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

[gunnellett]

I've been using a Baldwin B7039 filter for my 96 Ford F350 with the 7.3 Powerstoke engine the last few years. I used to use the Motorcraft FL1995 but made the switch after the Motorcraft filters practically tripled in price overnight. Those $9.95 Walmart days are gone!

I went with Baldwin because I thought they were a high quality filter and I can get them at a nice discounted price through my work supplier.

Having recently joined this forum and searching a little, I see very little discussion on Baldwin filters although there is a crazy amount of discussion of many other filters dissecting every minute detail.

Am I wrong in thinking Baldwin filters are a good choice for my truck? Are there others I should consider that are better without going for those crazy long 50 dollar filters that have potential clearance issues? I talked to a rep at Baldwin to see if they happened to have an "upgrade" to the B7039 with better filtration and/or extended service but the individual said the B7039 is the best they offer for my application.

My OCI is 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on the oil used and amount of towing.

Thanks.

 

[cptbarkey]

Most of the discussions here involve oil filter brands on the level of soap operas. Every day at noon, something new happens which is really a re-hash of a plot from 20 years ago. With Baldwin that is probably a good thing flying under the soap opera radar. I've seen it used on a bit of the equipment i've purchased second hand.

 

[fantastic]

There's a myriad of opinions already posted on this brand. Your 7.3L will not complain about any of them.

 

[Urshurak776]

Came out of 7-11 yesterday with a fresh XL Slurpee and the car next to me started shooting anti-drainback valves at me! They were nitrile. Wouldn't have happened if they were silicone.

 

[Kira]

Came out of 7-11 yesterday with a fresh XL Slurpee and the car next to me started shooting anti-drainback valves at me! They were nitrile. Wouldn't have happened if they were silicone.

Somebody 'put something' in your Slurpee.
If not, please explain the metaphor "shooting anti-drainback valves at me".

Also, it was explained in another thread that Baldwin filters are made to a factory designated filtration spec and that they'll never excel in performance. The premium offerings from Fram and CarQuest/O'Reilly's are the new favorites here.

 

[Urshurak776]

Somebody 'put something' in your Slurpee.
If not, please explain the metaphor "shooting anti-drainback valves at me".

Also, it was explained in another thread that Baldwin filters are made to a factory designated filtration spec and that they'll never excel in performance. The premium offerings from Fram and CarQuest/O'Reilly's are the new favorites here.

It was a joke.

Yes, Premium Guard is held in high regard here, and with good reason. Solid filter at a solid price. I'm not a FRAM fan personally. Rather get the PG.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Baldwins are quality-made filters that provide 'good enough, nothing special' filtration. They don't get a lot of attention here because they are boring.

 

[Fair enough]

For those engines you have space to add a Frantz or other high efficiency filter. The oil should turn from black to clear, unless it is already clear. Baldwin is a good USA company. I totally wouldn’t worry the filter needs upgrading, but that’s opinion.

 

[Chris142]

Baldwin tends to be used for HD things like tractors and what not. Not too many stores carry Baldwin on the shelf either.

At least not here.

I'm guessing that most Americans have never seen a Baldwin filter

 

[cdlamb]

it was many years back I was looking at and comparing brands.
I contacted Baldwin and was sent an efficiency rating of their filters.
At the time they seemed like they were pretty good quality


I think production has since been moved to China and not sure what the quality has done since.

My latest oil change, I went with a NAPA house branded filter, I believe to be manufactured by Wix.

 

[Chris142]

My latest oil change, I went with a NAPA house branded filter, I believe to be manufactured by Wix.

Napa went to premium guard a few years ago. According to the outside sales,rep they were having too many failures with Wix.

That's what he said anyway

 

[gunnellett]

For those engines you have space to add a Frantz or other high efficiency filter. The oil should turn from black to clear, unless it is already clear. Baldwin is a good USA company. I totally wouldn’t worry the filter needs upgrading, but that’s opinion.

I have a centrifuge oil bypass system.

I just figured since I need a normal full flow filter anyway, maybe there are better options that are reasonably priced and attainable. When I swapped to the Baldwin the efficiency rating was slightly better than the Motorcraft.

 

[twX]

If you want a really efficient filter, there's the Donaldson P550371. It's rated 99% at 17 micron. Baldwin filters are usually 99% at 40 or 45 micron.

 

[gunnellett]

If you want a really efficient filter, there's the Donaldson P550371. It's rated 99% at 17 micron. Baldwin filters are usually 99% at 40 or 45 micron.

I'm actually looking at that Donaldson P550371 and may go with it if I can find it locally.

I could be way off base on this, but I thought the Baldwin B7939 is about 99% at 25 micron which seems pretty decent. All I could find on the efficiency was from discussion in forums, not really concrete info from Baldwin.

 

[I<3oil]

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.

 

[grasscutter]

Premium Guard. It's the best filter on the market right now. You can get them under the O'Reilly MicroGard Select line.

 

[gunnellett]

Premium Guard. It's the best filter on the market right now. You can get them under the O'Reilly MicroGard Select line.

The Microgard shows 99% at 25 microns so right in line with the Baldwin. But at only $12, the Microgard does come in about 7 bucks cheaper than I'm getting the Baldwin so that's a win.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

I've been using a Baldwin B7039 filter for my 96 Ford F350 with the 7.3 Powerstoke engine the last few years. I used to use the Motorcraft FL1995 but made the switch after the Motorcraft filters practically tripled in price overnight. Those $9.95 Walmart days are gone!

I went with Baldwin because I thought they were a high quality filter and I can get them at a nice discounted price through my work supplier.

Having recently joined this forum and searching a little, I see very little discussion on Baldwin filters although there is a crazy amount of discussion of many other filters dissecting every minute detail.

Am I wrong in thinking Baldwin filters are a good choice for my truck? Are there others I should consider that are better without going for those crazy long 50 dollar filters that have potential clearance issues? I talked to a rep at Baldwin to see if they happened to have an "upgrade" to the B7039 with better filtration and/or extended service but the individual said the B7039 is the best they offer for my application.

My OCI is 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on the oil used and amount of towing.

Thanks.

Baldwin is a decent filter manufacturer. They are made in USA by a USA owned company. Most are made in Kearney Nebraska or Yankton South Dakota. Their purpose is making well-built filters to OEM specs. They make filters that filter out the big chunks to almost filtering out bacteria and viruses, depending on the OEM spec. They are not in the media micron race. They make cellulose, synthetic blend and full synthetic media filters, depending on the OEM spec. They are owned by Parker Hanafin Corp. There filters are distributed all over the world. https://www.parker.com/us/en/home.html and https://www.baldwinfilters.com/us/en.html

 

[DannyM]

The Microgard shows 99% at 25 microns so right in line with the Baldwin. But at only $12, the Microgard does come in about 7 bucks cheaper than I'm getting the Baldwin so that's a win.

Where does Baldwin show 99% @25 ?

 

[gunnellett]

Where does Baldwin show 99% @25 ?

I had remembered seeing it was about 25 micron on a couple of forums but admitted a few posts ago I could have been way off base on that.

I just looked at Baldwin's site and it states 9.8 nominal and 27 absolute.