The standard CRR600F4 oil filter is 2.5" long. Using one of the cross-reference charts, I purchased a Purloator PL14610 which is 3.5" long. The filter fits, however, it is only about 1/2" from the header. Is that acceptable or...?

 

use a 4612. it's the same filter, but shorter. probably numbered PL14612 for purolator.

 

The shorter filter for the future may be the way to go. But as I have already installed this filter, I suspect they will not take it back, so the question is, should I sacrifice the 3.5" filter ?

 

i dont think it's a issue, but i want my filter to be as far as possible away from the exhaust, so i run the shorter one. it's up to you, but if it were mine, i'd change it. it's not an expensive part.

what kind of car do you have? save it for the car. fits most honda, nissan, acura, infinity, as well as many others.

 

The orig oem filters for the F4/F4i used to be longer...I believe about 3". However, Honda shortened them to what they are now at 2.5".

I agree that a shorter filter & back from the header is a more desirable condition.

 

You are correct, I changed to the smaller Purolator filter, no sense risking cooking the oil.

 

I think you chose wisely.

Does your Purolator dealer not handle the Purolator motorcycle/powersports filters? The ML16817 is the correct filter for the CBR600 (F - F4i + all the RRs through '08 at least), if you do find the motorcycle filters there.

 

My Purolator dealer is Kmart ;-) I did not look for the filter you referenced, but I suspect if it is a specialized filter, Kmart probably would not stock it. Not only that, the ML16817 filter is not actually made by Purolator, they import it, and it is not a recommended filter per the link that follows. I followed what some would probably say is one of the best motorcycle filter cross-reference charts at Motorcycle Oil Filter Cross Reference and installed the Purulator Pure One PL14612 ($5.79) which he recommends for the CBR600F4 after the filter surgery and testing that was performed.

 

No problem, I just wanted to share the part number in case you wanted to look for it.

As to the linked site, I've seen that before. I think it is interesting, and even entertaining, and I would be more receptive to the conclusions if there was even the most basic performance testing to support them. Certain things suggest to me potential ignorance of some facts that I think may impact some of his conclusions.

Did you notice that he recommends the 3.5"-long filter you just took off? Clearly we both disagree with his advice in at least some regards.

He does not recommend the motorcycle-specific line of Purolator filters, but neither did he test or even cut one open. All he did was to say they're made for Purolator and imported from China. He doesn't seem to mind other filters that are made by contract labs. Maybe that's a Bosch filter plant in China (Bosch owns Purolator). Maybe it's a ROKI plant (the co. that makes most of the Japanese OEM filters). We don't know, and he doesn't appear to, either.

For my part, I analyze used oil, and use an analytical service to interpret the data. If I have a filtration problem, the analytical service I use will see it. I've used a PureONE on my bike before, but PepBoys sells the PureONE and the motorcycle filters for a similar price, so I usually buy a filter that I believe to have been manufactured/spec'd with a motorcycle's lube system in mind.

 

I run the shorter filter on my F4. I'm pretty sure it's the Puroltor Pure One 14612