Hydraulic Oil Filter

[MuckSavage]

Looking down the road to some maintenance on my new log splitter I'm wondering about the oil filter (hydraulic oil) The splitter's a Harbor Freight 8 hp, 24 ton, w/ 11 gpm 2 stage pump. Would the Hydr. oil filter be specific, or can I just take the filter to my local auto parts store & match up a fram or purolater? (matching the threads & the o-ring/gasket size of course.)

 

[ourhouse]

If it has numbers on it your local parts store might be able to cross reference the numbers on it. If a parts store doesn't have it try a local equipment dealer (ie..John Deere, Cat, Komatsu, etc). Most parts stores can cross reference whether it be Fram, Wix, NAPA, MotorCraft, etc.

 

[kd460]

Make sure it has a filtration value of 2 microns or less, and stay away from fram, they use cardboard inside and that has been known to break up and clog things up. Quality control is poor. Buy a good Wix, Napa, Purolator, or Baldwin. Good reputation on those brands. Heck even STP and Walmart brand are better than the frams. Probably a metric thread.

A good equipment supply house should be able to match one up, even if they can't find the number on it, they could match the threads, but, you should know the flow rate when you go in (as you do at 11 gpm). Don't use an automotive filter, even if it is the same threads and size. They filter to about 10 microns, you need more like 2 microns for hydralic fluid. Change it on a regular basis, it is cheap insurance. I would change it out at a short interval for the first filter or two. The Harbor freight products are a nice price, but the quality control can be hit or miss as well. Good idea to get a good filter in there ASAP to help get rid of the "left overs" from the manufacturer.