I usually do not stick to a prescribed oil filter. The whole size of almost all filters gets indicated close to the holes at the filters - i.e. 3/4 inch, 1/2 inch, etc.
During the first oil change after I buy another means of transport I have a look at the whole size indication on the filter, take measurements of the length of the filter, and then visit spare part shops in the area to find a good quality LONGER filter. The reason being:
1. The longer the filter, the more normal the oil flow at the later stage of the filter’s lifespan.
2. The bypass valve on any given filter only opens once the filter gets completely clogged.
In theory this means the bypass valve on a shorter filter will open sooner than the bypass valve on a longer filter. (When the bypass valve opens, there is no filtration at all)
A good quality filter always have more inner mesh - compared to the inner mesh on filters of lower quality. Therefore I always keep the original filter, and carefully open the original filter as well as the longer filter after the longer filter has been removed. I then compare the density (number of “fins”) on both filters. The longer filter must at least have the same number of fins as the original filter. By times when the number of fins on the longer filter are less than the fins on the shorter filter - I usually stick to the prescribed (shorter) filters during future filter changes.
I never use so called “high flow” filters - because I discovered that “high flow” oil filters seem to have less filter mesh.
