M50 Oil Filter

midwest_matt · May 15, 2005

Anyone use an aftermarket oil filter on the m50? They same filter was used in all the previous year's 800cc engines. Fram doesn't list the boulevard series in their book though. I was curious if the 6018 is the right filter.

Hunter · May 15, 2005

Stick to the Suzuki OEM filter.

cobra marauder · May 16, 2005

I've always been told to use ONLY the OEM filters. I've heard horror stories about after markets falling apart and ruining motors.

midwest_matt · May 16, 2005

We are talking about FRAM oil filters here. Not some POS supertech.

stp1971 · May 16, 2005

Man,,, I don't remember if it was a thread on this site or somewhere else,, but there was this guy who went and bought all the types of oil filters he could buy for his bike. He then went and disected all of them to see the construction of them. He compared them extensively and found that the OEM, Mobil, and a couple of others were by far the best you could buy. He did find that the FRAM was by far the worse one of them all. It is made up of cheap cardboard inside,, so you be the judge,, after that I have only been using the OEM. Just my two cents I thought I'd throw in.

I know I was disappointed in FRAM also, since I have used them for years.

midwest_matt · May 16, 2005

I probably read the same article. I believe he was testing the insert type filters not the screw on type. Either way, I highly doubt there is anything special about the OEM filter. Suzuki probably doesn't even make it.

Did you see the article about using oil "formulated for motorcycles" over using regular car oil? That was an interesting article.

stp1971 · May 16, 2005

No I didn't see that,,, I have only done a couple of oil changes to my new bike,, although it will be due again in a couple hundred miles,,, I always just bought the OEM for my other bikes,,, I have used MOBIL filters in the last six years in my Hot Rods and some of my other cars,,, the daily drivers for some weird reason only get the Jiffy lube filters,, but they also get their oil changed every month and a half since I average 300 miles in a month and a half.

I figure that the OEM filters have to meet a certain specification especially to cover their tails for warranty damage.

BUT,, I do remember seeing that the filters in this article were the spin on type filters,, it showed the casings cut open with pics,, maybe the guy did both types or something.

stp1971 · May 16, 2005

I meant I average 3000 miles a month,, I am not that neurotic!!!

Hunter · May 16, 2005

That article was in here somewhere and it did say the OEM was the best.

Hunter · May 16, 2005

Can anyone find that article? It was really good.

stp1971 · May 16, 2005

I thought it was,,that is what I thought!!!!

Hunter said:
That article was in here somewhere and it did say the OEM was the best.

I thought that is where I saw it,,, I do have to agree with you from reading that article,,, I just remember that FRAM was specifically targeted as being the worst of them. I think it was a link to that article. :wink:

stp1971 · May 16, 2005

Ok,, check out the thread I just replied to on oil filters,,, I couldn't figure out how to refer back to that thread so I just quoted that article. There was another one but this is one I found while I had a few minutes,, it goes into alot of detail about construction,, etc. Hope this helps!!!

ddarais · May 17, 2005

Since it is not a big ticket item...always buy OEM. I usually buy 2 or 3 and just keep them around. Seems like when you get the itching to change your oil...the bike shop is always closed.

v0lusia · May 17, 2005

Is this the article you need???
http://www.therusks.com/Shared Documents/Oil related Stuff/Motorcycle oil filters exposed.pdf

stp1971 · May 17, 2005

YEP!!!!! That is the article I was thinking about!!!

v0lusia said:
Is this the article you need???
http://www.therusks.com/Shared Documents/Oil related Stuff/Motorcycle oil filters exposed.pdf

Hey v0lusia,, that is exactly the one I was thinking about. Thanks,, with that article you found and the one I reposted on the other thread,, he should be able to make an educated decision. :mrgreen:

v0lusia · May 17, 2005

If you want more info on oil..... Here is a article (a little old) in auto vs bike oil
http://www.therusks.com/Shared Documents/Oil related Stuff/Motorcycle vs car oil.pdf
and another
http://www.therusks.com/Shared Documents/Oil related Stuff/Motorcycle Motor Oil.pdf

md2lgyk · May 17, 2005

I highly doubt there is anything special about the OEM filter. Suzuki probably doesn't even make it.

I'd bet anything they don't. Any more than Harley makes their OEM oil or Suzuki makes their OEM windshields, for example.

I wonder if there's a resource somewhere that would tell you who actually makes the various OEM-branded parts?

M50 Oil Filter

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