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REF: Oiling & Lubrication

Oil Filter Comparison for Sportsters

57-79 Sportsters

Oil filter is placed on the return line.
57-78 XL/XLH Sportsters used drop in filters (with 'horse hair' filter media) in the oil tank.
XLCH models were not factory equipped with an oil filter.
Modern drop in filter media replacements will require you to shorten the dipstick unless you find a “horse hair” type. 1)

79 models had a new oil tank with no filter.
An optional external oil filter kit (63801-79) 2) with a chrome filter could be purchased from the MoCo.

80-E83 Sportsters

Oil filter is placed on the return line.

OEM Spin-On Oil Filters
80-E8463782-80 3)chromeshort
63782-80T 4) short
63810-80 5)blackshort
63810-80A 6)blackshort
Aftermarket Spin-On Oil Filters
K&NKN-171black
K&NKN-172Cchrome
FramPH6019

L84 and Up Sportsters

L84-85: Oil filter is placed on the return line.
86-90: Oil filter is placed on the feed line.

OEM Spin-On Oil Filters
L84 and Up63805-80 7) long3/4“x16
63805-80A 8)blacklong3/4”x16
63796-77A 9)blacklong3/4“x16
  • Notes:
    • Champion Labs are reportedly the supplier of OEM HD filters. Champion and FRAM merged together in 2013. 10)
    • FRAM Group (including FRAM® oil, air, transmission and fuel filters) has combined its filtration business with the Champion Laboratories (of UCI International). 11)
      • Champion Labs manufacturers and distributes a broad range of filtration products branded under the LUBER-FINER® and CHAMP® brands.
      • These businesses will now go to market as a single entity – FRAM Filtration.
    • On filters with removal nuts, some have a crossed-drilled hole so racers can safety wire the filter to their bike. 12)
    • K&N Oil Filters for Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles: 13)
      • Premium OEM replacement oil filters
      • 17 mm nut for easy oil filter removal
      • Heavy duty construction for extreme conditions
      • Allows for high oil flow rates
      • Anti-drainback valve (where applicable)
      • The SS171 model is reusable but pricey @ $219.95. The filter housing, bypass valve and call plate are CNC machined from Billet 6061 T6 Aluminum. 14)
        The filter element doesn't twist-lock into place on the adapter ring. 15)
        Also has embedded neodymium magnets to catch metal particles. 16)
Alternative
Filter
ModelMedia / Advertised
Filtration Efficiency
HeightO.D.Anti
Drainback
Valve
Bypass
Setting
Thread
I.D.
Removal
Nut
AMSOILEaOM134
black
Synthetic
98.7% @ 20 microns
3.4”2.97“Yes?3/4”x16
AMSOILEaOM134C
chrome
Synthetic
98.7% @ 20 microns
3.4“2.97”Yes?3/4“x16
AMSOILEaOM135
black
Synthetic
98.7% @ 20 microns
3.4”2.97“No?3/4”x16
AMSOILEaOM135C
chrome
Synthetic
98.7% @ 20 microns
3.4“2.97”No?3/4“x16
Bosch
DistancePlus
D330 17)
blue
Cellulose Paper
99% @ 40 microns
3.36”?Yes12-15 psi3/4“x16
Champ-LabPH2835
white
???No?3/4”x16
Champ-LabPH2835XL
silver
Synthetic??Yes?3/4“x16
Champ-LabPH7022
chrome
?3.41”2.98“Yes?3/4”x16
CumminsLF335 18)
95% @ 30 microns
3.49“2.99”No?3/4“x16
FramPH6022 19)
(black)
?3.359”3.00“Yes12 psi3/4”x16
FramPH6065B 20)
(chrome)
?3.625“2.994”Yes7-9 psi3/4“x16
FramXG3614 21)2-Ply Synthetic
99%> @ 20 microns
3.343”2.984“Yes12 psi3/4”x16
HastingsLF576 22)?3-1/2“3”?8 psi3/4“x16
HastingsLF600 23)
chrome
?3-21/32”3 1/8“?17 psi3/4”x16
HIFLOHF170B 24)
black
?3.62“2.99”??3/4“x16No
HIFLOHF170C 25)
chrome
?3.62”2.99“??3/4”x16No
HIFLOHF170BRC 26)
black
?3.62“
+ nut
2.99”??3/4“x16Hex
HIFLOHF170CRC 27)
chrome
?3.62”
+ nut
2.99“??3/4”x16Hex
K&NKN-170 28)
black
High flow premium3.938“2.938”No?3/4“x1617mm
Hex
K&NK-170C 29)
chrome
High flow premium3.938”2.938“No?3/4”x1617mm
Hex
K&NSS171 30)
reusable
billet alum
Dual woven
304 stainless mesh
3.625“3”No16 psi3/4“x16Hex
nut
LUBER-FINERPH2835 31)
white
?3.11”2.98“Yes?3/4”x16No
LUBER-FINERPH7022 32)
chrome
?3.41“3.13”Yes?3/4“x16No
MAHLEOC21 33)
black
?3.15”3.09“Yes?3/4”x16No
Micro GreenMG201-1 34)
green
pics35)
Dual conventional &
microfilter (2 microns)
3.4“ 36)2.6” 37)Yes?3/4“x1638)No
Mobil 1M1MC-131 39)
black
99.9% @ 10 microns 40)3.8”3.2“Yes?3/4”x16No
Mobil 1M1MC-132 41)
chrome
99.9% @ 10 microns 42)3.7“3.2”Yes?3/4“x16No
MotorcraftFL910S 43)
white
Dual
Cellulose
and Polyester
80% @ 20 microns
??Yes?3/4”x16No
NAPA GoldFIL7148 44)
black
Synthetic
99% @ 23 microns
3.404“2.921”Yes?3/4“x16No
NAPA GoldFIL7348 45)
chrome
Synthetic
99% @ 23 microns
3.404”2.921“Yes?3/4”x16No
Pennzoil
Platinum HE
HPZ-21 46)
white
2-Ply Synthetic
blend
99% @ 30 microns
??Yes?3/4“x16No
Premium GuardPG63798 47)Dual
Synthetic
99% @ 5 microns
??Yes?3/4”x16No
Purolator 48)ML16831
black
3.11“3.45”?10-14 psi3/4“x16?
Purolator 49)ML16831C
chrome
3.11”3.45“?10-14 psi3/4”x16?
Purolator 50)
Boss
PBL10241 3.36“2.98”Yes12-15 psi3/4“x16?
Purolator 51)PL10241 3.36”2.98“Yes12-15 psi3/4”x16?
Wix51225 52)
chrome
Cellulose
Nominal
21 microns
3.41“2.921”Yes8-11 psi3/4“x16No
Wix51348XP 53)
black
Synthetic3.404”2.921“Yes8-11 psi3/4”x16No
Wix52215 54)
black
Cellulose
Nominal 21 microns
3.404“2.921”No8-11 psi3/4“x16No
Wix57148 55)
black
Synthetic
Nominal 5 microns
3.404”2.921“Yes8 psi3/4”x16No
Wix57348 56)
chrome
Synthetic
Nominal 5 micron
3.404“2.921”Yes8 psi3/4“-16No


2)
1981 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 89
3) , 5) , 7)
79-85 HD Sportster Parts Catalog 99451-85 pg 109
6)
79-85 HD Sportster Parts Catalog 99451-85A pg 109
8)
86-89 HD Sportster Parts Catalog 99451-89 pg 81
9)
95 HD Sportster Parts Catalog 99451-95 pg 75
11)
Fram PDF “FRAM Group and UCI Combine Filtration Businesses to Form FRAM Filtration” https://www.fram.com/support/tech-documents/commercial-documents/
40) , 42)
per Mobil 1 hotline 1-800-882-0890
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