K&N Oil Filters BEWARE!!!

[the Ferret]

Well that could have been really hairy had the roads been wet. glad every thing turned out as well as it did, and hope no engine damage occured.

[davidsargee_imp]

Crazy. I also always thought they were a well-made product. I usually switch between the OEM filters and the K&N since they're basically the same price, but this gives me something to think about.

I did too, I have used them many times over the years. I prefer OEM, but if it's a day that the dealer is closed, I would just grab a K&N, or Mobil 1 oil filter and feel comfortable with it. Not anymore. I will post some pictures in a little while of my failed K&N-204. I will never use their products again.

Search this forum and you will find another story just like yours. The filter failed at the hex head feature. I've recommended people avoid the K&N oil filters since seeing that post just to be safe.

I thought I had read something on this forum regarding a problem with a K&N oil filter, I looked for it last night. Somehow I missed it. Thanks, at least I know that I'm not completely nuts.

[Cormanus]

David, see http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8044.

[davidsargee_imp]

Well managed David, but how very unnerving.

I had the same recollection as kennyw. The other story on this forum is here, http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8044.

Hope,your engine is OK.

Hello Cormanus,

Thank you, it was a ride for sure, talk about getting the adrenaline up. I thought there was a similar account on the forum as well, I looked for it and did not find it. Thanks for the link. I am going to post some pics in a short while, it's a lot the same problem.

Cheers

I'm glad you made it off the road safely David. I hope the engine is OK.

Thank you, the engine seems to be ok, that's one tough motorcycle.

Well that could have been really hairy had the roads been wet. glad every thing turned out as well as it did, and hope no engine damage occured.

Thank you, it was pretty hairy on dry concrete. I'm going to post some pics of the rear wheel, you'll see. The engine seems ok, Honda's reputation is well earned.

[TINK_imp]

Always OEM. For me, it's not worth the risk to use anything other than a genuine Honda oil filter.

[davidsargee_imp]

Well, I rented a trailer, (I own a Honda, I don't need a trailer, ), stopped by the Honda dealer for oil and a filter, OEM of course. And went to get my bike. I was alone, and did not relish pushing that heavy beast up a ramp, so I took some wrenches and the oil and filter with me. I changed, (replenished actually), the oil and filter before loading the bike on the trailer, hoping it would start and I could ride it on to the trailer.

When I arrived, the first thing I did was have a close look at the oil filter, it was not difficult to see, oil was still seeping from between the plate the nut sits on, and the housing. The oil filter was the culprit, beyond any doubt. You can see in the pics below, that the nut and the plate that it is attached to, have separated from the housing, creating a massive leak.

I measured the amount of oil that I drained from the engine, there was about a quart remaining. This was nearly catastrophic, had I not managed to shut the motor down, a couple of additional minutes of running, and the engine beyond a doubt would have seized up. I then tried to remove the filter, and the 17mm nut, the one that makes it "easy" to remove the filter, a strong reason that I was using those filters, stripped right away when I put my 17mm open end wrench on it. Ironic, the filter nearly toasted my engine, and I didn't even get the benefit of easy removal, . It was a long struggle to get that filter off, inexplicably, I did not bring my filter wrench, I thought the 17mm would be all that I needed. Despite being hand tightened when I installed it, the oil filter was really hard to get off, the nut stripped with very little effort. I eventually resorted to the old screwdriver method of oil filter removal, being careful of course not to damage or alter the place where the failure occurred.

I filled the engine with oil, and let it sit for a few minutes while I readied the trailer and tie down straps for loading the bike. I doubt there was any benefit to that, but I figured letting the oil settle a little wouldn't hurt. Finally, I took a deep breath and tried to start the engine, nothing happened, nothing at all, my heart sank, then I remembered that I left the kickstand down when I put the bike on the centerstand. Whew! I put the kickstand up and tried again it started right up, idled very smoothly, no knocks, no rattles, no weird noises of any kind. I shut it off, the engine was still covered in oil and it starts smelling pretty quick. It sounded good, like nothing happened, amazing, that is one tough motorcycle, Honda's reputation is well deserved. I started the bike up again and rode it up the ramp and on to the trailer. I did not want to ride it and get the motor hot with all of that oil on it, it's getting a good washing tomorrow.

I told the Service Manager at the Honda dealership what had happened, he said he had been unaware of the problems with the K&N oil filters. He also commented my use of full synthetic oil probably played a role in the engine surviving so well, he said that even the residue from full syn provides some lubrication.

I am going to give the bike a good washing tomorrow, and ride a little keeping a close eye for leaks, or any other potential issues that may rise from this. The bike seems ok, the engine sounds just like it did, can't tell anything happened. Regardless, I'm going to go easy for a while just to be sure its alright.

I took some pics: they are posted below.


In these pictures, you can clearly see the separation of the nut assembly from the housing. No, I did not tighten the filter with a wrench. It was hand tightened

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_230207_zpszs83w10q.jpg.html]

The scratch marks on the 17mm nut are a result of the nut rounding off when I tried to loosen it with an open end wrench.

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_230321_zpsrr6kkvsj.jpg.html]

Amazing how that little seemingly insignificant nut causes so much trouble.

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_230517_zpsjmkv0vjb.jpg.html]

A few shots of the rear tire, still covered in oil after 2 days.

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_230607_zpsobulc9kd.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_230625_zpsvk12etcl.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_230704_zpsmsn77gkc.jpg.html]

Rear tire, oil all over the fender well.

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_230746_zpswgzes9i8.jpg.html]

Pics of the front fender, oil splattered on the back of it.

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_231044_zpsu4i9ja1o.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_231233_zpsi6vohmks.jpg.html]

Oil spatter on the front of the tank, and triple-tree.

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_231315_zps2ieycuaq.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/dsargee/media/Oil%20Filter%20Failure/20160930_231422_zps7m1fpblt.jpg.html]

[curlyjoe]

Good grief. What a mess.

Since it was still seeping oil from the filter when you arrived with the trailer, it's likely there was more than 1 quart left in the engine when you pulled off the road and shut down the engine. Trying to be optimistic!

Are there any diagnostics tests that can be done to confirm the engine truly OK? Compression test?

[Blockhead_imp]

Always OEM. For me, it's not worth the risk to use anything other than a genuine Honda oil filter.

I totally agree.

Also, I never thought a hex head filter was a necessity on these bikes, being that the filter is so easily accessed. Not looking to start a debate though...touchy subject haha....

[Lord Popgun]

Curly, a compression and a leakdown test could be done if desired.

[redbirds_imp]

At the Moto America race in Texas, a crash was caused by the failure of a K&N oil filter. I think it was caused by a gasket of improper thickness, though not sure. Moto America has since banned all but OEM filters on race bikes.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/cvma...l-filters/