Ram/Cummins air filters not all the same

Thanks for the post; it is very informative.

I used to think that aftermarket filters were just fine but in the past few years I've seen so much to prove otherwise that I use only OEM filters throughout in both my Ram and my wife's Acura MDX. Yes, they are more expensive but the peace of mind is well worth it.

At the city I work at, a past fleet manager decided to save some money and switch from OEM filters to Wix. On one of our 2014 E-450 vans with the 5.4L, the end of the Wix oil filter blew off causing a massive oil leak. Luckily the driver at the time was on the ball and noticed the issue and shut the truck off before any damage occurred. Needless to say, we are back to Motorcraft filters. :)

My filterminder never has pulled down, since 2005. And I'm not sucking in unfilled air. Couple years ago I went about 4 years without changing air filter thinking everything is ok. Finally pulled filter and old filter had moss growing in air box. (Same area as you). Now I change filter every year. I use fg also. Where do you get your filters at? Cummins NW moved from Renton, pain to me where they are now

path1 wrote:
My filterminder never has pulled down, since 2005. And I'm not sucking in unfilled air. Couple years ago I went about 4 years without changing air filter thinking everything is ok. Finally pulled filter and old filter had moss growing in air box. (Same area as you). Now I change filter every year. I use fg also. Where do you get your filters at? Cummins NW moved from Renton, pain to me where they are now

Moss? never seen that LOL!
My buddy pulled the filter out of his 06 Ram/Cummins and found a huge rats nest though. Good thing they have that metal screen on them!

Told him his cat would probably get plugged up with half burned rat poo :B

I got my are filter through Amazon. Dirty buggers always seem to have the lowest price.
All my other filters (Fleetguard) I got from Geno's Garage.

ScottG wrote:

path1 wrote:
My filterminder never has pulled down, since 2005. And I'm not sucking in unfilled air. Couple years ago I went about 4 years without changing air filter thinking everything is ok. Finally pulled filter and old filter had moss growing in air box. (Same area as you). Now I change filter every year. I use fg also. Where do you get your filters at? Cummins NW moved from Renton, pain to me where they are now

Moss? never seen that LOL!
My buddy pulled the filter out of his 06 Ram/Cummins and found a huge rats nest though. Good thing they have that metal screen on them!

Told him his cat would probably get plugged up with half burned rat poo :B

I got my are filter through Amazon. Dirty buggers always seem to have the lowest price.
All my other filters (Fleetguard) I got from Geno's Garage.

I made a mistake. My air filter is six
Think I'll start buying fg for air also.

blofgren wrote:
Thanks for the post; it is very informative.

I used to think that aftermarket filters were just fine but in the past few years I've seen so much to prove otherwise that I use only OEM filters throughout in both my Ram and my wife's Acura MDX. Yes, they are more expensive but the peace of mind is well worth it.

At the city I work at, a past fleet manager decided to save some money and switch from OEM filters to Wix. On one of our 2014 E-450 vans with the 5.4L, the end of the Wix oil filter blew off causing a massive oil leak. Luckily the driver at the time was on the ball and noticed the issue and shut the truck off before any damage occurred. Needless to say, we are back to Motorcraft filters. :)

Interesting! I just had a Motorcraft filter fail causing a massive oil leak on my 1999 Ford Ranger. The Ford dealer who changed the oil sent a wrecker to have it taken back to their shop for repair. So it can and does happen to all brands.

Remember, that Motorcraft filter was probably actually manufactured by Purolator, Wix, or Fram.

Some interesting observations. Here is mine....

Not air filter related but oil filter related, 90% of the oil filters on the retail market today for auto related applications are like mouthwash. Most all are produced by a select few manufacturers who change can color and printing to satisify the a particular branding.

I used to deliver steel sheet to one in Cleveland, Ohio and stood there and watched the machines spit out filters in various colors with various brand names on them, all coming about with the same innards.

Far as filter failure, any and all can fail. The top is mechanically crimped to the case and if it's not crimped correctly, it can surely fail, no matter what brand it is.

Stick with FleetGuard/MOPAR filters as they are the same and TOP quality!!!

AMAZON is a great source.

Different brand, but same result. After cutting open various brands of fuel & oil filters I switched back to AC/Delco. What was, or wasn't inside is eye opening.

jaycocamprs wrote:
Different brand, but same result. After cutting open various brands of fuel & oil filters I switched back to AC/Delco. What was, or wasn't inside is eye opening.

I saw a post online (may have been here, can't remember) where someone did exactly that. And I agree, it was eye opening and also contributed to the reason I only use OEM as well!

If I am not mistaken, Fleetguard also makes this air filter for Donaldson and Baldwin so they are the same. These three manufacturers make a lot of filters for each other in the medium and heavy duty market. So saying one is the better than the others in certain with certain filters is a bit of an oxymoron since they are the same exact thing just painted a different color.

The Baldwin Channel Flow and Fleetguard's Direct Flow air filters are made by Donaldson's as their PowerCore filter line since they hold the patent on it. Baldwins High Velocity Dual Flow filters are made by Fleetguard since they hold the patent and are the exact same as their Stratapore/Venturi filter line. Baldwin's parent company, Racor, also makes certain fuel filters for Mopar like the primary fuel filter mounted on the chassis for 2013+ Ram CTD trucks.