Why pay 3 or 4 times as much for a filter that says Kubota on the side of it. Kubota doesn't make filters they make tractors, neither does Cat, or Ford, or Yamaha, or any other motorized equipment manufacturer. They are contracted out to be made by filter manufacturers. I'm not saying buy oddball filters from companies nobody has ever heard of. But Wix, Hasting, Fram, Purolator are major name brands. I am pretty sure they have purchased a Kubota filter torn it apart, analyzed how it was made, and figured out how to make it just as good if not better. I have used a variety of major brand filters in all my vehicles, never even trying to stay with the same brand filter, just buying what ever the parts store I happened to by in had on the shelf. My current pickup has a 6 cylinder gas engine with over 180,000 miles on it and burns less than 1/2 quart of oil between oil changes. My previous truck had a gas 6 cylinder with 232,000 miles on it and burned less oil than that. the one before that was a small block V8 gas engine it had 100,000 on it before it was stolen and the oil never moved on the dipstick between oil changes. The key is use a good quality filter, and oil, and change it regularly at the recommended interval. That goes for all the filters not just the oil.
You are correct in that Kubota does not make filters. BUT what is missed by many is how Kubota specs out there filters. For example, leaving Kubota branded filters out of the picture for a moment... just take a look at a Fram and a WIX filter. Same spec right? Well if that is so why is the filter case so much thicker on the WIX? And if used in a marine or salt environment, than means that the WIX simply has more durability than the Fram. I have personaly observed many Fram filters rusted thru in those conditions. But remember, they were the "same spec"
Now getting back to Kubota Branded filters. Say for example Kubota contracts thats just say for grins with WIX for example for a batch of filters. Kubota may or may not ask for additional filter media, filter media construction or anti drain back valves that WIX in there opinion is not needed for there "will fit" replacement. (nor can be included by WIX for the price point they are selling there will fit filters at)
Although both are the same "spec", they really are not the same filter, even though they were made on the same production line.
Kubota has no interests in meeting a price point nor are they interested in competing with other filter manufactures. What they are interested in is having a filter produced that they deem is required for the proper protection of there engines, regardless if that filter may cost a dollar or two more. Fram, WIX, etc are looking to price compete so they may deem certain filter construction or features that the OEM has incompatible with that price point.
It should also be brought up that on late model Ford diesels, some of the "same spec as OEM" aftermarket filters from WELL KNOWN companies are being produced with a cheaper sealing material applied to the cartridge. This "same spec as OEM" material is flaking off and gumming up the high pressure injection system.... Again, the rational is to be price competive so you will buy there filters at the auto parts store, not what is best!
Same with oil. Oil is oil right ? YES, oil is oil. BUT the additive package is not and varies signifigantly by what each manufacture thinks is important.
Take two stroke oil with a spec of TCW-III. Yes, you can buy the cheaper WalMart brand, but it meets only the MINIMUM specs of TCW-III, while if you buy the more expensive Yamaha 2-M you get additional additives, even though both started out as the same oil.
And if you use that cheaper oil, Yamaha recommends additional additves be added to the fuel, which bring the cost up to about what the Yamaha oil costs, suprise of suprises, you get what you pay for.
Years ago, MerCruiser came out with a excellent parts ad showing two water pump impellers... OEM and aftermarket... same part right? Except if the aftermarket fails they will give you a new impeller. If the OEM fails they will give you a new engine if it is damaged from the overheating!
Just food for thought..
David
