Thank you for your reply. Whenever these types of things come up I always have to factor in the diverse group of Subaru owners, and really just dont want to put anyone in a situation they may not have success dealing with if there was ever an issue.

Thanks for posting, I am always here to help

Justin

I don’t really want to be drawn into an argument but do want to provide you with some life experiences.

Oil filters have part numbers, if you use a non specified part number you are assuming the risk not WIX or any other company for that matter.

I have been involved in several situations where a part that wasn’t specified for the application was installed and there is NO recourse what so ever, what many do not understand about the Magnuson-Moss act is that it is up to YOU to prove the part did not cause failure, in many cases the aftermarket parts vendor will assist you in this if you are going up against an OE who claimed an aftermarket filter caused an engine failure for example. If Subaru says NO warranty you are the one who has to fight, not Subaru, until you get a court date and ruling in your favor. If you think any company will go to bat for you when a non specified part was used, I am not saying aftermarket VS OE I am saying a part that is not listed for the application was used, I am sorry to say this but I have never seen or heard of such a thing and feel it is much to risky when there are plenty of good options listed for the application by other vendors.

Justin

If you uses a part not specified for the vehicle you and you alone are on the hook for any issues. I can argue this point for days and weeks with you and it probably wont matter you have your own belief system.

I work in the industry and have for longer than I care to comment. I have been an expert witness in court many times on both sides of warranty issues back in the 90′s when this was common. I have seen rulings handed out by judges and seen cases not even be allowed to be heard based on application errors.

If you feel this passionately about the WIX filter, I suggest you call WIX and have them add that part number to the compatibility chart for your engine and until you have the backing of the manufacture understand its your opinion only regardless of where or not you feel you have data to back up the claim.

By the way if you use an oil filter on a H6 and it doesn’t have a anti drain back valve you will buy timing chain guides, the anti drain back valve is not of limited utility just because the filter isn’t mounted like the current era H4 engines.

Justin

I understand your position, and that’s probably the best advice for a shop to give.

However, all those Wix filters, especially the one listed for Mazda, exceed the Subaru OEM specs in every category. They all have the anti-drain-back valve (even though they are 100% useless on 4-cylinder and of limited utility on the H6 where the filter is horizontal.)

Just because Wix neglected to mention the Subaru as a compatible vehicle on one of their filters wouldn’t change implications for warranty. For example, for Subaru to deny powertrain warranty claims simply because you used a different filter would violate Magnuson-Moss. If the filter fails due to manufacturing defect, Wix would still have to cover the warranty claim. There is nothing special about the Subaru engine that would make it incompatible with some other filter. That’s why there are SAE design specs for filters. And these filters fit the bill.

Like oil brand, it probably doesn’t matter which one you use as long as it meets the specs. Most important is just doing the maintenance regularly.

Cheers,
Dan

[...]Subaru Service Seattle: Subaru Oil Filters Explained – Seattle Subaru Repair[...]…

Purolator used to make the replacement filter for the H4 engines up until the Turbo came out in the 2002 Impreza WRX and Subaru dropped the larger filter from stock.

The factory Subaru filter made by Purolator had a o-ring type seal VS the one you are buying the last time I checked still had a Square cut seal.

Justin

Thanks for all the valuable info. and your dedication to the Subaru public!

I have been using the Purolator Pure One filter in my 2000 Legacy OB, since it seems to be most like the O.E. equipment that Subaru used to carry for my vehicle. Do you have any thoughts about this filter? While not the most widely distributied, I am usally able to find them with a little digging around. I wish someone would do an analysis of the various brands in comparison to the O.E. filter. Fortunately I haven’t had to try it, but Purolator does offer a ‘in case of failure’ warranty.

Thanks,

-Mal.

The H6 also requires an anti drain back valve and I don’t see that specified in your specs, with out it the timing chain and guides will suffer greatly.

I do sincerely appreciate the effort you have put in, but would caution that sticking to the O.E. type filter offered by Six star is a better way to go, as its specified for the Subaru.

Thanks

Justin

The older style large Subaru filters are still available from Blank as well, but the filter media spec is actually inferior to the new Subaru filter. The filter media area is larger so it has more capacity for dirt and will last longer, but the new smaller filter does a better job of filtering when new.

51334
3.194″ height
3.252″ diameter
0.45 quarts based on exterior dimensions, but probably only holds closer to 0.40 quarts
Beta 2 test: 50% of >=22 micron particles catpured 1st pass
Beta 20 test: 95% of >=40 micron particles captured 1st pass
Standard OEM size for older 4-cylinder and all 6-cylinders; won’t fit most newer 4-cylinders due to updated exhaust system
Has more oil capacity than 51365
OK filtration.

51365
2.577″ height
2.685 diameter
0.25 quarts based on exterior dimesions but probably only holds closer to 0.20 quarts
Beta 2 test: 50% of >=15 micron particles catpured 1st pass
Beta 20 test: 95% of >=22 micron particles captured 1st pass
Standard size for newer 4-cylinders.
Good filtration.

51356/57356
3.402″ height
2.685″ diameter
0.33 quarts based on dimensions, but probably holds closer to 0.25 quarts
Beta 2 test: 50% of >=6 micron particles catpured 1st pass
Beta 20 test: 95% of >=19 micron particles captured 1st pass
Not a standard size for Subaru, but should fit all 4-cylinders and 6 cylinders. Installation may be a little more difficult on 6-cylinder due to the length.
Best filtration.