Photon 404 oil and fuel filter

That depends on exactly which engine you have and what year it is.  Though you're likely to find that the better quality American made filters cost more than you expect, too.  Diesel filters are built differently than automotive filters. 

I just buy OEM filters from the dealers who advertise here.   Since they provide so much free advice here, I think they're entitled to my business even if they are a couple bucks more than AutoZone or whoever.

Hi Toby, welcome.

Toilet paper is around $.75/roll.

Remember these?

Why would you want to filter your toilet paper, Bob?  I just toss mine when it's dirty.  Maybe it's a regional thing. 

I had one of those on an old 54 DeSoto when I was in high school or college, but I wouldn't ever put one on my tractor.  I prefer a filter assembly with a proper internal bypass valve and filter media that's  approved by the engine manufacturer.  The Chinese, thrifty as they are, don't supply toilet paper with their tractors so I don't use it – well, at least not for my tractor. 

Their technology has improved a lot over the years and they are now probably equivalent to a Luberfiner. Since they are only an auxilliary partial-flow filter they can't do much harm. I made reference to them because of Toby's “OUTRAGEOUS” price remark. Toby has never been filter shopping at a Cat dealer, obviously, nor is aware of the advantages of a high quality oil filter.

I agree with you Bob, if they are used as an auxiliary partial-flow filter.  What I see as the problem is that they seem to be presented as an alternative to standard full-flow filtration, aimed only at saving short-term money at the expense of an engine.  Personally, I think $18-25 is pretty cheap insurance against a trashed engine and I'm sincerely glad that I don't have to pay what Cat or Cummins would charge for a filter.  And when you get to the filters for those gigantic monsters that drive ships and huge mining equipment and such, I'll bet the equipment owners are still happy enough to pay hundreds of bucks for filters to save hundreds of thousands in repair costs.

I remember as a kid seeing advertisements for “secret” methods whereby you could re-use old oil to save even more money.  Another false economy.  I guess a lot of it comes down to how much you care about equipment and want it to have a long service life.  I'm cheap and don't want to have to replace the big ticket items so I spend the money on the little stuff to preserve my investments.  That may be why I can get 300,000 miles service from my car engines and thousands of hours from even a little over-worked lawn tractor B&S engine.  I can afford a number of filters and gallons of oil much more easily than I can afford to replace an engine costing thousands, to say nothing of how much easier it is to change a filter than to change an engine. (smile)

I wonder if the same parsimony would come into play if we were talking about say, a kidney dialysis filter?  When it comes to our own precious bodily fluids I doubt we'd be cheap enough to want to use a discount house filter, but a lot of people seem to feel it reasonable when they're talking about their equipment's precious bodily fluids.  But then, a lot of people gobble down Hostess Twinkies and McDonald's burgers without a thought, so maybe they would opt to get their dialysis filters from WalMart.

toby61, I hope your not taking some remarks to much to heart, the guys here have great info, and wisdom too based on knowledge and most importantly BEEN THEIR DONE THAT ALREADY!

We all appreciate and help each other, even with many different online personalities at play! Just wanted you to know your info and questions are appreciated.   <--- and if you see these they sometimes let you know if a post is meant to be on the lighter side too...

Toby, first of all welcome to CTOA. I have a Jinma tractor and the dealer I got it from (Keno Tractors) provided me with a crossover list. He doesn't sell Futon tractors or I would have sent you his way for part numbers. I re-cross referenced the Wix numbers over to Purolator as I can get those for less. Last year when picking one up the store I get them from had my oil filter size on sale for $1.00 for the top of the line filter. I bought 10 of them  . Wix are good filters, all Napa filters are made by Wix, but my local Napa store thinks everything they sell is gold plated even though I have an account with them The Futons are not as common as Jinmas, anything you have a question about click on the dealers link at the top of the page and you will find Futon dealers that will help with Futon specific questions. Good luck with your tree farm, 50 acres is a good size hobby. 

Toby,

My apologies, no offense was meant, but full use of caps, as you know, is considered shouting, offensive, and aggressive behaviour by Internet protocol and etiquette standards.

I spend over $4,000.00 of taxpayer money annually on just air filters alone to keep a $4m diesel-electric propulsion system humming along, so yes, I know cost-conscious very well but balance that with quality and efficiency. I also manage an associated 720 computer network.

Toby,

If you have any numbers off of your current filters send them on to me.  I can probably cross them over.  Feel free to send them to larry@cooljohnsons.com

Thanks

Larry

Toby

 Does Rural King still sell tractors? Last I knew they didn't have any sitting around. I'm not suprised, as their mechanics lacked knowledge of their product. I managed to get some oil filters thru Granger, a little better price, but don't know about the quality, I think they are Baldwin, not sure about the number. I have the C490BT engine in mine, so I doubt that the number would help you.

We keep hundreds of Filters for the Jinma & Foton tractors in stock, also filter heads to convert them from the cartridge filters or canister filters to screw ons

Tommy

Affordable Tractor Sales

“Your Jinma Parts Superstore”

http://www.affordabletractorsalesco.com

Toby, if you don't find a cross we carry all the chinese made tractor filters in stock, you can go to our online store and take a look at your filter. http://www.circlegtractorparts.com

Phillip Gooch

Circle G Tractor Sales, Inc.

662-252-5272