OIL FILTER Ramblings...

[twocool]

Lot of talk about oil filters lately......

Looks like you can buy OEM Suzuki online for about $5 to $6 ...but then there is going to be like $9 shipping and handling..so it only makes sense if you are ordering lots of filters or lots of other stuff..

I'm not sure what a dealer would charge for OEM but I bet around $10 to $12....

My dealer is a long ride away...so not worth it for me to drive there either..
My local Advance auto ( two blocks from home...has FRAM for like $5    and K&N for $8    you have to order, but comes in two days or so...no shipping charges....

FRAM....I have used...works fine....but looks "cheap"   

I ordered K&N for next oil change....

BTW  somebody mentioned that K&N gives you two o rings for the cover plate.......yes...but it is not an "extra"....they are two different shaped o-rings......I am not sure if GS500 used different in different years...or same filter is used for different application....

FRAM also comes with o ring..but the wrong shape for my bike....but FRAM shows two different filters for the GS500  ...one for "chain drive" and one for "shaft drive"  ??

I got the one for chain drive but the o ring is wrong..  Maybe the other one is correct o ring...again the o ring looks cheap...i stacked up on OEM when I ordered some other crap online...

Frankly...I have done like 6 oil changes and still am using the original o-ring...

Cookie

[Dr.McNinja]

I haven't got any of my stuff. I was the guy who brought up the oil change information looking for opinions, not knowing I'd make a LOT of e-peens limp by mentioning one brand or another. This is no offense to anyone, everyone's loyal to one brand or another. I'll post back here on the o-ring dilemma. Though, that being said, you should always change the oring to the filter cover out of poise even if it looks fine. Without a functional o-ring the bike will literally hemorrhage oil.

I've asked locally as well and it's generally advised no matter what bike you have to avoid FRAM. They're considered a "walmart" brand. Do I know much about them?  No. It seems to just be the general public's opinion on them. I have a few friends that buy them and can't complain.

As for me, I mentioned in my topic, I avoid OEM wherever possible. This stems from a long history with dealing with poor quality manufacturers that charge you two arms and friend's first born to get anything for you to do it yourself in order to deter you from not getting it done by the dealer. Is this always true? No. Suzuki has been kind to me for the most part.

Oil filter wise, it was actually cheaper for me to order a K&N from Amazon then fight with Cyclegear/Autozone to get it and then be forced to pay sales tax. The timing was about the same. The place they stuck me and I got shafted was ordering my oil. I decided to go with Motul 5100, and it would've been just as expensive ordering it from Cyclegear and paying sales tax then Amazon, which was about 3 dollars cheaper. This being said the dealer had it in stock for 15 dollars more than Cyclegear + sales tax (10%). Never buy oil from a dealer if you value your money. So I'm stuck because of my hasty decision waiting until the 13th instead of the 9th for all my stuff to get in. No big deal, but I just recently found out my bike was overfilled (I never bothered to check when I bought it the guy said he "changed it") so I've put it up until I can get my stuff in to change the oil in order to spare any potential engine damage.


Regarding the shaft drive vs. chain drive question is answered here. They have a completely different drive mechanic and require special care steps. Winterizing shaft driven motorcycles is also a little harder. I don't know much about them myself, except for the fact they're considerably different. The final drive is a chain on at least the 2006 Gs500F. Not sure about the others.


Just my .02.

[twocool]

I haven't got any of my stuff. I was the guy who brought up the oil change information looking for opinions, not knowing I'd make a LOT of e-peens limp by mentioning one brand or another. This is no offense to anyone, everyone's loyal to one brand or another. I'll post back here on the o-ring dilemma. Though, that being said, you should always change the oring to the filter cover out of poise even if it looks fine. Without a functional o-ring the bike will literally hemorrhage oil.

I've asked locally as well and it's generally advised no matter what bike you have to avoid FRAM. They're considered a "walmart" brand. Do I know much about them?  No. It seems to just be the general public's opinion on them. I have a few friends that buy them and can't complain.

As for me, I mentioned in my topic, I avoid OEM wherever possible. This stems from a long history with dealing with poor quality manufacturers that charge you two arms and friend's first born to get anything for you to do it yourself in order to deter you from not getting it done by the dealer. Is this always true? No. Suzuki has been kind to me for the most part.

Oil filter wise, it was actually cheaper for me to order a K&N from Amazon then fight with Cyclegear/Autozone to get it and then be forced to pay sales tax. The timing was about the same. The place they stuck me and I got shafted was ordering my oil. I decided to go with Motul 5100, and it would've been just as expensive ordering it from Cyclegear and paying sales tax then Amazon, which was about 3 dollars cheaper. This being said the dealer had it in stock for 15 dollars more than Cyclegear + sales tax (10%). Never buy oil from a dealer if you value your money. So I'm stuck because of my hasty decision waiting until the 13th instead of the 9th for all my stuff to get in. No big deal, but I just recently found out my bike was overfilled (I never bothered to check when I bought it the guy said he "changed it") so I've put it up until I can get my stuff in to change the oil in order to spare any potential engine damage.


Regarding the shaft drive vs. chain drive question is answered here. They have a completely different drive mechanic and require special care steps. Winterizing shaft driven motorcycles is also a little harder. I don't know much about them myself, except for the fact they're considerably different. The final drive is a chain on at least the 2006 Gs500F. Not sure about the others.


Just my .02.

You make lots of good points....

I always looked at FRAM as "cheap"...both in price and in quality...yet I've used plenty of 'em in cars with no ill effects.....

I also figure OEM is at least "good" but probably not "best"

K&N has a good reputation, but a couple extra dollars..

I have no scientific Proof of any of the above...just "talk" and "opinion"..

So which way to go?  I don't think it really matters, but I went with K&N this time...

Ordering online vs buying local.....It depends.....

You can get ANYTHING online......sometimes what you want in not available local....

Then you have to figure price.....comes down to tax vs shipping and then convenience....

IF I have to drive like 100 miles to get something "local"...I figure it's better to order  online....gas is expensive...more than shipping....

If its something I gotta have "right now" then I buy local...    If I'm already ordering some stuff Online...then adding on a couple of small items makes sense....sometimes you then qualify for free shipping....if order is enough$$$

Since Advance Auto is right in my neighborhood....and they seem to have what I need and want, or can order and get in a day or two...I try to get as much stuff from them as possible....they are not the cheapest, and I pay 7% tax...but no shipping and conveneint...I like to support local businesses...it's my meighbors who work in that store....and they are always good  guys and have helped me out with some big projects over the years..."loyality"..

This time....three quarts Valvoline 10W-40 MOTORCYCLE oil, K&N filter = just under $25 including tax......no driving to pick up and no shipping costs....I'm happy....

As for the shaft drive.......FRAM lists (incorrectly I'd assume) a GS 500 with shaft drive.....and recommends a fliter for that.  I think the parts mumbers are like 6000 and 6001......one for shaft and one for chain......I think the only difference is the O-ring...the actual filter is exactly the same...

K&N includes both shape of o-ring in the box.....

Cookie

[BaltimoreGS]

K + N used to be re-labeled HiFlo Filtro filters, not sure if that is still the case.

-Jessie

[rkjjeep]

Bike bandit sells the OEM for around 5 bucks.  I just buy 5-6 at a time to spread out the shipping, or when I need something else. 

[rkjjeep]

Obviously to each his own but most people that have messed with this stuff for years agree 9based on filter analysis) that it's perfectly fine to change the filter every OTHER oil change after the first few changes get all the break in junk filtered out.  Change the oil on time, use  decent oil. change the filter every other oil change. 

This is actually a fairly large filter as bike filters go.

Cheers.

[twocool]

K + N used to be re-labeled HiFlo Filtro filters, not sure if that is still the case.

-Jessie

Yeah that is the way these days.......the "brand" is nothing but a label....you really don't know who actually makes the product...

Cookie

[twocool]

Bike bandit sells the OEM for around 5 bucks.  I just buy 5-6 at a time to spread out the shipping, or when I need something else.

That works, did that.....but for me, I'd rather keep my stock supply at the auto store, and not in my shop..when I want to do an oil change a just go the the auto store and get the one I need...(and I get to keep that $30 in the bank at 1/2% interest!)-

Cookie

[Dr.McNinja]

K + N used to be re-labeled HiFlo Filtro filters, not sure if that is still the case.

-Jessie

Even so I only paid 2 dollars over OEM (discounting shipping) for my K&N filter. I just won't buy a soda to make up for it!

[rkjjeep]

Bike bandit sells the OEM for around 5 bucks.  I just buy 5-6 at a time to spread out the shipping, or when I need something else.

That works, did that.....but for me, I'd rather keep my stock supply at the auto store, and not in my shop..when I want to do an oil change a just go the the auto store and get the one I need...(and I get to keep that $30 in the bank at 1/2% interest!)-

Cookie

That works too.......but the cost of the filters will go up by MORE than the 1/2% annual interest we're getting so we should buy a hundred and keep them on hand!

[twocool]

Bike bandit sells the OEM for around 5 bucks.  I just buy 5-6 at a time to spread out the shipping, or when I need something else.

That works, did that.....but for me, I'd rather keep my stock supply at the auto store, and not in my shop..when I want to do an oil change a just go the the auto store and get the one I need...(and I get to keep that $30 in the bank at 1/2% interest!)-

Cookie

True...many of my rich friends are taking their money out of the bank, or financial investments...and buying "tangible stuff"   like airplanes....

Cookie



That works too.......but the cost of the filters will go up by MORE than the 1/2% annual interest we're getting so we should buy a hundred and keep them on hand!