I just now found out today that the place where I used to get Baldwin air filters has been bought out by another company and they will no longer carry Baldwin air filters. I was using the Baldwin because it is supposed to filter well and have good air flow. What is another good brand of paper element air filter? Is the Wix a good air filter?
Air filter for Saturn
- Thread starter Mystic
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The Hastings filters are made by Baldwin I understand. I think Baldwin makes the best available in the US. After Baldwin I think Wix is best. Wix makes several quality filters but the Napa Gold is suppose to be top of the line.
Car Quest premium is reported to be the same as NAPA Gold.
Car Quest premium is reported to be the same as NAPA Gold.
Thanks for the information. Somewhere in the past at this web site there was a discussion about Baldwin air filters filtering well and having really good air flow. I started to use the Baldwin. The company where I used to buy the Baldwin was sold to another company and the filters they will be selling are Wix air and oil filters. I like the Wix also, especially the Wix oil filter-that has become my oil filter of choice. But I didn't know how the Wix air filter compared to the Baldwin. I am personally amazed that, at least where I live, it is so hard to find Baldwin or Hastings products. Wix oil filters can be readily found at CarQuest and NAPA stores, but now I guess I will be able to buy Wix air and oil filters directly, with the Wix name.
Have you looked at the Balwin and Hasting filter sites. You can lookup dealers in your area.
I find a lot of Balwin dealers in my area but they are all heavy equipment suppliers but will order in case lots.
Most of the auto parts stores have to compete locally and people are always buying the cheapest products so they keep stocking what they can to compete.
Kid I had working for me on survey crew this summer had an uncle that owned several parts stores. Kind of family business and he often worked there part on weekends. He said there were always keeping track of what their compitors were selling and they would sell a prodcut that was cheaper. He even complained that price was always the major factor in what the store handled. Car batteries were a big item, as they sold 3 different brands in one year to stay competive.
I find a lot of Balwin dealers in my area but they are all heavy equipment suppliers but will order in case lots.
Most of the auto parts stores have to compete locally and people are always buying the cheapest products so they keep stocking what they can to compete.
Kid I had working for me on survey crew this summer had an uncle that owned several parts stores. Kind of family business and he often worked there part on weekends. He said there were always keeping track of what their compitors were selling and they would sell a prodcut that was cheaper. He even complained that price was always the major factor in what the store handled. Car batteries were a big item, as they sold 3 different brands in one year to stay competive.
Actually, I think it is kind of tragic if people buy just on the basis of price. No matter what kind of product you are looking at (not just automotive products) you may well be better off buying the quality product rather than the least expensive product. Sometimes, in fact, a quality product costs less than a poorer quality product. Oil filters at my dealership are about $5.00. The maker of those oil filters is not number one among people at this web site. I can get a Wix or Hastings oil filter for about the same price.
Mystic, by now you probably found your filter. I used a Napa Gold in my 99 SL2. Unfortuneatly, a 2 inch piece of the filter was sucked into the engine. I then bought an OEM filter at the Saturn dealer for only $4.00 more. The material was thicker and more durable. Saturn techs told me some filters are sucked into the intake. I am sticking with the OEM filter since I don't know which filters are vulnerable to this problem. Good luck!
A brother-in-law who is a certified Saturn tech once mentioned to me that Saturns hate Bosch Platinum spark plugs as well as K&N air filters. After reading the air filter study provided by AnthonyS I finally understand the possible harm in adding a K&N.
Saturns require a little more attention to filtration than most cars. This is due to the fact that their engines are more cheaply made. In several spots paper gaskets are substituted for RTV and this is more prone to corrosion and leaks. Timing chain guides and valve seals are both common causes for Saturns burning oil. They also run hotter, and accumulate contamination in the engine oil almost as fast as a diesel. This is why I have opted to keep my FRAM paper air filter and am in the process of connecting a Frantz bypass filter to my '95 Saturn SL2.
Saturns require a little more attention to filtration than most cars. This is due to the fact that their engines are more cheaply made. In several spots paper gaskets are substituted for RTV and this is more prone to corrosion and leaks. Timing chain guides and valve seals are both common causes for Saturns burning oil. They also run hotter, and accumulate contamination in the engine oil almost as fast as a diesel. This is why I have opted to keep my FRAM paper air filter and am in the process of connecting a Frantz bypass filter to my '95 Saturn SL2.
Mjo, I thought Bosch Platinum Plugs were the good ones! I'll double check that a Saturnfans.com. I took those exact plugs out of my 96 SL2 out about 10K ago, they looked fine, but since I bought it used, I didn't know just how old they really were.
I've use STP filters and liked them. They seem very well constructed and seem to filter well. I just changed to a Fram (don't spam me!!) as that's all the store had when I went there. I figure a clean Fram is better than a relatively-used STP. Well, maybe not after reading about them getting sucked into the engine!!!!
Mystic, this is for your ION I presume...
most all the filters have cheap foam seals that will rip or get sucked in, this is why you should change them at a regular basis. I use the FRAM air filters and they are perfectly fine. It does not bother me to see the foam slightly mixing over the metal mesh. I think its all the same, cheap paper, cheap foam, air filters are cheap, period, I dont care if its NAPA Gold or if its FRAM, they are all just paper and foam and i think examination of every nook and cranny of these cheap filters are pointless, they are all going to have there defects, they are constructed quick and cheaply, you just have to open a few boxes to find one that is in good condition. I feel brand name means Sh*t with paper air filters.
I was told at the dealership Fram would work on a Saturn. Regarding the oil burning in Saturns, I have been told dirty oil control rings is the cause much of the time. Also, using a OEM PCV valve has been helpful in reducing oil consumption for some people.
saturnfans.com has additional info if you are interested.
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