Yes, I did a web search, and AFSI is owned by Cat partnered with Donaldson. About all they make, 92%, is Cat filters.

Also, Cummins now owns Fleetguard.

 

I generally use Fleetguard and have found they are usually cheaper than comparable Wix or NAPA, and reputedly better.

Birken

 

cat's IS NOT made by wix, they make their own filters.

detroit filters are certainly NOT built by cummins (fleetguard).

 

Well, I put Cat filters on this last service. They were a little more but not that much...about $15/20 more for all 3 filters over the Fleetguards.

I did see a display compairing Cat filters to every other brand at the dealer.
They had them all cut open to show how their made. The Cat use a nylon center that the oil/fuel flows thru, The others all use a stamped tin center. Their thinking is " no chance of metal contamination w/nylon.
They also have nylon rings around the paper element to keep it spaced evenly so it won't bunch up, none of the other filters did this either.
There were other differance too, but overall IMO they were trying to make a better filter.

 

Nylon center is also cheaper for them to make but of course they are not going to tell you that nor are they going to pass it on to you...as with all information consider the source and their motivations....

Birken

 

baldwin filters, because their the best and thats what I demand.


as far as non factory filters go I run a bypass filter, I made the mount on a bridgeport mill and it also uses a baldwin filter, it takes in about 15% of what the factory filtration system takes in and filters it even further, I find it makes a huge difference in my oil change intervals.

 

Motivation ? I figured a company as BIG as Caterpillar sure didn't need to start a small filter mfg. plant (165 employee's ) to make cheap filters for extra money... and create risk for all their products.
Just the opposite IMO, make a better filter... they benifit the customer benifits.

 

Bobby wrote; Well, I put Cat filters on this last service. They were a little more but not that much...about $15/20 more for all 3 filters over the Fleetguards.

Bob h wrote; good choice

I did see a display compairing Cat filters to every other brand at the dealer.
They had them all cut open to show how their made.
The Cat use a nylon center that the oil/fuel flows thru, The others all use a stamped tin center.

the cutaways can be an eye opener; in my shop, i have about a dozen different makes all cut open for a good view... the differences are pretty obvious in many. the nylon center tube is stronger than the stamped tubes so that justifies the increased cost of production as well, the center tube is what stops the filter media from collapsing and blocking oil flow

Their thinking is " no chance of metal contamination w/nylon.
They also have nylon rings around the paper element to keep it spaced evenly so it won't bunch up,

filter bunching has been almost eliminated by their use of "spiral roving"......... bunching causes restriction to flow

none of the other filters did this either.

the roving is patented by cat

There were other differance too,

the filter media is molded to the end caps instead of gluing as the other mans do, they also use a cast aluminum base and a thick metal wall can... all demonstrates a "no expense spared" approach to filter manufacturing intended for their own equipment --- you simply cannot acquire a better filter for your cat engine

but overall IMO they were trying to make a better filter.

 

Well maybe you should check with your filter manufacture of choice and ask them if they have a 2 micron fuel filter. When they tell you yes ask them if it is an absolute rating or a nominal rating. The difference is a nominal rating is 50% effective an absolute rating is 98% effective. The last time I checked Cat was the only one that had a 2 micron absolute rated filter. How many of those cheap filters do you have to run to pay for 1 injector failure due to improper filtration. IE "Don't you think that the manufacture knows what they need on an engine for filters?" For me the extra 4 or 5 bucks for the Cat filter is worth it.

 

My Cat gets Cat filters. :wink: