Oil Filter exposure to road debris - Honda Pilot

andyschneider · 01-03-2005, 10:10 AM

I rotated the Michelin's on the wife's Pilot this weekend, and figured I'd do the oil change at the same time. It's definitely a breeze to remove/replace the oil filter with the tire off! But up here in NH with lots of road salt and sand on the roads, I was fairly surprised to see the oil filter with tons of caked on crud!

After removing the old filter, I had to really clean off the top of the filter mounting point to make sure i had a dirt-free area when I mounted the new filter (the area between the filter and the mounting flange). Seeing all this crud on the filter itself, it got me to wondering just how exposed this filter is for debris in general. Seemed to me that extending the plastic splash panel just a few more inches would go a long way to protecting the filter (and I may try to rig something up) - but was surprised how exposed it really was.

Anyone ever run into any problems?

andy

hitecdan · 01-05-2005, 08:47 PM

That was the first thing I noticed when I saw the location of the oil filter. Easy to changed, but somewhat exposed. I had an aluminum cover that I put over the filter when I first got the vehicle. But Honda saw fit to change the size of the oil filter and now my cover on longer fits.

Larryl · 01-22-2005, 12:05 PM

Has anyone had their oil filter hit by anything? I know the Pilot is not designed for off-road stuff but I'm wondering how exposed the filter is. And tell us more about your filter cover... pictures?

Sunday Rider · 01-22-2005, 04:45 PM

The crud and the salt will get everywhere. I have it slopped on the battery too. It is way too cold to even get the stuff off. When I had the oil filter changed, it was white from all the salt.

Once it warms up I will go to a DIY car wash to get the junk off the bottom and wheel wells.

Larryl · 01-22-2005, 11:33 PM

I guess if you want protection you need something like a 4Runner where the filter is above a frame rail on the V8 and on top of the engine for the V6, and there's also a big skid plate. That extra metal is probably why the 4Runner will never match the Pilot in gas mileage.

01-03-2005, 10:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
andyschneider Super Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 924 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Oil Filter exposure to road debris I rotated the Michelin's on the wife's Pilot this weekend, and figured I'd do the oil change at the same time. It's definitely a breeze to remove/replace the oil filter with the tire off! But up here in NH with lots of road salt and sand on the roads, I was fairly surprised to see the oil filter with tons of caked on crud! After removing the old filter, I had to really clean off the top of the filter mounting point to make sure i had a dirt-free area when I mounted the new filter (the area between the filter and the mounting flange). Seeing all this crud on the filter itself, it got me to wondering just how exposed this filter is for debris in general. Seemed to me that extending the plastic splash panel just a few more inches would go a long way to protecting the filter (and I may try to rig something up) - but was surprised how exposed it really was. Anyone ever run into any problems? andy __________________ A Honda (and 2 Ford) Family in NH 05 Accord LX Sedan Auto (Desert Mist, Son #1's) 49k miles 07 Ford Freestyle Limited AWD (Titanium Green, Wifes) 28k miles 07 Mercury Montego Premier AWD (Dune Pearl, Mine!) 9k miles 06 Pilot - End of Lease - Gone...

01-05-2005, 08:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
hitecdan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Campbell, Ca Posts: 13 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	That was the first thing I noticed when I saw the location of the oil filter. Easy to changed, but somewhat exposed. I had an aluminum cover that I put over the filter when I first got the vehicle. But Honda saw fit to change the size of the oil filter and now my cover on longer fits. __________________ 2003 Honda Pilot EX DVD-L Tow Package 1990 Honda CR-500 2003 Ford F-350 6.0L PSD Tow Monster

01-22-2005, 04:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sunday Rider Super Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Aurora, Ontario Posts: 2,074 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The crud and the salt will get everywhere. I have it slopped on the battery too. It is way too cold to even get the stuff off. When I had the oil filter changed, it was white from all the salt. Once it warms up I will go to a DIY car wash to get the junk off the bottom and wheel wells. __________________ Sunday Rider '03 EX-L, Nighthawk Black Pearl, OEM Black Gone but not forgotten March 2011 Honda ST1100 '97 Honda CB900C '82 sold Honda CM400E '80

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01-22-2005, 12:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Larryl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 116 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Has anyone had their oil filter hit by anything? I know the Pilot is not designed for off-road stuff but I'm wondering how exposed the filter is. And tell us more about your filter cover... pictures?

01-22-2005, 11:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Larryl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 116 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I guess if you want protection you need something like a 4Runner where the filter is above a frame rail on the V8 and on top of the engine for the V6, and there's also a big skid plate. That extra metal is probably why the 4Runner will never match the Pilot in gas mileage.

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