No love for Baldwin filters? Should I be looking for an alternative?

[SC Maintenance]

Hastings / Baldwin is owned by Parker - one of the largest industrial companies in the country, very well regarded for hydraulic stuff in the industrial world. I would have no issue running a Baldwin filter. They never advertise or pursue retail sales likely, which is why you don't much see them here.

Now if you want to worry about the smallest micron rating and so on, then you can go down that rabbit hole instead. Either way, your probably going to do fine.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Microgard Select should not have louvers. Does yours look like this?

View attachment 298880

Premium Guard lists a filter for this application, but its entirely possibly O'Reilly's gets that particular filter from somewhere else - since they own the brand name. Its a very large filter for a Diesel. The PG list 96% @ 20um - assuming it was the same.

 

[Glenda W.]

Premium Guard lists a filter for this application, but its entirely possibly O'Reilly's gets that particular filter from somewhere else - since they own the brand name. Its a very large filter for a Diesel. The PG list 96% @ 20um - assuming it was the same.

View attachment 298888

That appears to be the 5k PG.

 

[SC Maintenance]

That appears to be the 5k PG.

Sorry my bad. The EX is 99% at 25um. So honestly 96% at 20um is probably about the same no? Maybe more pleats.

 

[gunnellett]

Microgard Select should not have louvers. Does yours look like this?

View attachment 298880

Yes. Looks like that picture.

Has a leak test stamp on the bottom also.

 

[Glenda W.]

From OReillys website.

 

[Glenda W.]

Yes. Looks like that picture.

Has a leak test stamp on the bottom also.

Perfect you have the right one! Can you post a pic of the louvers? Never seen one with louvers.

 

[gunnellett]

I

Pictures? Never seen a Microgard with louvers. Possibly that particular filter is made by someone else?

I'll post pictures shortly. I just got home and am about to enjoy the gourmet meal my wife made!

To be honest, I was suspicious of these filters being the same across the whole lineup as far as micron rating and build. The main reason for that suspicion is the fact Carquest Premium Red and Blue filters are made at the same factory but their Heavy Duty are made by guess who.....Baldwin.

 

[ZeeOSix]

My theory is that O'Reilly's is having someone else make some MicroGard Selects besides through PGI. Just like the lower tier black MicroGard filters are still M+H. I zoomed in and played with exposure and can see the louvers (definitely not holes) in the filter being discussed.

 

[Glenda W.]

My theory is that O'Reilly's is having someone else make some MicroGard Selects besides through PGI. Just like the lower tier black MicroGard filters are still M+H. I zoomed in and played with exposure and can see the louvers (definitely not holes) in the filter being discussed.

View attachment 298893

Good eye!! OP say it’s has “Leak Tested” stamp. Also appears to have silicone gasket and unpainted crimp. COO should give us some more clues.

 

[TomYoung]

The only oil filter I've ever had a problem with was a Baldwin that loosened itself over night to the point I had an oil puddle on my driveway the next morning. Chucked it in the trash and haven't looked at them again since.

“loosened itself overnight”….. tell me more.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I

I'll post pictures shortly. I just got home and am about to enjoy the gourmet meal my wife made!

To be honest, I was suspicious of these filters being the same across the whole lineup as far as micron rating and build. The main reason for that suspicion is the fact Carquest Premium Red and Blue filters are made at the same factory but their Heavy Duty are made by guess who.....Baldwin.

Does it say its country of Origin? Should be on box or on can. If it says nothing that would indicate its USA made.

It would not surprise me at all to find out its made by Baldwin. For one its a very large filter so making it on the same equipment that all the passenger filters are made might be an issue for whomever is making the PG stuff. Also that filter only fits the Ford 7.3, which is pretty much a North America only thing with most being used in commercial applications. Baldwin probably pumps them out millions a year. Might be cheaper for O'Reilly's to just get them from Baldwin.

 

[SC Maintenance]

“loosened itself overnight”….. tell me more.

When you feed the gremlins after dark all kinds of crazy can happen.

 

[I<3oil]

“loosened itself overnight”….. tell me more.

I drain the oil, take old oil filter off and drain it, put new oil filter on making sure no double gasket, put drain plug back in, fill engine with fresh oil, tighten everything up, go for quick test drive, park it where I just changed oil on top of flattened cardboard box so if I spill any oil, it gets on box. Let it sit whilst I clean up and put tools away, clean my hands, etc. After about 10-15 mins, I pull the cardboard, dry as a bone, no leaks, call it a day.

Next morning I come out and I'm backing out of driveway to go to work and I see in the driveway a dinner plate sized spot of something. I pull vehicle back up and go check out the spot. It's oil. Can't do anything right now, gotta go to work so I take other vehicle. I come home from work, get under vehicle, oil filter is like 2 full turns from being tight and dripping oil. I take off oil filter, put new one on and top up oil, inspect filter, don't really see anything that catches my eye as to why it came loose/didn't stay tightened, and then chuck it into the trash can to be taken to the landfill.

 

[gunnellett]

Does it say its country of Origin? Should be on box or on can. If it says nothing that would indicate its USA made.

It would not surprise me at all to find out its made by Baldwin. For one its a very large filter so making it on the same equipment that all the passenger filters are made might be an issue for whomever is making the PG stuff. Also that filter only fits the Ford 7.3, which is pretty much a North America only thing with most being used in commercial applications. Baldwin probably pumps them out millions a year. Might be cheaper for O'Reilly's to just get them from Baldwin.

The box has Made in Vietnam.

 

[gunnellett]

Here are pictures of the filter.

Maybe some parts are sourced elsewhere but assembled in Vietnam? Doesn't seem efficient but who knows.

 

[gunnellett]

I

I'll post pictures shortly. I just got home and am about to enjoy the gourmet meal my wife made!

To be honest, I was suspicious of these filters being the same across the whole lineup as far as micron rating and build. The main reason for that suspicion is the fact Carquest Premium Red and Blue filters are made at the same factory but their Heavy Duty are made by guess who.....Baldwin.

And just so you know I wasn't lying!

A little blurry, but I was too hungry to take the time for another pic!

 

[SC Maintenance]

Yes, appears to be a PG filter with louvers. Interesting.

 

[TomYoung]

I drain the oil, take old oil filter off and drain it, put new oil filter on making sure no double gasket, put drain plug back in, fill engine with fresh oil, tighten everything up, go for quick test drive, park it where I just changed oil on top of flattened cardboard box so if I spill any oil, it gets on box. Let it sit whilst I clean up and put tools away, clean my hands, etc. After about 10-15 mins, I pull the cardboard, dry as a bone, no leaks, call it a day.

Next morning I come out and I'm backing out of driveway to go to work and I see in the driveway a dinner plate sized spot of something. I pull vehicle back up and go check out the spot. It's oil. Can't do anything right now, gotta go to work so I take other vehicle. I come home from work, get under vehicle, oil filter is like 2 full turns from being tight and dripping oil. I take off oil filter, put new one on and top up oil, inspect filter, don't really see anything that catches my eye as to why it came loose/didn't stay tightened, and then chuck it into the trash can to be taken to the landfill.

How did you tighten the filter. Not to press an issue, but I think the best explanation is that the filter simply was not tight enough.

 

[I<3oil]

How did you tighten the filter. Not to press an issue, but I think the best explanation is that the filter simply was not tight enough.

With my hands, I don't use any kind of filter tool to tighten them - depending on the filter, it's either 1/4-3/4 of a turn past contact. I don't remember what Baldwin recommends. I've changed my own oil probably 200-300 times on vehicles, this is the only one that has ever had an issue.