Kubota OEM vs Napa Oil Filters - Torn open comparison

[Gcorron]

I've said it before, and here it comes again........I refuse to use the Kubota fuel filters on my BX-25. An eyedropper of water in a tank of fuel will mean you're laying on your face in the snow changing filters and coming up with creative language, and ways to make the guy that spec'd that filter PAY!!!!!

All other things being equal, I used a LOT of Wix filters professionally and personally and have never had an issue. I used to study the specs when a new piece of equipment came in to make sure they were compatible with flow rate and bypass and was never disappointed in Wix/NAPA. I personally had an oil failure once, but never a filter failure, personally or professionally.

Now for the hypocrite statement - on my Cummins Diesel I do use Fleetguard, probably because I can buy them as cheap as the Wix/NAPA but I have used a lot of Fleetguard/Cummins filters as well.

I did get hard headed once and ruled that all Cat equipment would be getting Cat filters only to find out that Wix was making their filters that year!!! Embarrassing.

George

 

[David_Kb7uns]

The WIX crossover fuel filter the 33972 for the BX is nothing but a screen. If you think that is a good cross then go ahead and use it and by a spare injector pump while your at it.


David

 

[s219]

Awesome Neil, thanks!!

 

[CincyFlyer]

Doesn't that guy play Mac on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia?

 

[LD1]

I never could understand why someone would make a huge investment in a tractor and try to say a few bucks on filters and oil.Kubota sourced for me only.I am an above average user;150 hours a year so it is a fluid change every two and half years.

For me its not just about saving a few bucks.

Its about convenience as well. My dealer doesnt sell rotella T6.....They close at noon on saturdays, and not open at all on sundays. So that certainly factors in.

And just because ONE particular model of kubota filter beats the napa filter, does NOT mean that the same thing is true across all possible cross references.

And there is more to how well a filter preforms than simply counting the number of pleats. Look at all modern engines running comparatively tiny filters.....like the size of a standard coffee cup or smaller. If filter media size/area were the end-all-be-all.....why did we move away from large quart sized filters in the first place?

My personal thought process when it comes to a filter......put the largest one In that I can physically fit. There are literally thousands of filters....but only a handfull of thread sizes, and only a handfull of o-ring dimensions. So many times.....I can acutally go to a full quart size filter instead of the little tea-cup filters that OEM specs.

So since we are on a comparison kick.......

cut open a NAPA/wix 1515 filter........or a fram xg8a (what I actually use) and see how they compare to the "OEM" filter for a kubota MX5100 or L3400 (I use the xg8a on both)

 

[Turbys_1700]

On my Workmaster I use New Holland filters while in warranty. I have used Fleetguard, Wix, and Baldwin filters on various vehicles throughout the years with no adverse affects.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Unless an oem is using a pre-existing industry design it is their filter regardless of who is the contracted mfg, when that is the case ALL aftermarket filters are reverse engineered.

 

[ericm979]

The extra filter area in the Kubota filter may only come into play when the engine is run with dirty oil for a period of time. It's possible that it will keep filtering when filters with less area are clogged to the point of bypassing. Most people here change their oil frequently and probably never get anywhere close to clogging the filter material. The larger filter in the Kubota may flow better but there's a lot of other factors like how well the filter material itself flows and if the flow is limited by the filter material and not the ingress/exit of the fitler cannister. The other thing we don't know is how well the filters filter- how much material of a given size gets past. A larger filter is potentially good for flow and withstanding larger amounts of dirt but without testing we don't know for sure.

However we do know that's what Kubota speced. They could have speced a smaller filter area but they did't. They think it's needed. And Neil's point about the warranty clinches the argument, at least during the warranty period.

 

[CMV]

I've watched several of these Messick's comparison videos on youtube. Similar to this one, Mahindra 1533 VS. Kubota L3301, or Kub treadle vs JD dual HST pedal for example. What I like in these is the professionalism about it. Yes, he's ultimately recommending what he carries vs competition and pointing out some highlights for why. But I've never heard something like "This NAPA filter is complete garbage and only a fool would run it on his machine!" or "Sure, the Mahindra is a great choice if you want dead spots of grass everywhere you park it from all the leaks". I think he does a very good job talking about competing products respectfully while still highlighting aspects that make his potentially better choices. Much nicer than just running down the competition like a lot of sales people do.

 

[ovrszd]

I've watched several of these Messick's comparison videos on youtube. Similar to this one, Mahindra 1533 VS. Kubota L3301, or Kub treadle vs JD dual HST pedal for example. What I like in these is the professionalism about it. Yes, he's ultimately recommending what he carries vs competition and pointing out some highlights for why. But I've never heard something like "This NAPA filter is complete garbage and only a fool would run it on his machine!" or "Sure, the Mahindra is a great choice if you want dead spots of grass everywhere you park it from all the leaks". I think he does a very good job talking about competing products respectfully while still highlighting aspects that make his potentially better choices. Much nicer than just running down the competition like a lot of sales people do.

I completely agree. I have a lot of respect for Neil. I appreciate his videos and always learn something. :thumbsup: