Oil & Fuel Oil Filter Source

WilliamBos · Jan 3, 2009

agcodealer said:
I would caution changing filters. There are a tremendous amount of differences in filters. We have done several cut-aways of competitive filters and there is alot of differences when you look inside. Not all filters are created equal. Here's a great example: Engine Oil Filter Study

I recommend the OEM filters because they are designed to protect your investment. Sometimes they are higher, many times they are not but they are the correct filter to perform the job. I personally use OEM filters for my vehicle purchased from my car dealer and they cost less than the auto parts store 1 by about a 1/3 of the price of the auto parts store. I've seen the same in our dealership I love to price against equal comparison filters and bearings. AGCO is very competitive for the same quality.

I agree. Only one exception though, the LF filters are the same AC Delco stuff we run on our truck, all top quality, so I do not have a problem running them we we run out of MF filters.

WilliamBos · Jan 3, 2009

DEWFPO said:
I got the factory OE AGCO filter at JacksSmallEngines.Com.

DEWFPO

They have awesome prices. How are they to deal with??

ray66v · Jan 3, 2009

WilliamBos said:
They have awesome prices. How are they to deal with??

Jacks' is a first class operation.

jaybrad · Jan 3, 2009

Maybe if I was ordering a lot of things I would feel differently, but I'm OK paying a couple more bucks to buy what I need locally.

The only reason I got the oil & fuel filters at the auto parts store was because I also needed a couple for my cars and the generator. When I found out I had to get the hydraulic filter at the dealer, I wished I had just bought all the tractor filters at the dealer.

I like the fact that these guys are ready, willing, and able to answer my questions - and that they have about a zillion parts in stock. I'd like to do my little part to help be sure they stay there for many more years to come.

That's kind of the same reason why I avoid places that have Mart in their name.

Jay

GarthH · Jan 3, 2009

With all due respect to the dealers and OEM's; the cut away is always interesting but unless you actually know the engineering you can't really tell much. The filter medias are dramatically different today. The goal is to catch the dirty and not make too much back pressure.

If you are extending oil changes then the amount of dirt holding capacity will matter. It is still hard to tell the amount of capacity of the filter by just looking at the # of pleats.

If you are changing oil every 50 hours or less I suspect you will never see any difference in the media.

The after market filters must meet the specs as defined by the OEM. The OEM engineers know the amount of flow, pressure differentials and details of any valves. As long as the after market filter meets these demands then you will always be OK.

That is not to say your dealer will not give you the run around on warranty work if they see any after market filters. If I remember correctly their is an Act that does not allow the OEM to deny warranty as long as the filters / parts being used are in accordance with their specs.

Not many, if any OEM's make their own filters. They will contract someone to make the filter in accordance to the specs, which of course will include paint, part number and the amount of paper in the filter. I don't know who makes the most OEM filter but I suspect Fleetguard, Luberfiner and Donaldson are the biggies.

Garth