cheetah8799 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Hey guys, possibly a dumb question here, but I wanted to ask anyway. I recently bought a used 2005 Outback 2.5i. It is running great, and I am now doing the first oil change since buying it. I normally use FRAM filters, so bought the PH9715 which is what FRAM says to use for the 2.5 engine. I got home and looked under the car and noticed that the filter that is on the car is twice the size as the one I just bought and not at all the same size filter. I went back to look up the model that is on the car and see that the previous owner installed the filter that FRAM says to use for the 3.0 engine, PH3593A, not the one for the 2.5... So now I'm sitting here wondering if either FRAM is telling me the wrong filter to use or maybe they used to recommend the larger filter and now say to use the smaller one. Does anyone have any insight they can share? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 (edited) newer filters are smaller. reason, smaller is cheaper. still sell for the same price, but cost less to make, so the company has more profit. The larger filters do a better job, so that is a sign the previous owner went for the better of the 2. I know you said you generally use FRAM. IMO FRAM is crap. Put on a OEM, Nippon, Puralator or Napa Gold, those are much better than a FRAM. Edited July 8, 2009 by bheinen74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Oil filters can vary significantly in size. Even Subaru has changed their oil filter size, they've gotten smaller recently. I suspect technology is helping them do the same filtering in a smaller (cheaper) package? Just a hunch, but filter sizes do vary. But i'm guessing that's not what is going on here, I just say that to say all oil filters don't look the same. I've bought different brands and seen size differences as well. As long as the seating area is right, the part that seals to the engine, it should be fine. Ithought the 3.0 filters I get are smaller than the EJ25 filters, but maybe I'm wrong. I use Purolator and WIX. I would rethink using FRAM, they are the industry leaders in making low quality oil filters. Anything else (except a repainted/rebadged FRAM) are good. I normally despise the typical "oil arguments" that arise out of shear opinion, but in this case you can look it up online or even some autoparts stores i've been in have oil filters cut open, showing poor quality, including cardboard parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Oil filters can vary significantly in size. Even Subaru has changed their oil filter size, they've gotten smaller recently. I suspect technology is helping them do the same filtering in a smaller (cheaper) package? Just a hunch, but filter sizes do vary. But i'm guessing that's not what is going on here, I just say that to say all oil filters don't look the same. I've bought different brands and seen size differences as well. As long as the seating area is right, the part that seals to the engine, it should be fine. Ithought the 3.0 filters I get are smaller than the EJ25 filters, but maybe I'm wrong. I use Purolator and WIX. I would rethink using FRAM, they are the industry leaders in making low quality oil filters. Anything else (except a repainted/rebadged FRAM) are good. I normally despise the typical "oil arguments" that arise out of shear opinion, but in this case you can look it up online or even some autoparts stores i've been in have oil filters cut open, showing poor quality, including cardboard parts. 'Shear' opinion relating to an impending oil/filter thread, oh, that's bloody clever! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 'Shear' opinion relating to an impending oil/filter thread, oh, that's bloody clever! Dave ha. i would like to take credit for that, but will have to admit that was unintentional! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I had used Fram filters for years, until I started reading a lot of negative chat about them. So, I made it a point of cutting open a used Fram that I was replacing at oil change time. Upon ripping open the metal case, I didn't find much filtering media inside. After that, I make it a point of not using Fram again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avk Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 3593A is the filter for most Hondas from the beginning of time up to the present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Hey guys, possibly a dumb question here, but I wanted to ask anyway. I recently bought a used 2005 Outback 2.5i. It is running great, and I am now doing the first oil change since buying it. I normally use FRAM filters, so bought the PH9715 which is what FRAM says to use for the 2.5 engine. I got home and looked under the car and noticed that the filter that is on the car is twice the size as the one I just bought and not at all the same size filter. I went back to look up the model that is on the car and see that the previous owner installed the filter that FRAM says to use for the 3.0 engine, PH3593A, not the one for the 2.5... So now I'm sitting here wondering if either FRAM is telling me the wrong filter to use or maybe they used to recommend the larger filter and now say to use the smaller one. Does anyone have any insight they can share? I use the PH3593A on my 98 and 99 Outbacks with the 2.5 phase 1 motor. Your 05 has the 2.5 phase 2 motor, so your engine is a little different. However, I bet the PH3593A will work just fine on your engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 the 3593A is what fits on ALL EJ motors that I have ever worked on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaru360 Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 Either of the listed part numbers work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 Use anything BUT Fram. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 I no longer use Fram filters but I did for many years (over 35) and really never had an issue with them. But then again, I change my oil/filter every 2500 miles. Leave it in there for any longer and you might have a different result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbrand Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 3593A is listed for my 91 EJ22...I believe covers many of the EJ engines. Also fits my 99 2.0L CRV.... I have used many brands of oil filters, but only CASTROL oil for the last 20+ years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 theres a thread on nabisco saying the new oem subaru filters are actually now Fram, they have cut open comparisons.......so.....crap.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 theres a thread on nabisco saying the new oem subaru filters are actually now Fram, they have cut open comparisons.......so.....crap.. I'm sorry but everytime i hear nabisco and i think, what are subarus doing on a oreo board? And they are right. Go aftermarket for the filters or stick with the stated change intervals and keep those reciepts. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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