Affinia/WIX Filter,Disappointed

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I have a 1993 RAM truck with the 5.2 engine.I have only had it a few months and had the oil changed at my mechanics shop for its first change after getting it.When it was changed,an Affinia/WIX filter was put on it.Now,about 4K miles later,I changed the oil today and cut open the filter just after changing it.I wanted to see if there was anything in the filter to worry about since it was the first change since getting it.I was disappointed in the filter material used.It was I guess what you would call brittle.The rest of the filter seemed to be ok but the element itself was not what I would want in a filter.I plan on staying away from these filters after this.Has anyone else had a bad Affinia/WIX filter?
 
The only issues I have had with Wix filters is that despite using the recommended filter size, I have always had to add more oil than the listed capacity. For some reason, their filters are slightly larger than they should be. Aside from that, I have not had any issues. Then again, I do not cut open my filters either.
 
I have used Affina/WIX filters before not this one and this is the first I have cut open.The element was just a brittle or crackly(if that is a word)type material.It just didnt seem like a good type of filter material,it was maybe kind of hard.I may look at it again and try to get a bettet feel for it.I didnt like it though and unless there is some reason,I think I will avoid these filters.
 
Every Napa Gold (Wix) I've cut open feels like that. Generally, they're held with high esteem here, especially on construction and flow properties.
 
Originally Posted By: motorguy222
I have a 1993 RAM truck with the 5.2 engine.I have only had it a few months and had the oil changed at my mechanics shop for its first change after getting it.When it was changed,an Affinia/WIX filter was put on it.Now,about 4K miles later,I changed the oil today and cut open the filter just after changing it.I wanted to see if there was anything in the filter to worry about since it was the first change since getting it.I was disappointed in the filter material used.It was I guess what you would call brittle.The rest of the filter seemed to be ok but the element itself was not what I would want in a filter.I plan on staying away from these filters after this.Has anyone else had a bad Affinia/WIX filter?

Most of the top- line Wix filters are using a glass/cellulose blend in them. The glass makes them stiff and breakable. Not an issue unless you are playing with the guts of one.
 
Was this filter a Napa (proselect) or Carquest (RED)oil filter, or other brand ? The Napa(proselect) & Carquest(RED)
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use a diffent filter media from the "REGULAR WIX" which are the same as Napa (GOLD)& Carquest (BLUE) oil filters.
 
It was a filter from Auto Value Auto Parts,it was made by Affinia.It was made like a regular WIX with the metal end caps on the element and the spring in the filter dome.The filter media just seemed to be brittle and would kind of crunch when you pressed on it.

It also seemed to restrict oil flow,I am now using the Super Tech8A version of the filter from Wal Mart and so far,it seems to be doing much better.The Super Tech filter is bigger than the stock filter but not by a big amount.
 
The NAPA Gold filters for the Honda were "Hecho in Mexico". They still weighed ~8 oz each, and were the heftiest filters I've ever seen for that car. I could see the bypass spring in the can. Likely still better than the rebadged Fram that is Honda OEM, and recommended for ~20k miles of use (change every second oil change).
 
I have used and dissected the Auto Value, Wix made filter.
They appear to be the same as a Napa Pro Select.
The ones I have cut open looked well made, and I wouldn't hesitate to run one.
 
Maybe the one I got was old.I have used the Auto Value filters on a different vehicle and they seemed to do ok but I never cut one of them open.Maybe it was just a bad filter.I may try one again at a later OCI.
 
Quote:
It was a filter from Auto Value Auto Parts,it was made by Affinia.It was made like a regular WIX with the metal end caps on the element and the spring in the filter dome.The filter media just seemed to be brittle and would kind of crunch when you pressed on it.


Okay ..we got the brittle part
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So far we only know that Wix made it. We don't know if it's a WIX® filter. If it's anything except a WIX®, CQ Blue, NAPA Gold ..then it is NOT a WIX® ..it is a "made by Wix filter" for others.

Quote:
It also seemed to restrict oil flow


How do I say this without sounding critical
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How do you know this to be true? Or rather, what makes it "seem" to be so?
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Hey Gary,the web site says that the filter is a WIX.If you want to tell Auto Value that it isnt a WIX,that is up to you but the site says it is.

As far as the filter restricting oil,the engine sounds that were made with the filter are not there like they were with the new Super Tech filter,it seems to be doing better.
 
Originally Posted By: motorguy222
Hey Gary,the web site says that the filter is a WIX.If you want to tell Auto Value that it isnt a WIX,that is up to you but the site says it is.

As far as the filter restricting oil,the engine sounds that were made with the filter are not there like they were with the new Super Tech filter,it seems to be doing better.


Can you link me to the web site? If it just indicates that it's from Affina and that Affina has WIX as a name brand, then it doesn't mean that the filter with Affina on the can is a WIX® filter. It would be like saying that your Super Tech is an M1 since Champ produced both ..except the view would be inverted/reversed.

If the noise is start up rattle, then it probably means that you've got a nitrile ADBV and it fatigued. This would sorta be further evidence that it's not a WIX that we're talking about, since all automotive apps (that I'm aware of) have a silicone ADBV.

Now if the noise lingers for a protracted amount of time, then it's some design characteristic of the engine or a condition. If the Super Tech doesn't show it now, it should at some point if left in service long enough.

..and was this just ONE instance of the noise with the AutoValue filter?

I'm not arguing with you ..I know it's very hard to keep that in mind.
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Gary,go to atovalue.com and look for a filter to fit your vehicle.When the filter comes up,it says:Partsmaster/WIX for the filters.Partsmaster is their house name and it is combined on the site and says WIX beside the Partsmaster name.The website never mentions the Affinia name,only WIX.The filter says Affinia on it but the site says WIX.

The noise is not at start up and it only got worse the longer the Affinia/WIX was on.I have only used the Affinia/WIX on this vehicle this one time,I have used them a couple of times on another car and they seemed to do ok.I thought that they might do ok on this vehicle also.This is the first time I have had any known problems with the Affinai/WIX,I may have just got a bad filter.I do like WIX and may try the Affinia again,just have to wait and see.

I have not had the vehicle in question very long but the noise did seem to get worse the longer the filter was on.
 
If it's a Parts Master filter, then the shell, and everything inside is the same as a Wix, EXCEPT the media. This info comes from my friend who works as a route sales guy for an local Auto Value store, who toured the Wix plant in Gastonia as part of his product training. The parts master number for that engine would be a 61085, the Wix number is 51085. Again, NOT an actual Wix filter, close but not the real deal.

NAPA sells their Gold line that is a re-badged Wix and their number is 1085. If you get their Pro-Select line, then the number is 21085 and I'd imagine they're the same as the Auto Value line.
 
Yeah. The WIX® filter is listed below. The PartsMaster filter made for PartsMaster (just like anything other than the NAPA Gold or QC Blue) by Wix.

It's a hard distinction for some to see. It's made to some level at or slightly above OEM specs. Most WIX tend to exceed OEM spec's since most OEM do not specify a silicone ADBV. The price will generally tell you the difference.


But, I would suspect you got a defective filter. One swallow does not the summer make. Even our all time beat down poster boy ...Fram's orange can ..has more successes than failures.
 
The ADBV is black.I didnt pay much attention to it,it is probably nitrile,like I said,I didnt pay much attention to it.I have not heard of a black silicone valve with WIX.

As Gary said,I may have got a bad filter.I may try them again later.When you think you got a bad filter,you get kind of leery about using them again.The filter looked well made with uniform pleats but I seemed to have been getting restricted flow.
 
Then it wasn't a true Wix Premium filter.
In my opinion, find a filter you are comfortable using and stick with it. One filter that may work well for some may not be the best choice for others.
 
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