Spokane Valley-based manufacturer Baxter Performance LLC has expanded its automotive oil filter adapter line to serve Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, Ford, General Motors, and Subaru models.

Kevin Baxter, president of the aftermarket adapters, says, “The mainstay of our business is converting cartridge oil filter systems to spin-on oil filters with our adapter,” Baxter says.

With the expanded line, the company is poised for exponential growth, he claims.

“This is going to take us to another level,” Baxter says.

Baxter says cartridge oil filters are typically more environmentally friendly, but often don’t retain filtered oil after the engine is shut down.

“Most engine wear occurs when you first start the engine,” Baxter says. “The oil needs to be delivered to the critical wear components as fast as possible to mitigate that wear condition.”

Spin-on filters are made with an anti-drain back valve, meaning oil is retained in the engine and less time is required for oil to circulate, he says.

Baxter and a couple of silent partners started the company in 2015 after identifying a need for an oil filter adapter for Toyota engines, which typically used cartridge filters. He claims that after about 30,000 miles, Toyota engines would develop a problem called a valve train rattle.

“We now find that Toyota is actually transitioning back to spin-on filters. You can’t even get a Toyota Corolla or a Prius now with a cartridge,” Baxter says. “They went back to spin-on filters because they were obviously aware of this condition.”

The company has transitioned into producing aftermarket oil filter adapters for other car makes, including some Volkswagen, Lexus, Dodge, and Jeep models.

Baxter says all of the company’s products are manufactured by machining companies in the U.S., many of which are located in the Spokane area.

Baxter Performance, which has six employees, is located at 11616 E. Montgomery, in Spokane Valley.

The company has obtained two patents and has a third pending, Baxter says.

Baxter says the company recently gained notoriety after a YouTuber in the automotive community featured a Baxter Performance product and will soon receive more media exposure. 

“We’re going to be on MotorTrend television at the end of June, on a show called Truck U,” Baxter says. “It’s a show that explores and exploits aftermarket device’s data onto whatever vehicle they’re presenting at the time.”