When it comes to oil changes in a 5.9 Cummins, the second most important thing after using good quality synthetic engine oil is getting the right oil filter.
This is the key to maximizing engine life and performance. You definitely do not want to put any junk oil filters like FRAM in your 5.9 Cummins! Now, in a previous article, we’ve gone through the best engine oil for a 5.9 Cummins – make sure you check it out – but in this article, we’ll take a quick look at the 4 best oil filters for the 5.9 Cummins.
The 4 Best Oil Filters for 5.9 Cummins
 Advertising | Best Overall 1. Fleetguard LF16035 |
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 Advertising | Best Value 2. Mopar 5083285AA |
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 Advertising | 3. Baldwin BT7349 |
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 Advertising | 4. WIX Racing 57620XP |
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1. Fleetguard LF16035
Let’s start off with the best of the best – Fleetguard LF16035. In case you didn’t know, Fleetguard has been in the business for well over 50 years now, and it’s owned by Cummins Filtration. That right there should already be enough to convince you that this filter is a winner. If that’s not enough, then you’ll be pleased to know that the Fleetguard LF16035 has a very well-made filter material, which captures particles up to 30 microns in size. That’s about as low as you can go before filter media starts collapsing too early between oil changes.
Now, the filter material is fully synthetic and very malleable, as you can see from the video below. Even though the filter material is very flexible, it maintains structural stability even with many heat/cooling cycles and doesn’t become hard and brittle too fast. The relief spring also seems very strong and well-made.
The filter is on the pricey side, though, but it’s well worth it considering the fact it captures contaminants up to 30 microns in size. Because of that, the Fleetguard LF16035 is the best oil filter for the 5.9 Cummins.
2. Mopar 5083285AA
But what if you’re looking for something a bit cheaper? Well, the Mopar Oil Filter – 5083285AA is definitely one of the best options for you.
The filter media on the Mopar oil filter is very similar to that of the Fleetguard LF16035, though it’s not quite as malleable. That being said, it still does a great job at capturing contaminants up to 60 microns in size, so you don’t have to worry about any nasty surprises. Though that’s probably the reason why this filter is a bit cheaper – it catches particles up to 60 microns, which is good, but not as good as the Fleetguard’s 30 microns.
This exact oil filter is used by the dealer every single time they do an oil change in a 5.9 Cummins, so you know it’s good quality. And the price is definitely right, so this is a great option if you want something that’s good quality and not too expensive.
3. Baldwin BT7349
Next up we have the Baldwin BT7349. This is one of the most popular aftermarket filters for 5.9 Cummins, and for a good reason. Baldwin makes some CAT filters and also Donaldson filters – all in the same factory in Nebraska, so you can expect OEM quality and better. Furthermore, the filter media is made from cellulose and does a great job of capturing particles up to 30 microns in size.
The filter material is very sturdy, and the relief spring is pretty strong as well. Plus, it’s a bit cheaper than the Fleetguard LF16035 and offers a similar level of protection. So, if you’re looking for an oil filter that’s good quality, but also a bit cheaper than the Fleetguard, then this is definitely one to consider.
4. WIX Racing 57620XP
Finally, we have the WIX Racing 57620XP. This is the most expensive oil filter on the list, but it’s definitely worth every penny. The filter material on the WIX Racing 57620XP is made from synthetic media, and it does an amazing job of capturing particles up to 35 microns in size.
Now, that’s not quite as good as the Fleetguard LF16035, but it’s still very impressive. Plus, the filter material is well made and malleable, so it retains its structural integrity even after many heat/cooling cycles up to 10,000 miles. That’s a lot of mileage!
So, if you’re looking for an oil filter that offers great protection and is made from high-quality materials, then the WIX Racing 57620XP is definitely one to consider.
Why Choosing the Best Oil Filter for a 5.9 Cummins Is So Important
Now that we’ve gone over the 4 best quality oil filters, let’s quickly go over why it’s so important to run good quality filters in the first place. Have you cut open your used 5.9 Cummins oil filters before? If you have not, then I would highly advise you to do so. Not only is it a good idea to check for metal fragments between the filter media, but you’ll also be surprised by how well and how poorly some filters look after thousands of miles.
Good quality oil filters made by reputable manufacturers, such as CAT, Fleetguard, Baldwin, Wix, and Mopar stand up to the heat/cooling cycles much better and last longer. The filter material on good quality filters does not become hard and brittle; they maintain structural integrity and do not come loose. However, cheap oil filters use poor-quality filter material, which tears off at the edges and allows all of the nasty contaminants to pass through.
While it’s possible to run cheap oil filters on a 5.9 Cummins for a couple of thousand miles, you’ll be risking your engine’s health and performance in the process. So, it’s always best to invest in good quality oil filters for your engine. Let’s be real, oil filters already cost just a little bit over 10 bucks, so why not spend a few dollars more to get higher quality ones? It’s not worth risking your engine over five bucks.
What to Look for When Choosing an Oil Filter for a 5.9 Cummins
When it comes to choosing an oil filter for a 5.9 Cummins, there are a few key things to look for.
1. Manufacturer Reputation
First of all, you want to make sure that the filter is made by a reputable manufacturer. That doesn’t mean you have to go for the most expensive filters, but at the same time, you don’t want to buy the cheapest ones either. OEM oil filters are always a smart choice, but we also recommend Fleetguard, Baldwin, Wix, and Mopar.
2. Oil Filter Media
Next, you want to make sure that the filter media is made from good quality materials. The best filters are made from synthetic filter media, which is much more resistant to moisture, lasts longer, and can hold more contaminants than cellulose.
Now, cellulose filters are absolutely fine and they will do a great job of protecting your engine and catching contaminants, but if you have the opportunity, try to get synthetic filters.
3. Micron Rating
Finally, you want to make sure that the filter media is able to capture the smallest possible particles – ideally up to 30 microns in size. This will ensure that your engine is well-protected from any abrasive particles and other contaminants that can cause premature engine wear.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to oil changes in a 5.9 Cummins, it’s absolutely essential to use proper engine oil and filters. In this article, we’ve reviewed 4 of the best oil filters for the 5.9 Cummins, and we highly recommend any of them. But with that said, as long as you go with a reputable manufacturer, you should be perfectly fine. You don’t have to use the exact same filters.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading!
Eddie is the co-founder of CarCareCamp.com, and the site’s primary contributor.
Under his belt, Eddie has a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Electronics Engineering and almost a decade of experience working as a semi-truck technician (specializing in electrics).
