Oil Filter Change. Hiflofiltro versus K&N.

[Shed]

Oil change time again. Done today, just thought I'd put some pics up for comparison and/or interest. Or not, whatever floats your boat!

Choice of three available to hand today, Hiflo HF204, Hiflo HF204RC, or K&N-204. Much of a likeness, and I've used all three before, and they all work equally well as far as I can gather. Never had any issues with any model.

Pricewise rough guide, HF204 around £6-7, HF20RC around £7-8, K&N around £11-13

Bear in mind the HF204RC and the K&N-204 both have the 17mm nut on the top, which also makes them taller, meaning the plastic oil filter cover doesn't fit back on properly. So either leave the cover off, or cut the nut off the top of the filter.

All three are high flow filters, though looking at the internal holes, the Hiflofiltro both look identical size, but the K&N has clearly smaller size holes internally than the Hiflo's. Not sure why this is, as the K&N I used a few years ago had much bigger internal holes than this one here today - pic of that from 2017 attached too, with a standard Honda OEM filter for comparison.


Oil Filter Torque Setting: 26 N·m (2.7 kgf·m, 19 lbf·ft)

Sump Drain Plug Torque Setting: 30 N·m (3.1 kgf·m, 22 lbf·ft)
Sump Drain Plug crush washer is 12mm I/D x 16mm O/D x 1.5mm C/S

[Art]

When replacing the oil filter Honda recommend checking the oil filter boss protrusion and give the tolerance as 14.4 to 15.4 mm, mine is a little shy of the minimum but I've left it as is, tried and tested.

I read somewhere that the K&N 204 oil filter is made by Hiflofiltro. Whether that was a reliable source or just that it sounded plausible at the time I cannot remember, there may be a clue in the part numbering. The height of the HF204 cannister is 64 mm, the same as the re-branded Honda oil filter which is probably made by Hiflofiltro too. That 17mm nut on the HF204RC and K&N204 adds 10 mm which, as you say, means it will not fit inside the oil filter cover. I'm not sure what the cover does, my thinking is without the cover there may be some benefit in oil cooling albeit probably an immeasurable benefit. I remember a couple of years back there the issue where folk who should not be allowed spanners were using the nut to overtighten the oil filter, this weakened the spot welds which then failed after being subjected to engine vibrations resulting in 3L of engine oil being dumped over the road. I wouldn't attempt any modification of that nut for risk of a similar failure.

My oil filter of choice is the Hiflofiltro HF-204, a quality product from a reputable company. Paid £14.25 for a pack of three delivered to my door last year, I'm good for the next two engine oil changes.

[WileyCoyote]

Originally Posted by Art

My oil filter of choice is the Hiflofiltro HF-204, a quality product from a reputable company. Paid £14.25 for a pack of three delivered to my door last year, I'm good for the next two engine oil changes.


Like he said   

[Crispy]

K&N for me, they’re always tightly wrapped with a plastic cover. I’ve had oil filters in the past come in a flimsy box where anything could’ve got into the filter. They’re more expensive because they use a stronger construction to protect against flying rocks, but probably not needed with the plastic cover on the Biffer?

[Art]

Hiflofiltro oil filters come with a shrink wrapping which means nothing can get in until they're unwrapped.

[knapdog]

People buy these K&N filters because, as they're more expensive, they think they're better.
They are not.
I change my oil every 2 or 3 thousand miles and a Hiflo filter is easily up for the job.
Plus, I always stay well away from any oil filter that has one of those built in nuts on the end to supposedly make it easier to get off.

[Shed]

Originally Posted by Art

I read somewhere that the K&N 204 oil filter is made by Hiflofiltro. Whether that was a reliable source or just that it sounded plausible at the time I cannot remember, there may be a clue in the part numbering. The height of the HF204 cannister is 64 mm, the same as the re-branded Honda oil filter which is probably made by Hiflofiltro too. That 17mm nut on the HF204RC and K&N204 adds 10 mm which, as you say, means it will not fit inside the oil filter cover. I'm not sure what the cover does, my thinking is without the cover there may be some benefit in oil cooling albeit probably an immeasurable benefit. I remember a couple of years back there the issue where folk who should not be allowed spanners were using the nut to overtighten the oil filter, this weakened the spot welds which then failed after being subjected to engine vibrations resulting in 3L of engine oil being dumped over the road. I wouldn't attempt any modification of that nut for risk of a similar failure.

My oil filter of choice is the Hiflofiltro HF-204, a quality product from a reputable company. Paid £14.25 for a pack of three delivered to my door last year, I'm good for the next two engine oil changes.

You are correct Art, Hiflo do make K&N. K&N moved their manufacturing about 5 years ago, firstly to Mexico, then they went to Thailand and are still there. When they shifted to Mexico, I recall uproar from many hardcore Harley Davidson fans saying they'd boycott K&N due to their betrayal to the flag and country of the good ol' US of A. (I wouldn't be surprised if they are now currently manufactured in several countries).

As you refer to, K&N also had major problems, only about 2 years ago, with many filters fracturing/failing around the weld region of the nut. It wasn't just donkeys with spanners though, K&N quality control were asleep on the job. It got so bad K&N filters were banned from some race meets at one point due to safety concerns, though I believe that has all been fully rectified now.

The Biffer's filter code was one of those recalled. You can check it here: https://www.knfilters.co.uk/recallkn204


Incidentally, all three of the filters in my pics all carry the words "Made In Thailand" painted on them. 

[Shed]

Originally Posted by WileyCoyote

You and Art scored there, the prices have gone up since then, now £17.82 for three filters:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hiflo-filtro-Performance-Oil-Filter-HF-204-Cannister/332624814353?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

[Shed]

Originally Posted by knapdog

People buy these K&N filters because, as they're more expensive, they think they're better.
They are not.

Absolutely right. Magic of marketing! Would you be so keen to buy a filter if it had 'KEN & NORM' written on it instead? I doubt it! (Ken Johnson & Norm McDonald, founders of the company).

You can get two Hiflo filters for the price of one K&N. The one I showed above was a freebie, might use it, might not. They all work, but for the cash I may as well have two Hiflo's on my shelf. 



Plus, I always stay well away from any oil filter that has one of those built in nuts on the end to supposedly make it easier to get off.

I've never, ever, encountered a failed nut thankfully, so I'm not fussed if it has one, or not. Each to their own.

[Crispy]

All three are high flow filters, though looking at the internal holes, the Hiflofiltro both look identical size, but the K&N has clearly smaller size holes internally than the Hiflo's.

How would you be able to ascertain which filter is best? The acid test must be the speed at which the filter can process the oil and send it back round the engine as quickly as possible, ostensibly to aid with engine cooling whilst providing maximum filtration of metal particles.

If the K&N filter has smaller holes inside the filter, then logic would suggest that the Hiflo would filter the oil faster than the K&N. But that would depend on the material used to filter the oil; less is sometimes more.

If the filter materials are the same, then the K&N is a rip-off.

The bolt on The end can come in handy if you or anyone else doesn’t have the filter removal tool. The plastic cover on the Biffer fits nicely over it?