Are Cat filters worth the $???

Sorry for the late reply, been busy.
Most of the people I have asked, buy the Fleetguard and other filters over Cat for three reasons; price, good filtration, good flow.
I am by no means a filter expert, (although I have slept at a Holiday Inn Express).
While I am using a Fleetguard fuel/water separator, I often wonder if the better flow is achieved at the cost of less filtration? I really don't know how a water separator actually works; does a fine screen "catch" the larger droplets of water, and banish them to the bottom where the petcock can eliminate them? If so, the Cat separator must use a really fine screen, which means some of the water is passing through the other "free flowing filters", and going on through the fuel system...... not good.

Hopefully a filter guru can chip in and educate us.

 

attached are Cat Information release memos covering oil and fuel filters.
Basically, as one previous poster stated, the "specs are what make the difference" along with the fact "you still get what you pay for". Yes, Cat filters will cost more than aftermarket ones but , the details do make the difference.
Little things like resin glued end caps that eliminate unfiltered oil or fuel from bypassing the filter media at the end cap of the filter.
Cat also has a superior "cleanliness standard" to make sure little pieces metal from the thread cutting processes do not get left in the filter prior to plant assembly.
If you visit a Cat dealer or an authorized TEPs dealer, you'll often see a cut-a-way filter display near the parts counter showing the Cat product vs Baldwin,Wix, Donaldson, Fleetguard and others. Take time to look at how competitive filters are assembled....you will see noticeable differences in material as well as the wall strenth of the Cat vs others.
Years ago I used whatever was cheapest. Since then I have purchased a small pencil sized pocket magnet which I will run around the threads of competitive filters. You woud be shocked to see how much fine material is on some filters threads and remember, that's on the "clean side" of the filter going straight into your engine at start up.

Does Cat make all their own filters? No, in the filter industry like any other industry, manufacturers build to the specifications of their customers.

 

thanks for the links e500gvr...
pm sent

 

I think I will start paying a little more and get the cat filters.

 

Definitely appreciate the pdf's, wonder if there is some place to order a quantity of CAT filters at some what of a discount vs. stopping by the dealer each time.

Have ordered most filters in the past through fleetfilter & think those are all WIX.

 

I am a mechanic and Donaldson makes "CAT" filters, the best filters, for oil water, or fuel are Donaldson, ACDelco, and Fleetguard. The best fuel filter system by far is the Davco system. Buy a "CAT" filter and when it is used cut it apart and then try a Donaldson. The base plates for filters have a letter and number code for the threads and pitch. Just a thought!

 

The facts are that Cat and Donaldson are 50/50 owners in a joint venture company called AFSI ( Advanced Filtration Sales Inc in Illinois) which is a state of the art automated filter manufacturing facility that produces Cat branded filters exclusively for Cat products.

 

I have been using Donaldson filters for most everything I put a filter on for several years. They are a good quality filter. Wix is nothing to sneeze at either. Several oil supply outfits I have talked with say that Fleetguard filters are made by Baldwin, which is a good filter.

I have run across several instances regarding CAT fuel filters in that some experience worse fuel mileage with other brand filters on their CAT engine. Could be the micron rating or whatever. From everything I have heard, I would stick with CAT brand for at least the fuel filters.

Regarding getting Donaldson, I get my filters in bulk from a local truck parts outfit in Des Moines. I can get them substantially cheaper than OEM filters or filters at Auto Parts stores. Almost half the cost of going to the other places. If you get on Donaldson's website, they have a list of outlets around the country that sell them.

 

I wouldn't believe in tests made by OEM marketing department.

 

FWIW, Donaldson and Davco are part of Cummins Filtration( Fleetguard ) Davco still has their own engineering dept but Fleetguard makes the filters. I use Cat oil and sec filter. Fleetguard primary. Cat primarys are too restictive( 10 mic )