oil filter question

[brokenot]

Disregard any online "oil filter comparisons" that don't include any actual testing or data. In addition to not actually testing the filters they're comparing, they also often begin with a disclaimer such as, "I have no background in the filter industry, testing, or analysis...."

Engine manufacturers are the entities responsible for producing specifications they require the filters to meet.

The SAE actually tests filters to see if those specifications are met.

The internet is a wonderful source of information, but since this is a tractor forum, I think it's appropriate to ask the following question: How much credibility would be, (or should be), given to a forum member responding to a "What's the best compact utility tractor in the 30 hp class?" question by saying something along the lines of, "Well...I have no experience or background with the analysis of compact utility tractors, nor have I actually tested any of the models on the following list, but here's my ranking of best to worst anyway...."

 

[BuilderML]

I think there is a false assumption that all Napa filters are made by Wix. You can tell on the filter box who it is made by. It will say Wix on the napa box if it is in fact made for Napa by Wix. If i remember correctly some are made by Napa "something". Napa is making there own filters now. Don't quote me on this but if my memory serves me well the last filter i picked up for my truck did not have Wix on the box.

 

[Ford850]

I'm surprised how many people classify filters by brand name, as if everything that brand makes is of similar specs. What if someone asked "which car should I buy" and responses say GM? GM makes some great cars and trucks, and they make some lousy ones too. They rebrand some, but that doesn't mean they are all made the same just because they share the same parent corp.
Personally, I usually buy OEM filters. They are priced close to, if not less expensive, than the main filter name brands. I do buy 'whatever' filter I can find, if I'm in a pinch, and don't worry too much about it either. More important to me is regular maintenance with oil and filter changes.

 

[MHarryE]

Having worked for an OEM, the only filter company getting the śpecs for our filters is the one from whom we buy. Others are reverse engineered. Sometimes that works, sometimes the results are very bad. As an example, I can cite an instance where we changed the filter media on a fuel filter to something we developed in conjunction with a filter manufacturer to meet the needs of a new extreme pressure injection system. We did not redesign the filter head. After our validation testing, I sold my group of 30+ pre-production machines after verifying the fuel injectors were in excellent condition. One dealer called and complained that a customer who purchased one of the units failed his fuel injectors in only 30 hours. How could that be? I checked the test results and the injectors were like new when we sold it, so I sent one of my guys out to Georgia to check it out. He texted me a picture of the machine with a parts store fuel filter. When the customer bought the machine he was going to make sure everything was serviced before he put it in use so he took the existing final stage filter to his local parts store who matched it by filter size and fuel type. What should have been 5,000 hour minimum injector life turned into 30 hour injectors just because of using a non-OEM filter. I agreed to pay for the injector replacement out of my budget feeling it was a lesson learned for both the dealer and the customer. My paying for injectors now would build good will and prevent warranty failures downstream.

 

[Copperhead]

I think there is a false assumption that all Napa filters are made by Wix. You can tell on the filter box who it is made by. It will say Wix on the napa box if it is in fact made for Napa by Wix. If i remember correctly some are made by Napa "something". Napa is making there own filters now. Don't quote me on this but if my memory serves me well the last filter i picked up for my truck did not have Wix on the box.

The main way to tell while sitting at home is part numbers on filters. Wix and Napa, if the same filter, will have equivalent part numbers. For instance, my NH TC33DA uses a Wix 51348 oil filter. The very same Napa Gold filter is 1348. But it gets even more confusing sometimes. The 51348 / 1348 is the higher end filter. It has a better filter media and slightly larger capacity. It filters to 15 microns. The other filter for the same tractor, made by Wix and also Napa, is the 51056 or Napa 1056. It filters only to 21 micron. It uses regular paper media and has slightly less capacity.

Nice thing, while Napa and others will not give intricate details about their filters, especially the filter media they use and the micron rating, Wix is pretty good about providing that info about their filters on their site.

The key thing to keep in mind, is that no OEM makes their own filters. It is farmed out to one of the major filter manufacturers. Like Donaldson makes all of Caterpillar's filters for example. Filters are indeed made to the OEM specs.

 

[bjr]

The local Orielly's looks at me like I've three heads when I ask for a "diesel" fuel filter or a air filter for a tractor or a heavy duty battery. They just cater to to automotive small car guys doing "light" service work and maybe polishing the wheels and installing the latest air freshener. Auto parts retailers have seriously went down hill. If the person passes a pee test they get hired as a parts counter person. They even quite the "We can Order it" comments now. We just got a big new NAPA store in town, but, it's filled with the wheel polisher and air fresheners consumer types, I refuse to wait in line. I've taken to just ordering online. Maybe this is considered just a rant, but, I don't even get a chance to compare store bought filters as they Just Don't Stock them. My two cents. bjr54