fuel filter comparison

[crispyboy]

It seems that fuel filters are not built the same way. I have used Hastings/Baldwin filters for a long time and have thought of them as a decent aftermarket filter domestically manufactured.
I had a Hastings fuel filter in my toolbox as a emergency backup and had to use it when I forgot to order a Fleetguard fuel filter. If you study the attached picture of two fuel filters that I cut in half, the Fleetguard shows that it is a "filter within a filter" for what I suspect is for water stripping. The Hastings filter seems to be a single filter.
I ran the Hastings for a couple of hundred miles, got nervous about it and changed it out for the Fleetguard.

Am I worrying too much about this?
What do you think?

 

[cerberusiam]

Yep, worrying too much. The rating on the filter is what is important not necessarily the construction.

 

[Bob4x4]

untill the poor construction cost a big repair bill

 

[ZBrooks]

The Hastings/Baldwin filter is excellent. I haven't heard of one imploding and causing problems.

 

[crispyboy]

The Hastings/Baldwin filter is excellent. I haven't heard of one imploding and causing problems.

I have always had good luck with the Hastings filters on everything else I have owned. According to a phone call to the manufacturer the filter is the same micron rating as the Fleetguard. My concern was the different design of the two filters. There must be some reason for the "filter within a filter" idea. IIRC - During the late time frame of the 3rd generation trucks there was an update to the filter and filter canister. Not sure but maybe the updated filter and canister incorporated the "filter within a filter" design.
Maybe someone who knows the history of this change will chime in.

 

[AnOldBiker]

The picture is slightly blurry so it's hard to see. But it appears the fleet guard is a double pleated filter material. Yes, the center ring of material might be for water to collect. But the Hasting appears to have more material, fiberous ?? material ? This could be for the same, water collection. The thickness of the hastings filter is much larger in the pleats. So it seems there is a difference in design. The fact that the micron rating is the same was stated before.

So, what is the big difference ?
How it collects water ?
Does it matter as long as it does it properly ?
What are the cost of each filter ?
What are you willing to pay ?

Does Hastings make their filters or contracts them out ?
Not sure of Fleetgurad, but a company like Baldwin does, and many more. There's a place in Tennessee call Filtermart ( http://www.filtermart.com ) that makes filters for many big brand name filter companies, and ships them out with the big companies name on the units. I personally have been there and bought from them.

Get the micron rating you want and pay the price your willing to pay, and relax.

 

[cerberusiam]

The Hastings filter is rated better than the Fleetguard, both micron and WS, if it is the one that fits the 3rd gen filter housing. Different media and design, trying to compare without having all the info about design and media is not going to work.

 

[AnOldBiker]

I found out a very long time ago that companies sell products, but might not manufacture the products themselves. And most share information and tech info. Hastings is part of another company:

CLARCOR is a global provider of filtration products and services with a worldwide customer base, superb product quality, an extensive distribution network and the industry’s broadest product line.

CLARCOR provides filtration products to the engine/mobile and industrial/environmental filtration market. The Total Filtration Program brings the experience and expertise of all its filtration companies to provide a complete filtration program.

In 1995, Hastings Premium Filters became part of CLARCOR. Other CLARCOR companies — Airguard, ATI, Baldwin Filters, Clark Filter, Facet International, FPI, PECOFacet, Purolator Air, Purolator Engineered Filtration Products, Purolator Facet, Total Filtration Services and United Air Specialists — along with Hastings Premium Filters, are able to share the latest ideas and technology and create solutions that lead to better products.

http://www.hastingsfilter.com/AboutHastingsCLARCOR.html

And like I mentioned before, Baldwin filters, mentioned in the article above is part of this. They are made famous by those that buy them and advertising. And they are produced by companies like I mentioned earlier, that are not part of the company, and make filters for several companies.

Glass media or paper media is bascially all the same. The material for the bypass vales, might be different from one filter to another, but suppliers for this, supply the same material for the filter manufactures.

You as a customer must figure out the micron rating you want, if paper or glass media, the entry and outlet size and what you want to spend. The one thing that is important is the production quality of the product. Like in the past with Fram. The metal clips holding the paper fold together, many were found were not installed proper and sales were affected. Things have change with a world connected market. And many have so called standardized the product. Like Hasting is part of a larger group, how much is standardized with all of them to produce a quality product, cheaper for more profit and more sales ?

If I'm wrong, please let me know, I'm willing to learn. But this is what I've been running into for many products and companies / corporations.