When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm biased with past experience on a different cars than the 996, so I might not be right, but my feeling is the Baldwin B31 will end up being the "go to" filter. As far as I know, Baldwin manufacturers its own filters (not outsourced) in the US under their own controlled environment. Baldwin has very high construction standards, probably the best build quality among the popular brands. Whether the the flow and filtration of the B31 is best for the 996 is something for LN to figure out -- but as long as Baldwin still does its own manufacturing, it isn't likely that anything will change for the negative in Baldwin going forward (which is clearly not assured for brands that outsource filter manufacturing).
Can we just get any manufacturers part #s of the correct fitment ?..
this thread had me spinning so I. stopped at Napa and pick up 2 American made filters but I’m still confused if it’s right
EVOMMM I think the only thing we know for sure is LN is inspecting 100 % of their inventory . After that it's a crap shoot or that's my interpretation based on this thread .
Until Charles/Jake or anyone else buys and does analysis we as consumers have very little to go on . As an example Charles stated the Wix XP series filter media is too restrictive . I didn't know that . And are there others ? Apparently yes .
And even worse , what is deemed good/acceptable today may change in 6 months if a manufacturer changes production sites or methods . I am as frustrated/confused as you but right now I think we need more data .
Good point. Definitely good to look at every filter and see where it's built. I **think** (not at all sure) from reading that that their automotive filters are built in the Hastings facility in Kearny, Nebraska. Regarding the other countries -- my read of it is that they are still Baldwin production facilities in those countries -- meaning that Baldwin controls all of the manufacturing as apposed to outsourcing it to a third party company they don't control.
I'm very happy to be corrected on any of the above if wrong.
Good point. Definitely good to look at every filter and see where it's built. I **think** (not at all sure) from reading that that their automotive filters are built in the Hastings facility in Kearny, Nebraska. Regarding the other countries -- my read of it is that they are still Baldwin production facilities in those countries -- meaning that Baldwin controls all of the manufacturing as apposed to outsourcing it to a third party company they don't control.
I'm very happy to be corrected on any of the above if wrong.
Just bought a Baldwin BT223 (1348 equivalent) off of Amazon last week. It's marked Made in USA on the box. It's built like a tank.
Rut roh. I just did a change and noticed that the Wix 51042 that I removed had the oblong holes. The sticker had fallen off due to some oil weeping from the LN adapter, which I’ve now removed, cleaned, and reinstalled. The filter was purchased from Amazon and was USA made though.
The new Wix 51042 that I installed has the normal round holes, it was also purchased from Amazon, and is also USA made.
Rut roh. I just did a change and noticed that the Wix 51042 that I removed had the oblong holes. The sticker had fallen off due to some oil weeping from the LN adapter, which I’ve now removed, cleaned, and reinstalled. The filter was purchased from Amazon and was USA made though.
The fact that some US-made filters also have the oblong holes kind of suggests that Napa intentionally changed the design, versus the change being due to the China manufacturer deciding to build it differently. That thickens the plot a bit, I'd think. It doesn't seem like it would be cheaper to do the oblong holes -- I wonder if Napa believes oblong is an improved design.
peterp, it is curious because in order to punch an oblong hole, the die on the other side has to be lined up just right. For a round punch, the die doesn't have to align, so it would seem to be a least a more precise (which means more $) operation to punch an oblong shape. But yes, you can get a round punch or an oblong punch and die set off the shelf from lots of suppliers like Cleveland Steel Tool.