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Oil filter suffix 16A / 20A / 22A - same part? Update?

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19K views 93 replies 19 participants last post by  SilverOnyx  
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#1 ·
New to the forum and new to a 2024 Outback Onyx XT. I can’t determine for sure the proper factory oil filter.
The car has a 15208AA22A filter on it, but some online Subaru sites have that part with a 20AA suffix. Are these both proper? Is the suffix an update? Different manufacturers?

I know about the pressure relief valve controversy and what other makers filters fit, but I want OEM for my first change. Thanks and I’ll be back with more questions!
 
#2 ·
Interesting that your Onyx XT came with the 15208AA22A filter. Engines and transmissions for Subaru are imported from Japan. My December 2023-build OBW, also with a turbo, came from the factory with the Japanese manufactured Tokyo Roki 15208AA160 filter.
 
#4 ·
Man, this is confusing. My impression was (until now) that XT 2.4T engines only came with the xxx15A blue filters (which my '24 T-XT did), and lately, the updated xxx20A. Now I read they also come with xxx22A and xxx16A? So guess that means ANY 15208AAxxA filter should be fine then, with the 'aa' being 15, 16, 20, or 22, apparently. By the way, the Walmart xxx15A filter is legit, and exactly what my '24 came with, so I bought several, and still have 2 left. I initially bought the filters at dealer, but they were the plain blue bulk ones without box, or even any protection, so returned them, and bought them at Walmart. Now the updated black xxx20A is available, so might go with those next, IF I can find them cheaper than the xxx15As at Walmart for $12. I personally don't think the xxx20As are any better than the xxx15As overall, but either one is perfectly fine.
 
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#5 · (Edited)
I did alot of Googling on this before I even posted here and a bunch of oil filter testers/investigators have decided the only Subie filters to avoid are THE BLUE 15As AT WALMART.

They are American made (Fram) and when cut open they are lesser quality than all the foreign made models. The Japanese 160s always seemed the “best”
 
#7 ·
ammolab said:
I did alot of Googling on this before I even posted here and a bunch of oil filter testers/investigators have decided the only Subie filters to avoid are THE BLUE 15As AT WALMART.
Click to expand...
They're exactly the same the factory put on my '24, so that doesn't make much sense to me. Plus they were used for many years, and I never read of an engine blowing up. The ones that I found to avoid were the plain blue ones Subaru made (also in the US) during the parts shortages of the pandemic (of questionable quality). I scrutinized one before returning them to dealer, and the Walmart xxx15As definitely looked better, especially the end cap, and relief valve. I even took one of the Walmart ones to my dealer's parts manager (when returning the others), and he said it was definitely OEM. I know how to tell fakes; I scrutinized the factory one after removing it, and it was the same.
 
#6 ·
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#8 · (Edited)
I am wondering if the engine assembly line for the Outback Wilderness is different than other XT assembly lines? My OBW came with the 15208AA160 filter. I had looked at two other OBWs at a different dealer before I bought mine and they both had the 15208AA160 filter as well. One thing I noticed was that there was a white magic marker line on the top of the filters, like a manufacturing mark. I was happy to see the 160 being used as that is the same filter number I used on my 2017 OB and I still have eight on the shelf of the Made in Japan filters.

Image
 
#9 ·
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#10 · (Edited)
Because later next month I am going to the dealer for an oil change after my road trip, hopefully they will use the 15208AA20A instead of the blue filter. I'm doing this to have an oil change officially on record with Subaru. I have actually changed the oil and filter myself already, and will change it again early next week before my road trip. I did find this YouTube video of the internals of both the 15208AA160 and the 15208AA20A. They seem to be pretty similar.

Not the way Oconomowoc, WI is pronounced. :)

 
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#27 ·
tramfan said:
Not the way Oconomowoc, WI is pronounced. :)
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After Whip City learns correct pronunciation of Oconomowoc, we'll raise the bar and test him on LI, NY place names (all also of Native American origin):

Wantagh, Copiague, Cutchogue, Hauppauge, Patchogue, Quogue, Speonk, Islip, Ronkonkoma, Sagaponack...
 
#11 ·
So what's the physical difference between the xxx15A and the 160? Which one is taller/wider? The 160 doesn't say 'ENGINE' on top, like on the xxx15A, so maybe it's not for the engine? Ha ha. I'm kidding, of course. Also curious about the dimensions of the new xxx20A, which is supposed to be the replacement of the xxx15A.
 
#12 ·
For me, I find the ongoing questions about Subaru filters equally worrisome as the continuing evolution of the aftermarket filter du jour. I've settled on the Microgard MSL 57055 and the Mazda Tokyo Roki. So far, consistent quality from both.
 
#13 ·
I always use OEM filters during warranty, and don't worry about it. Never seen a OEM filter blow up an engine (and if it did, it'd be covered for sure), plus I don't push the mileage envelope with 5K-mile OCIs, so that discussion is not a big deal to me. The bulk 'emergency' filters were a little too suspect to me, but since I found the Walmart one, which is exactly what my car came with, I just bought a few of those, and car has been fine. I think nowadays, basically any filter should be fine as far as construction, BUT only unknown is the relief valve pressure setting, so that's why I stick with OEMs, which will always have the relief pressure the factory intended.
 
#21 ·
I just got back from my local dealership, I picked up a 15208AA20A, as they have not yet ordered the AA21A, they will fix that today and order a case. I showed them the photo of the 22A on my 24 XT we picked up April 26th.

The 20A listed for $9.58 I paid $7.66 + tax, $8.15 out the door. That's much better than the $10.57 I saw at Walmart the other day. Though, he did take out the drain plugs crush washer from the filter box, seems they come in the box.

Oh, I also have a Fomoto oil drain valve I will be installing.
 
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#23 ·
Occi said:
Today I purchased a 15A from walmart to find my 24 Onyx xt had a 22A. Internet search…Arriving here I started looking at the actual filter in the box, since BLUE scares me, turns out to be a 22A black from indonesia
Click to expand...
Look closely, the black filter from Indonesia you got from WalMart is probably a 20A (or, less likely, a 21A). The 22A from Japan appears to be a factory-only item at this point. The 22A has 40% more filter media area.
 
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#25 ·
Just a FYI…You can edit your own posts.
 
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#26 ·
I went to Walmart yesterday, and went by the oil filters, and still saw 15As, so walked away. It didn't occur to me to look inside. Ha ha. Will check them out next time, and if they're 20As, will buy a couple. I have one 15A left (which is what my '24 had from the factory), out of the 3 I bought at Walmart when the ones sold at dealer looked like garage made filters (plain blue, and not even a protective cover). They're a little more expensive, but no shipping, so cheaper at the end.
 
#28 ·
Went to Walmart today, in part to check the 4 Subaru filters they had the other day, and turns out all 4 are the crappy plain blue (no Subaru markings) that dealer sold me when I bought my '24 T-XT a year ago. Guess once those sell, they might receive the black 20As. I still have one 15A left, which I'm going to use very soon. So have time to wait for the new ones. Or I'd just order 3 or so online, to minimize shipping.
 
#30 ·
Update. Went to another Walmart for other things, and since I went by the automotive section, looked for Subaru filters, and lo and behold, all of them were the black xx20A ones. About 6 were in the xxxA15 blue cartons, but several at the back were in white Subaru cartons, properly labeled xxx20A. And they're the same black Tokyo Roki Indonesian ones sold at dealers. So bought 2, since with shipping, they'd probably be more expensive than the $10.97 Walmart sells them for.
 
#32 ·
The Mazda filter is the Mazda N3R1-14-302 made by Tokyo Roki in Japan. It matches Subaru's bypass pressure rating and is readily available at Mazda parts departments - one of the easiest ways to get a Japan made Tokyo Roki.

Just to update everyone, the current correct Subaru part number is 15208AA21A and it replaces the 15208AA20A, 15208AA160, SOA6351520815, and 15208AA15A

Subaru's own parts guide for this filter is in error, as it indicates that it's only for 2023 and newer Subarus, but that's not true. Again it replaces all of the above filter part numbers.

15208AA21A - Oil Filter Complete. ELEM Complete Oil FLTR - Genuine Subaru Part

Genuine Subaru Part # 15208AA21A (15208AA20A) - Oil Filter Complete. ELEM Complete Oil FLTR. Fits Ascent, Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback
parts.subaru.com
 
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#34 ·
SilverOnyx said:
Just to update everyone, the current correct Subaru part number is 15208AA21A and it replaces the 15208AA20A, 15208AA160, SOA6351520815, and 15208AA15A

Subaru's own parts guide for this filter is in error, as it indicates that it's only for 2023 and newer Subarus, but that's not true. Again it replaces all of the above filter part numbers.
Click to expand...
My goodness. How in the world are we supposed to keep track of what the latest and correct oil filter number is that Subaru decides to label it this week. And where does the 15208AA22A filter, that some say was the factory Subaru OEM filter their vehicle came with, fall into this ever-changing saga?

When I want to change my oil, I don't want to spend hours researching what the latest filter part number Subaru is using this week, what number supersedes what, what the filter differences are, if any, which vehicles it is supposed to fit, (which is often wrong), and then take a guess on what the correct filter is I am supposed to buy.

With all the confusion, and with the frequency Subaru keeps changing their filter numbers, I'm going to switch to the Purolator One oil filter. At least Purolator has used the same oil filter number for as long as I can remember. It's a good filter and I recently saw them on sale for $5.71, and they are always readily available.
 
#33 ·
when you buy the oil filter from your Subaru dealership (Tokyo Roki) did you get the drain crush washer included or is that a separate charge for that part from the dealership...when I looked online my area dealerships show washer but don't specify which one os for which part of the vehicle...

Bill
 
#35 ·
The crush washer is not normally included with the filter, but some places bundle it, and you may find it scotch taped to the filter box in those instances.

Subaru Oil Filter & Gasket - 15208AA20A-803916010 | Subaru Online Parts

Buy Subaru Oil Filter & Gasket - PN: 15208AA20A-803916010 online! Choose SubaruOnlineParts for affordable oem parts & save up to $2.57. Order Now!
www.subaruonlineparts.com www.subaruonlineparts.com
 
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