Purolator filter that fits for $3.50 at WallyMart and forget the Chinese crap.

[stevewfl]

Just buy the Purolator filter that fits for $3.50 at WallyMart and forget the Chinese crap.

+1, they've worked in my bike for >107,000 miles.

I use both 14610's and 14612's

[Jay]

Thanks for the detailed dissection.

+2 Wow, wow!

Do you happen to have the same dissection of the 16097-0004 for a side by side comparison?

[Jay]

Click on link for breakdown and analysis of top brands oil filters

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-engine-turbo-drivetrain/637158-official-oil-filter-testing-results-thread-4g63t-4b11t.html

As my son would say, "Comprehensive as F#ck!"

[martin_14]

your sun is accurate. That comparo is insane; that dude needs to go see his kids

[Gigantor]

Cross Reference of Kawasaki 16097-0004 to other brands

http://www.oilfilter-crossreference.com/convert/KAWASAKI/16097-0004

[Gigantor]

+2 Wow, wow!

Do you happen to have the same dissection of the 16097-0004 for a side by side comparison?

http://www.zx-10r.net/forum/f23/oil-filter-16097-0004-vs-16097-0002-a-37012.html

[stevewfl]

as far as China, nowadays everything include surgical tools, toothpastes, drugs, and american brand car parts are manufactured in china. its not the real estate a product is manufactured on that determines its quality, its the manufacturing processes and quality control standards that does.

but still, purolater filters have been good to me for >107,000 miles

[T Cro ®]

Just buy the Purolator filter that fits for $3.50 at WallyMart and forget the Chinese crap.

Curious as to where the Purolator is made at?

[stevewfl]

Curious as to where the Purolator is made at?

google says:  Purolator Filters (Purolator Filters LLC) is an American manufacturer of oil and air filters, based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States.

[Gigantor]

+1, they've worked in my bike for >107,000 miles.

I use both 14610's and 14612's

I have not verified this, but you should be using motorcycle specific oil filters part #ML 16817 and ML 16819

Purolator Tech statement:

Don't know if this helps but I called Purolator about the use of PL16410 on a motorcycle because of all good info I had heard about it. The Tech I spoke with said that yes the filter does give superior filtration due to the 3 filtering mediums but that the engineers said the flow is not enough for a motorcycle engine due to the filtration properties. I don't know the flow rates of the Pure One or the OEM so maybe it was all about CYA. Anyway thats the info I got.

[VirginiaJim]

Please don't confuse us with the facts..

[maxtog]

as far as China, nowadays everything include surgical tools, toothpastes, drugs, and american brand car parts are manufactured in china. its not the real estate a product is manufactured on that determines its quality, its the manufacturing processes and quality control standards that does.

This is absolutely true.  Most everything is made in China, now.  And quality is all over the map- from total junk to fantastic high end.  The issue is that one just can't tell quality level by saying "made in China".  Conversely, when you say "make in Japan", it usually means it is going to be good quality because they just don't service the low end market (ANYMORE... they did many years ago).

So changing manufacture of oil filters from Japan to China doesn't mean it is going to be worse quality, but it opens that possibility up so people have a totally justified reason to be worried.