Who's making good oil filters now?

I have used Wix for years but apparently the quality is going downhill. So who's turning out a good filter?
My new mower with a Kawasaki FX651V engine came with a tiny filter and as the engine only holds a couple of quarts I'm looking to put a longer filter in. I have plenty of room and its really well protected.
Now to find a suitable one, any thoughts?

 

Pretty much always used Wix as well. What have you heard?

 

That wix was bought by a company that moved production overseas and quality has been going down on some filters. And some of the companies other filters are just being branded wix. Personally I have not had any problems and I cut open my used filters. Not sure if it's true, blown out of proportion or ??
Figured someone here is in the know on filters.

 

I run the OEM filters on my mower with a Kawasaki motor. It runs about 25-30 hours a year doing just my lawn. Oil and filter get changed yearly regardless of the hours on it.
I could probably do every two years for the hours but to me despite the increase in oil prices it is still cheap insurance.

And I also have heard Wix is now overseas and believe Wix is also Napa Gold filters.

 

OEM looks to be available for less than $20 (could be a 'Wix', who really knows). I rarely stray from OEM filters these days unless the price is too insulting. I've used CarQuest and Baldwin on the 3130 before. Have used Wix in the past. Sometimes can find oddballs with them or Baldwin in a pinch.

Why do they give ASE spec to the oil we use, but not the filters?

 

Heard the same.
Haven't heard of anything changing with Baldwin.
If you stick with good oil and a 50 hour drain interval, stock filter will be fine.
They probably recommend the first drain at 10 hrs though...or if not, I would anyways.

 

From what I gather wix was producing filters for NAPA. The company was sold and now Napa filters are supplied by a few manufacturers. Here are some boxes from this mornings fun. Origin listed on the boxes. USA,Poland, Mexico and “see product for country of origin” whatever that means.

 

Yeah, I've heard the same that others have mentioned about wix. I find that the last few wix filters I've bought were NOS and still US made. I use a ford filter on my truck, unless I can get the Purolator pure1 for a good price. Honestly, I try to get Purolator as much as I can.

 

It means they were made by the lowest bidder.

 

They say first at 100 .... to me that is crazy. Was looking at swapping in a larger filter to add a bit to the 2 quarts of oil it holds. And, albeit small, a little bit of cooling.

 

Well it's not in their best interests to have your mower last as long as possible......

Reminds me of the auto industry and things being "filled for life", differentials and transmissions. As far as they were concerned, the life of the vehicle was until it was out of warranty or until the vehicle quit moving.

 

100% agree their goal is to make it to the end of the warranty period and not a second longer.

 

I’m have been using OEM filters on all my equipment for many years now. Noticed they were not much more expensive than aftermarket, so I just switched to OEM filters.

 

Biggest thing make sure you run a good oil with zinc in it amsoil small engine has the extra zinc

 

Kawasaki and most if not all engines that are used for mowers are not flat tappet engines, so you don't need any zinc heavy oil.

 

Hi zinc oils may have been necessary years ago for flat tappet engines with the old API SN/SM oils, but not anymore. Today's SP/SQ oils are fine for flat tappet camshaft engines.

The guy speaking in the video below is not just another YT "Project Farm" type of clickbait.

Copy/pasted from his "bio".

 

IMO most name brand filters are going to be equal in quality. Buy one, run it for the summer and toss it. Filter size has zero bearing on its function it all depends on what is inside.
Since the inception of the inter webs people have lost all control of being able to make. a decision.

 

I believe most of them are flat tappet.
Spring pressure is so low that it doesn't cause issues.

 

I really like this guy. I think I have watched/listened to most of his videos.