Wrong Oil Filter - For 2 Years - And nothing happened.

[kawakid]

Does the type of oil filter really matter.

I've not changed the oil in a couple of years on my Z750 (it doesn't go far) and noticed I had a HF303 on it whereas it should have been a HF204.

Absolutely zero problems.

Does it really matter.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Polarbear]

As long as it fits and has the flow capacity I doubt it makes a lot of difference.

The filter manufacturers just make them to match the OEM so you get a load that will fit the same thread but are just a bit different in size.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MarJay]

if it fitted? Nah.

Lots of oil filters are the same fitting but just longer or shorter. There are some bikes whose oil filters are no longer manufactured, but you can fit a bigger car filter instead, and the only difference is that it sticks out of the bottom or side of the bike a tad more than the OEM one.

So if it sealed properly and did not leak, I really don't see the issue. In fact, someone may have deliberately fitted the wrong one!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[barrkel]

Intuitively, if it's too small, you might hurt oil flow a bit, but if it's too big, no bother. I guess you'd need an expert in hydrodynamics of the oil system and the tolerances of the oil filters to get an authoritative answer.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[MCN]

Yes it does matter.

Some aftermarket filters are only made to fit the filter housing, spin-on thread and or filter flange dimensions.

What is inside counts for a lot too.

Filter element construction is important.

It it the correct micron filtration, sufficient surface area to provide filtration between services and is the construction robust?
A filter element is important.

If you only fit one every six months then the cost of the OEM filter is of minimal consideration.

If you are fitting to a fleet then the savings are debatable.

It also depends on which aftermarket manufacturer you use too.

And there are many fakes of OEM and aftermarket.

I personally do not value the savings so fit OEM.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Pete.]

If it screws on and seals then it's doing it's job. Personally I think that oil filter changes are quoted by the manufacturer on a 'play it safe' basis (and I don't blame them), in other words they can do a lot more work than the intervals suggest.

Being fastidious about changing out the oil is far more important than observing filter change intervals IMO.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Sister Sledge]

Makes me wonder just how much 'extra' is engineered into a particular models oil filter.
I know that over time they slowly choke up and come service time they're still within tolerances for filtering efficiently.
I guess it's all a mix of genuine or not, style of riding, weather (temperature), age of bike etc etc.

For me I use genuine and change more often than what the service schedule says.
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CCM 404 DS

[MCN]

[Qyburn]

Some have internal bypass valve as well.
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Lord Qyburn

[sickpup]

[davebike]

HF204 is just a stumpy version of HF303 i.e. the HF303 has a bigger filter
Both used on honda (also Kawasaki Yamaha and some triumphs !) many replace HF303 with the smaller HF204 with no issues
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[MCN]