OpenTube

We Cut Open OEM Motorcycle Oil Filters… What’s REALLY Inside?

MotoBros

11,498 views

Ever wondered what’s actually inside the OEM oil filter you trust to protect your motorcycle’s engine? We did too… so we cut them open. 🔪🏍️

In this video, we take a closer look inside genuine OEM motorcycle oil filters to see how they’re built, what makes them different, and whether there are any surprises hiding behind the metal casing.

We’re talking filter media, internal construction, bypass valves, and the little details you normally never get to see. No marketing claims, no guessing — just cutting them open and seeing what’s actually in there.

What’s inside your OEM oil filter? Is it built as well as you think? And are there differences between manufacturers?

You’ll have to watch to find out. 👀

This was an awesome one to film, and we think you guys are going to love seeing what we found. Let us know in the comments which motorcycle oil filter you want us to cut open next!

If you enjoy real motorcycle testing, product breakdowns, dyno videos, builds, and learning how your bike actually works, make sure you LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and join the MotoBros family.

MOTOBROS — RIDE. WRENCH. REPEAT.

#MotoBros #OilFilter #MotorcycleMaintenance #OEMParts #MotorcycleTech #MotorcycleEngine #OilChange #MotorcycleLife

20 Comments

@sonthachpham1668 1 day ago

after view your video, I think that next oil filter for my Rebel 500 is Yamaha OEM filter, I like the way Yamaha made their filter media over Honda

@FrankBarbas 2 days ago

I appreciate your work that went into this video, and that OEM filters generally are better and worth the extra money for peace of mind.

@mittytokumeisei995 1 month ago

Thanks for addressing my questions and suggestions from the previous video. If you plan to actually test these filters I'd watch that.
PS - I really like your passion. Don't ever lose it.
Ride safe.

@BrianMartin-iz4vt 3 weeks ago

The Triumph filter will be made by Filtron in Poland - High quality filters & part of Mann & Hummel of Germany. I use Filtron filters extensively on my car here in England.

@rudyhonings 3 weeks ago

Poland is the biggest productionbarn in Europe- And they are the best!

@shaner.5 1 month ago

Someone needs to come out with a filter that is twice as long as all of those.

@TheBadMadMan786 3 weeks ago

In South Africa, Honda oil filters are folded horizontally AND vertically, which makes it look accordion-like and increases the surface area significantly. Honda oem filters FTW.

@PervyK 4 weeks ago

Really cool to see, thanks for showing us all your discovery! Currently I use whatever cheapo filter I can get and and change all my filters/oil 2x a year. Only exception is my KLX300 where it has a PFRacing reusable steel filter + goldplug magnet drain plug.

Cheap filters are the way for my bikes, but I usually change them often around 1k 90% of the time or 2k-3k if its more highway.

@pax1980 1 month ago

@0:08 Yes Sir!

@midnightx1719 1 month ago

It might have been good to see a K & N filter alongside that line up.

@BrianMartin-iz4vt 3 weeks ago

The Ducati filter is made by Purflux in France, due to the angled pleats - they've done that for years & seems unique to them.
Maybe worth cutting open a HiFlo RC type upgrade filter - usually with a hex head on the end of the can. Supposedly higher quality filter media & higher flow rate.

$@fracturedjoe7631-avatar$

@fracturedjoe7631 1 month ago

Kawasaki filters are rated 5-7 microns, which is extremely good. The break-in recommendation is in the first 600 miles is possible because anything that gets through the filter, which is gonna happen due to the oil having to pass through, is going to be smaller than any bearing clearance. 5-7 mic is very good filtration, especially if you think about the RPM that these things turn. The Ducati is not going to filter more, it can just hold more contaminant. The actual media rating is what will filter more, not how long the pleats are. They would help on an engine that goes stupidly long between oil changes though. Notice I said stupidly.

@lolcatmaroon 4 weeks ago

To test these I would get a scrap loop from a motor including a pump and filter interface, and then add glitter / metal flakes of a range of sizes in the oil.

Then you can see which ones filter out the most.

@Leify124 1 month ago

Love this kind of thing. Helping me prove to myself I made a good choice in hiflo.

@thomasb4422 1 month ago (edited)

19:00 It's a Mann+Hummel Filter. This company is huge in europe and especially germany.
Everyone who's ever worked on a car or motorcycle knows them.

They're not the cheapest, but only a bit more expensive than the no name brands. I'll happily pay 1-2€ more per filter and know that it's good quality.

@pax1980 1 month ago

Royal Enfield has been an Indian company since the early 90s. That are hugely popular in India.

@roderickcavallo8244 4 weeks ago

In europe, the honda filter is have the same pattern as the Ducati one and if i'm not mistakin it is made in France. The Kawasaki filters in Europe are made in Thailand by Denso. We have the Same ones of Triumph made by MANN which is a big company making filters also used by leading car makers.

@foxfair 1 month ago

Kawasaki's owner manual states that after the first 600 miles service , the 2nd one will be 7.6k miles, so it's 7k miles interval between the first two services. Usually, the dealer would suggest owners to change in 3k - 3.5k miles and not wait until reaching the 7.6k mark.

@briancopley-z1g 1 month ago

the coil sping is always springy the the flat steel type once compressed they are no longer springy.the coloured drain back valves are silicone black ones just rubber.