Current recs for air filters and cabin filters you love that aren't 29.99 from Valvoline? A search shows me recs from 6-7 years ago.
2017 Outback and it's time for both.
2017 Outback and it's time for both.
goldbryant
It's a semi-hot topic. People like different brands such as Fram, Napa and others, along with Amazon Preferred.
Seems like carbon filters are better received by the masses but that's not an absolute.
There is one filter that does cause some consternation and that's the Bosch HEPA. The concern is mostly anecdotal from other forums or friend of a friend stories but the issue is that the filter is so good that it impedes the flow of air into the cabin and that makes the fan run harder and that leads to premature wear and perhaps failure. But no one here has actually had their own personal and verifiable negative experience with the Bosch that I can recall.
Me? I run the Bosch HEPA that people complain about and I've been changing it yearly for the last 3 years. I've haven't noticed decreased airflow, wimin and children need to be moved inside to higher ground or calamity, fire or brimstone. It's a very good filter for around $25.
But the Napa Gold is good and for the money, the Fram from Wally World and also the Amazon Preferred merit solid consideration. Prior to Bosch I used the Napa Gold and Amazon and I use the non-Bosch in other vehicles or I've put them in in-laws vehicles. All work well.
Seems like carbon filters are better received by the masses but that's not an absolute.
There is one filter that does cause some consternation and that's the Bosch HEPA. The concern is mostly anecdotal from other forums or friend of a friend stories but the issue is that the filter is so good that it impedes the flow of air into the cabin and that makes the fan run harder and that leads to premature wear and perhaps failure. But no one here has actually had their own personal and verifiable negative experience with the Bosch that I can recall.
Me? I run the Bosch HEPA that people complain about and I've been changing it yearly for the last 3 years. I've haven't noticed decreased airflow, wimin and children need to be moved inside to higher ground or calamity, fire or brimstone. It's a very good filter for around $25.
But the Napa Gold is good and for the money, the Fram from Wally World and also the Amazon Preferred merit solid consideration. Prior to Bosch I used the Napa Gold and Amazon and I use the non-Bosch in other vehicles or I've put them in in-laws vehicles. All work well.
My reply was for CAF but let me reply to engine air filter.
I used Napa here too and changed it yearly. Around $15 but about 3 years ago I went with the aFe Dry S synthetic filter.
It's a pricey SOB of around $60 but it's a filter you clean every couple of years with Simple Green and a hose, let it dry and you're GTG for another couple of years. It's overbuilt and it will outlast the car but probably not Keith Richards. On a cost benefit basis of $15 v. $60, I'll recoup the money down the road but I didn't do it for the savings but just 'cuz.
The ultimate question is whether these non-OEM filters are a compromise and result in increased engine wear and I can report that they don't, at least not in my car. I did UOAs for a long time with all of these filters and silicone was never a high reading and it was always below the universal wear for the engine. I've previously posted them on the forum.
The one after market air filter that makes men fight is the K&N. Some say that if overoiled it coats the MAF and leads to decreased engine performance and it's somewhat porous, at least compared to other filters. I''m currently using one on another commuter vehicle and the last UOA didn't how increased wear or problems. It's been on the car (cleaned every 3 or so years) for 17 years and shows no signs of peformance compromise. You just can't over oil it and most people say, "that's the red oily elixir that will make the engine gods love me" and they then proceed to put on too much oil and it looks like a teenagers face. You can think about but just don't do it.
Bottom line for me: I like the aFe but if you don't want to spend the bucks for iffy better filtering, Napa Gold will serve you well, along with OEM.
I used Napa here too and changed it yearly. Around $15 but about 3 years ago I went with the aFe Dry S synthetic filter.
It's a pricey SOB of around $60 but it's a filter you clean every couple of years with Simple Green and a hose, let it dry and you're GTG for another couple of years. It's overbuilt and it will outlast the car but probably not Keith Richards. On a cost benefit basis of $15 v. $60, I'll recoup the money down the road but I didn't do it for the savings but just 'cuz.
The ultimate question is whether these non-OEM filters are a compromise and result in increased engine wear and I can report that they don't, at least not in my car. I did UOAs for a long time with all of these filters and silicone was never a high reading and it was always below the universal wear for the engine. I've previously posted them on the forum.
The one after market air filter that makes men fight is the K&N. Some say that if overoiled it coats the MAF and leads to decreased engine performance and it's somewhat porous, at least compared to other filters. I''m currently using one on another commuter vehicle and the last UOA didn't how increased wear or problems. It's been on the car (cleaned every 3 or so years) for 17 years and shows no signs of peformance compromise. You just can't over oil it and most people say, "that's the red oily elixir that will make the engine gods love me" and they then proceed to put on too much oil and it looks like a teenagers face. You can think about but just don't do it.
Bottom line for me: I like the aFe but if you don't want to spend the bucks for iffy better filtering, Napa Gold will serve you well, along with OEM.
I am happy with Fram or NAPA Gold for the engine air filter. The Subaru one is fine but there were supply issues during the pandemic, so I went with aftermarket for half the price. Just don't buy cheap no-name ones from Amazon. You can get the Fram for under $20 at Walmart in the US, the NAPA Gold is a little more but both are decent.
As far as cabin air filters, I got my most recent one at Canadian Tire - a Motomaster. Made by Fram. I imagine it would be similar to a house brand at Autozone or Pep Boys. In short, I go for max air flow and usually the cheap ones fit the bill. I drive with windows open whenever possible so a CAF is kind of a waste for me.
I never even installed a CAF in my Fords, but I have heard the design of the Subaru system would let leaves and stuff through - I've had quite a few maple keys wedged in mine in both Subarus. But I don't care about MERV or anything, just max air flow.
As far as cabin air filters, I got my most recent one at Canadian Tire - a Motomaster. Made by Fram. I imagine it would be similar to a house brand at Autozone or Pep Boys. In short, I go for max air flow and usually the cheap ones fit the bill. I drive with windows open whenever possible so a CAF is kind of a waste for me.
I never even installed a CAF in my Fords, but I have heard the design of the Subaru system would let leaves and stuff through - I've had quite a few maple keys wedged in mine in both Subarus. But I don't care about MERV or anything, just max air flow.
I’m not anal about the cabin filter, anything is better than nothing. I just went and bought Autocraps filter, whatever brand. My F150 has no provision for a cabin filter, as well as my 60’s era vehicles. I guess if family member had breathing issues, it would change things.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I just keep buying the Subaru brands, the filters, the juices, the blades, the lug nuts, the wheel caps and all that stuff. My car keeps running in spite of all the crummy overpriced junk.
For cabin air filter, I've been happy with the Fram Fresh Breeze CF10285. I put a Bosch in at the last change (last fall) but was not happy with it. It didn't seem to have as tight of a fit around the edges as the OEM or the Fram and seemed more flimsy. I'll go back to the Fram at the next change.
For my engine air filter, I've been happy with the NAPA Gold 9012.
I have a 2017 (2.5).
Wix $8.77 cabin and $10.79 EA and TYC. $6.84 cabin
RockAuto usually charges like $10 to ship, so I order 2-3 of each along with oil filters at the same time.
RockAuto usually charges like $10 to ship, so I order 2-3 of each along with oil filters at the same time.
I personally buy the dealer filters. I tried NAPA gold air filters and they did not sit flush inside the airbox compared to the OEM. And because the cabin filter is also there I just buy it.
Most the time when I realize I'm ready for a new filter I'm near Walmart so I go with Fram. I have noticed the Fram cabin filters have dropped in quality. I just installed a new one last week and it almost felt too small and very flimsy compared to the Subaru one it replaced. I'll just keep that in mind and replace it a bit sooner.
K&N washable filters for both engine and cabin. Never had any issues. I shake them out once a year to get all the leaves out. Wash the cabin filter once a year. Engine filter I clean about every 15k miles. The box says it doesn't need to be washed for 75k but why take the chance. I've had the car since new so the filters have basically paid for themselves and then some (I think I spent $60 for both of them back in 2016).
There is another brand of HEPA cabin filter that isn't as restrictive as the Bosch, which I have also used, but it's not quite as free flowing as an OEM cabin filter.
Here's the fitment for a Gen 5 Outback:
I also use their engine air filter, Gen 5 fitment:
For Gen 6 it's these:
Here's the fitment for a Gen 5 Outback:
I also use their engine air filter, Gen 5 fitment:
Amazon.com: Spearhead Max Thrust Performance Engine Air Filter For All Mileage Vehicles - Increases Power & Improves Acceleration (MT-997) : Automotive
Buy Spearhead Max Thrust Performance Engine Air Filter For All Mileage Vehicles - Increases Power & Improves Acceleration (MT-997): Air Filters - Amazon.com âś“ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
For Gen 6 it's these:
Amazon.com: Spearhead Max Thrust Performance Engine Air Filter For All Mileage Vehicles - Increases Power & Improves Acceleration (MT-295) : Automotive
Shop Amazon for Spearhead Max Thrust Performance Engine Air Filter For All Mileage Vehicles - Increases Power & Improves Acceleration (MT-295) and find millions of items, delivered faster than ever.
www.amazon.com
Amazon.com: Spearhead HEPA Breathe Easy Cabin Filter, Up to 99.97% Filtration of 0.3 Micron Particles w/No Airflow Reduction (BE-157H) : Automotive
Shop Amazon for Spearhead HEPA Breathe Easy Cabin Filter, Up to 99.97% Filtration of 0.3 Micron Particles w/No Airflow Reduction (BE-157H) and find millions of items, delivered faster than ever.
www.amazon.com
There are youtube videos of people comparing the filtration effectiveness (particles getting through the filter). An oiled gauze filter always performs significantly worse. These tests aren't necessarily real world since most of us don't drive through clouds of dirt or wheat flour, however, they do demonstrate that in principle, oiled gauze filters have larger pore sizes and let more particulates through. There's also this article that seems legit, and has the same results.
www.youtube.com
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I like the WIX 24483XP cabin filter. For the air filter, the OEM or the Pure1 A35592. I do not know current pricing for these.
I buy the CAF from the dealer. I am lucky that I have 5 dealers within 15 miles. The prices are NOT the same for replacement items at the dealers. CAFs and Intake filers can vary as much as the shipping costs to buy at Subaruonlineparts.com. Since many online vendors are now collecting state taxes, I might as well buy local. Additionally some of the dealers have online parts sales so you order and have it sent to the dealer and pay no shipping.
I have had enough of using the big online bazaar for a "Genuine Subaru" or "Genuine XXX" item only to find is come in a white box (often poorly packaged and or bent) or a clear plastic bag with no part number on the box, bag or item. Some of the OEM filters have even bent under full airflow pressure.
I have had enough of using the big online bazaar for a "Genuine Subaru" or "Genuine XXX" item only to find is come in a white box (often poorly packaged and or bent) or a clear plastic bag with no part number on the box, bag or item. Some of the OEM filters have even bent under full airflow pressure.
After several aftermarket cabin filters that weren't a perfect fit, I just buy them from my dealer. Aftermarket air filters do fit perfectly, but the price difference is slight so I now just buy those from my dealer too. I do the installs myself, no use paying labor for something so simple.
I love Subie brand and my grandfather owned a few in the past. However, I personally stay away from Subie OEM stuff because of OEM, Johnson Controls battery dying in less than 2 years (since new car), and various "cheap" parts I had to replace / fix (e.g., e parking brake switch, brake pads / rotors, plastics parts rattling, wiper blades, sway bar end links, etc.). I completely accept these issues as our OB pricing is "reasonble" compare to other AWD cars; however, these issues (especially wear and tear items) surfaced so quickly, I assume Subaru used cheap parts / suppliers to keep the cost down. For example, before our previous '15 OB, I never had to replace car battery, wiper blades and brake pads (esp rear) so quickly since new.
Again, I love our OB and would buy again, but will not buy most of wear-and-tear OEM parts.
Again, I love our OB and would buy again, but will not buy most of wear-and-tear OEM parts.
Batteries have been an obvious problem for Subaru but the other things you've listed don't seem to be associated with common complaints or repairs. In fact, if you go back through the Gen 5 subforum, you can find numerous compliments on the stock wiper blades. And I highly doubt you'll find a set of aftermarket rear brake pads that will last any longer than the stock Akebono ceramic. The reason for the accelerated rear pad wear has been covered in numerous threads and has nothing to do with the pads themselves. Rotors for Gen 5 also have an excellent track record based on all the time I've spent around here since 2015. I've stuck with ceramic pads and have over 150k miles on the original rotors - even my rear rotors have close to 2 mm of life left, and the vehicle still brakes smoothly.
I went with the SilverOnyx suggestion for cabin & air filters back in March:
I guess you can split hairs on the best, but in the long run, really I find simple, routine maintenance works just fine in
the long run with what's affordable and available.
I guess you can split hairs on the best, but in the long run, really I find simple, routine maintenance works just fine in
the long run with what's affordable and available.
Rock Auto. Even with the shipping it still costs less. Here's a 5% off code good until August 11th. Just add it in the "How did you hear about us?" box before you place your order: 237618254212669682
Old thread but I was stoked to get a mahle engine air filter for $6.99 at napa.
Had a super tech (made in the USA) that had less pleats than the mahle. Mahle made in China.
CAF I am using fram from Amazon subscribe and save for about $11.50.
I am not in search of the cheapest of the cheap but felt good about the value of the items above. Used super tech coolant without hesitation.
Had a super tech (made in the USA) that had less pleats than the mahle. Mahle made in China.
CAF I am using fram from Amazon subscribe and save for about $11.50.
I am not in search of the cheapest of the cheap but felt good about the value of the items above. Used super tech coolant without hesitation.
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