Holly, neither A or B sound like great options…IMO.
I don't know of any individuals on a Honda forum that have actually taken the filter apart…other than me. Not bragging or anything, but it helps to understand what is going on. The filter assembly is a 4 disc filter. It is housed in a tough steel case, which is why people don't take them apart. I had to use a high speed wiz wheel to cut mine open.
I can't find any reasonable image on the internet, but here is something most people can understand...
It functions by putting dirty fluid around the outside, and the only fluid that can flow out has to pass through the filter to the center of the tube kinda like this picture.
http://www.strassburger-filter.de/uploads/pics/Modulgehaeuse-Grafik_02.jpg
That picture is a poor representation because our filters only have 4 discs, which are very fine mesh and they look much like this
http://www.p-wholesale.com/upimg/21/867a2/fuel-filter-discs-848.jpg
Grasp that image and functionality and move to the fluid change. Is the fluid that comes out the bottom of the pan at the drain clean enough to flow through those 4 fine mesh discs?
You can draw your own conclusions by...
1. look at the magnetic drain plug as it is taken out of the bottom of the CVT pan. This is steel debris that would be circulating through the CVT and filter, but has sunk to that corner of the pan when the engine was shut down. There are still metal particles circulating that haven't been lucky enough to land there or have been trapped in the filter mesh. Non-magnetic particles are still circulating without be accounted for. When you clean the magnetic plug, you'll see the tiny magnets and can decide if the volume of magnetic particles have met the capacity of the magnet. If the magnet was bigger and longer, would it have caught more?
2. look at the gunk in the oil that comes out. I take samples of the oil in a clear jar, let them settle for a while, and examine what sinks to the bottom.
3. run your finger or other object to scrape a sample of the bottom of the pan after the drain is complete. Is there any sludge or is there just oil there? Maybe stick a small telescoping magnet in there and see what you find.
Now put it all together. Understand that oil lubricates metal parts and carries away heat. The more work your CVT does, the more heat is generated, which means you need more oil circulation. This filter is in line to the CVT oil cooler which is located inside of the radiator. The less flow you have through the filter, the less cooling of the oil.
In my experience, I have only cut open 1 filter. However, I have done items 1, 2, and 3 several times. And I conclude that the filer and fluid need to be changed in no higher than 15,000 mile intervals.
You can use the following disclaimer to claim I am being to cautious or use it for credibility, I don't care….I've been an aviation mechanic for almost 40 years. In aviation we "try" to keep things in tip top condition, as opposed to waiting until the pilot detects symptoms of something wrong.
Our CVTs need the oil to keep them from failing. If the filter is completely clogged, it will still get oil. There is oil splashing around and spraying all the parts whether the filter is in play or not. If the filter is not in play, the oil splashing contains particles can get between other moving parts and cause more hear, more wear, and more particles. The hotter the oil gets, the more it will loose it's lubrication and viscosity qualities.
In conclusion, this whole thing is about giving the CVT the opportunity for a long life span. If you trade your car every 3 years and don't give a rat's tail, why bother? If you are thinking long term, the CVT fluid and filter change should be done at least every other oil change.
It's not rocket surgery to change the fluid and filter. Buy the fluid and filter from the dealer or College Hills or HandA or Bernardi, and let some friend, local shop guy, or somebody like that do it. It just takes basic hand tools like a ratchet wrench, a screw driver, a pair of pliers, a socket. You can save a $100.
Here are pics from my first Honda Insight CVT filter change.
Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum
Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum
Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum
Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum