Recently bought a new zero turn mower with the Kawasaki FR730V motor. Changed the oil and filter with less than 10 hours on it. Not wanting to pay the $10 plus dollars for the OEM filter or even an aftermarket filter in that exact size (Kawasaki 49065) I did a quick search and Fram 3614 was a suitable replacement. I put that on but prefer to run WIX filters and today did some more research to decipher the beta ratio numbers on their website and if the filter I was using was indeed correct and not just following what other people do.
It really makes me wonder why certain filters are even used when better filters (at least by the filtering capability) are more available and cheaper. Here is what I found.
Wix 57035 is the direct replacement for the OEM filter and is $6.85 on RockAuto. Wix 51348 is the cross reference to Fram 3614 and is $4.26.
OEM Specs
Gasket OD 2.75"
Height - 2.375"
Micron 25/30 (This was from a parts website and couldn't find anything from Kawasaki's website)
Wix 57035
Gasket OD 2.734"
Height - 2.305"
Beta Ratio - 2/20=20/41
Relief pressure 8 psi
Wix 51348
Gasket OD 2.734"
Height - 3.404"
Beta Ratio - 2/20=6/20
Relief pressure 8-11 psi
Found a review on Amazon of all places explaining the beta ratio numbers - 2/20 is plugged into this formula twice. 1-1/x
1-1/2 = 50% and 1-1/20 = 95%. The second set of numbers is the micron size of the particle trapped at that percentage. So in this case of the Wix 51348 50% of 6 micron particles are trapped and 95% of 20 micron particles are trapped.
OEM is then 50% of 25 micron particles and 95% of 30 micron particles are trapped (if the 2/20 is the same)
Wix 57035 is 50% of 20 micron and 95% of 41 micron particles are trapped
Wix 51348 is 50% of 6 micron and 95% of 20 micron particles are trapped
If you are still reading am I missing something that the car filter, Wix 51348, fits, has the same bypass pressure, filters better, has more filtering media and is cheaper? Unless there are some applications that don't allow space for longer filters why even use the 57035? Is it constructed better?
It really makes me wonder why certain filters are even used when better filters (at least by the filtering capability) are more available and cheaper. Here is what I found.
Wix 57035 is the direct replacement for the OEM filter and is $6.85 on RockAuto. Wix 51348 is the cross reference to Fram 3614 and is $4.26.
OEM Specs
Gasket OD 2.75"
Height - 2.375"
Micron 25/30 (This was from a parts website and couldn't find anything from Kawasaki's website)
Wix 57035
Gasket OD 2.734"
Height - 2.305"
Beta Ratio - 2/20=20/41
Relief pressure 8 psi
Wix 51348
Gasket OD 2.734"
Height - 3.404"
Beta Ratio - 2/20=6/20
Relief pressure 8-11 psi
Found a review on Amazon of all places explaining the beta ratio numbers - 2/20 is plugged into this formula twice. 1-1/x
1-1/2 = 50% and 1-1/20 = 95%. The second set of numbers is the micron size of the particle trapped at that percentage. So in this case of the Wix 51348 50% of 6 micron particles are trapped and 95% of 20 micron particles are trapped.
OEM is then 50% of 25 micron particles and 95% of 30 micron particles are trapped (if the 2/20 is the same)
Wix 57035 is 50% of 20 micron and 95% of 41 micron particles are trapped
Wix 51348 is 50% of 6 micron and 95% of 20 micron particles are trapped
If you are still reading am I missing something that the car filter, Wix 51348, fits, has the same bypass pressure, filters better, has more filtering media and is cheaper? Unless there are some applications that don't allow space for longer filters why even use the 57035? Is it constructed better?
