...so I have been reading all afternoon that HD specs and requires a 5 micron nominal oil filter with bypass valve designed for motorcycle use.

...so after getting a 28 micron Wix from the auto parts store, I called them and got the correct p/n: 57148 as opposed to the 51348 they had given me. Not in stock.

...so I called my local H-D dealer and he told me in a Sportster I NEED the 30 micron filter, but they have them all in stock if I insisted.

Which is it and why?

ETA: Purolator calls for an: ML16831 but only filters down to 10 micron nom.

 

I just went to my local dealer recently to get a oil filter for a 2009 Iron 883 and expected them to sell me the 5 micron, but they sold me the old style and said it was what I needed.
part number 63805-80A black for $6.95.

 

Hey Jackal.. the easiest / safest alternative is to get the HD filter... these whole debates about 5 vs 30 micron / bypass, filter quality tests, etc. is good to learn as general knowledge.. but can be a dangerous tool in case you want to pick your own filter... soon enough you are going to find yourself going through threads where they mentioned that the bypass system on the filter you just installed does not work well on sportsters, or that lab tests indicate that although it is marketed as 30 micron.. in reality is 02 micron.. etc.. you get the idea.... better be safe than sorry with such important elements as oil filters / gaskets, oil choices.. just my 2 cents..

 

Well a 5 micron would be better but Harley built the bike. If they say 30 micron whatever I guess. But if I could get the 5 micron I would buy a few

 

5 micron been some talk about the fact that some folks don't change them on time and they clog and go into bypass....if you do regular oil changes at 3 -5 k a regular filter is plenty fine.

Also I read something about the oil flow speed is reduced some with a 5 micron and some bikes get noisy due to that. Sounds like a whole bunch a crap over someone making a 5 micron filter to charge a few more bucks to me. I won't use one.

 

Harley Big Twin, Twin-Cam motors call for the 5 micron filter.
Harley EVO motors (that includes Sporties) call for a 30 micron filter.

A 5 micron filter installed on a Sporty will spend most of it's life in bypass mode. That's the same thing as having NO filter.

 

I always get the HD Super Premium filters, they are only $9 and they have a pressure relief valve, check valve and synthetic filter media vs the paper filter of the standard filters. $9 for a motorcycle oil filter is cheap, yamaha or Kawasaki you'll pay atleast $14. I just hope the dealer gives me the right micron.

 

30 micron. The oil system on the Sporty is low pressure, (12 to 15 psi according to the manual ), whereas the TC is high pressure. The 5 micron has the possibility of starving the motor for oil due to the restriction. And a hot Sporty at idle will not produce enough pressure to open the bypass valve.

 

There are not much things branded HD I buy, for instance I believe their oil is a cheapo rebranded oil barely meeting the minimum requirements. But I do buy HD oil filters.

 

The HD p/n's for the 30 micron filters are:

Black 63805-80A
Chrome 63796-77A
Chrome 63813-90T (Extended Capacity)

If you have a Harley filter that is not one on the above, it's not a 30 micron.