2 WIX 57060 Filters, Different Construction

[doitmyself]

I bought 2 NAPA Golds 7060 (WIX 5760) and when I got home, I saw that they are not identical.

First surprise: they have dome end bypass valves.

Second surprise: They have different base plates (one stamped with numbers, other is bare.

Third: The bypass valves are different design. "A" has the visible protective "cap" similar to a Purolator. "B" is a plastic/metal spring deal similar to a Fram ultra, but it almost looks like it is installed upside down (spring visible thru center hole).


I already installed "B" before looking at the second to discover this.

Whats up! I am investigating. WIX customer service said to contact NAPA/WIX regional rep.

 

[doitmyself]

O.K. I'm glad no one responded. Nothing to discuss here. Ignore everything above.

I went down to my local NAPA that actually has good staff. We looked at a half dozen of the filters to see they all had the "new" bypass design.

He called WIX and talked to a "real" tech person, who pulled up a blueprint that indicated a design change.

Story closed.

 

[Kuato]

Interesting...thanks.

 

[jhellwig]

That is a chevy application and shouldn't have a bypass valve. I don't think. All though, I have a case of those and it looks like there is a spring in the dome end.

 

[doitmyself]

Especially ignore my comment: " "B" is a plastic/metal spring deal similar to a Fram ultra, but it almost looks like it is installed upside down (spring visible thru center hole). "

Figment of my OCD imagination. Nothing similar, except their location.

I was told that even the Platimum version of this filter has the dome end bypass. An interesting change from their self proclaimed superior front end/baseplate bypass.

 

[KCJeep]

I'm officially confused.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
I'm officially confused.

I am good at that.
- Bought 2 "identical" NAPA Golds.
- Saw they had different dome end bypass construction.
- Wondered if one was mfg. defect, counterfit,etc..
- Learned that it was a mfg. design change.
- Was surprised to find dome end, button bypass on Wix.

 

[Caliberguy]

i have dome end bypass on Wix-made AutoExtra 618-57060 and Parts Master 67060 filters i bought. My napa pro select 27060 and carquest red have metal thread end bypass valve. I have 6 napa gold 7060- five have the metal thread end bypass but two have the silicone combovalve grommet bypass valve.

am very confused. but i have never seen dome end bypass on the Wix 57060 and thought the up-front thread end bypass was superior?

 

[doitmyself]

A tech that I talked to did imply that at one time the 57060 was a thread end bypass, then changed to dome end, with now a change in the dome end design.

 

[KCJeep]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Originally Posted By: KCJeep
I'm officially confused.

I am good at that.
- Bought 2 "identical" NAPA Golds.
- Saw they had different dome end bypass construction.
- Wondered if one was mfg. defect, counterfit,etc..
- Learned that it was a mfg. design change.
- Was surprised to find dome end, button bypass on Wix.



10-4!

Product transition then, makes sense others have made some similar comments. I'd personally rather have a Wix dome end bypass that works as opposed to one of their thread end bypasses that doesn't. I've been through several Napa Gold silicone ADBV/thread end bypass filters that wouldn't seal at all. Who cares about the bypass if the ADBV won't work because of it? Then again I just picked up a Napa Silver FL-400s equivalent for my son's Ranger, and it has a nitrile ADBV and apparently the same Motorcraft style thread end bypass arrangement but it seals great.

I think there is a reason Wix is moving away from their Motorcraft style thread end bypass, it cost's more and they can't get it to work right anyway. JMO.

I also plan to test their new combo valve which is essentially a thread end bypass... if it works right that is. I don't think the combo valve is being used on any Golds though, just Pro-Selects and Silvers as far as I know.

 

[jhellwig]

Originally Posted By: jhellwig
That is a chevy application and shouldn't have a bypass valve. I don't think. All though, I have a case of those and it looks like there is a spring in the dome end.


Please ignore my comment. I was wrong.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Filter manufactures change designs all the time and keep the same filter part number because they are interchangeable in use with the old design.

Technically, it a true "configuration management world", the part number should change ... but that would confuse the consumer and require all the application documentation to be changed which is costly. So they just keep the same p/n when they made a design change just to make life simpler I guess.

 

[BEETLE]

Sometimes it differs from the country of origin where the oil filter was made. I used to have an '85 BMW 318i. The German made Bosch oil filter for that particular vehicle is very different from the US made Bosch oil filter in terms of design & construction. Both filter works fine though for that Bimmer.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Filter manufactures change designs all the time and keep the same filter part number because they are interchangeable in use with the old design....

True that, and Wix/NG has been transitioning some filter designs recently. As an example, the Napa Gold 1356 with silicone adbv and thread end bypass that used to be spec for Hondas (7317/14610) changed base plate geometry and came out with a new filter for those applications, now it's the 7356.

When NG 7356 first came out it had a nitrile adbv and dome end bypass. Later Wix/NG upgraded the 7356 to a silicone adbv but maintained the dome end bypass, I have one those in my stash now so I can confirm that. But, I recently had a chance to observe the centertube of an even newer 7356 but it now has thread end bypass and silicone adbv. So, it's back to the same bypass and adbv configuration as the original NG 1356.

Based on these changes it seems that Wix/NG is trying to maintain it's traditional thread end bypass and silicone adbv, though it may take awhile with a new filter application. Can't say if this is what the OP experienced but it could be something similar.

As for the Napa Platinum synthetic, all those started with and I expect to stay as dome end bypass. I suspect the added space for the element and increased media area with dome end bypass is a big factor in that decision, though there may be other reasons based on synthetic media characteristics.