Bad news for WIX oil filter fans?

Mystic · May 16, 2004

I have some possible bad news for the WIX oil filter fans. The oil filter element I checked out at CarQuest Auto Parts was labeled on the box as a WIX product but on the element itself on the top it is marked as being made in South Korea.

My car is an Ion with the Ecotec 2.2 engine. It takes an oil filter element rather then the traditional can with an element inside. I have been getting my oil changes at the dealership to be safe and they only charge about 20 bucks for an oil change. The oil filter element at the dealership is apparently made in France and they charge eleven bucks for it!

I have been trying to find oil filter elements that will work that are less expensive. There are not many brands for oil filter elements available that I have been able to locate.

Well, the WIX oil filter element is made in South Korea. They are outsourcing some of their oil filter production, obviously. What this means for quality I don't know. The oil filter element at CarQuest looked okay.

I hate to even mention FRAM but I think I will check out their oil filter element and see what it looks like. I think FRAM makes an oil filter element that will work.

I feel very sorry about WIX. It was my favorite oil filter for quite a while. With production going to other countries lots of people will probably lose their jobs. Whether quality will suffer is unknown right now. If I have to pay eleven bucks at the dealership for an oil filter element I might as well get the oil changes there.

Thomas Pyrek · May 16, 2004

South Korea can make some very good products. At least, most of the Kumho performance and racing tires are high quality. When there is a problem, they work to correct it in a customer friendly manner, such as the Ecsta V710 race tire.

T-Keith · May 16, 2004

This is a relatively new filter. This style filter is also more popular outside the US. For that reason production started overseas as well. Trying to get the filter, most companies have purchased these filters from elsewhere. I would bet that with time this filter will come down in price and be made with the rest of the filters. This filter is the exception not the rule.

-T

mikep · May 17, 2004

I hope it is an isolated case but chances are if they are going to the trouble of arranging off-shore production it won't be for just one filter style.

TC · May 17, 2004

"This filter is the exception not the rule."

That was my thought exactly. Possibly due to the newness, uniqueness, or low volume of this particular filter, Wix simply decided to temporarily or permanently outsource it, rather than set up production jigs and the like for it. This might have no bearing on their other oil filter lines. It seems that more than a few air filters come out of South Korea these days, and well-made from what I've seen, so I wouldn't be too concerned about your Wix oil filter.

Bill Kapaun · May 17, 2004

"The Ecotec 2.2-liter, 4 cylinder engine is GM's first truly global engine, incorporating expert design input from around the world. Its versatile design affords FM the flexibility to meet the needs of drivers around the globe, enabling the Ecotec to become one of the highest volume engines in the world.

I guess it needs a "global" filter!

JohnBrowning · May 17, 2004

Baldwin also make a filter for the Ecotec.

Chris142 · May 17, 2004

It's not uncommon for a filter company to rebox filters untill they get their manufacturing stuff up and running.

I bought a Wix gas filter for my moms Kia. Inside the Wix box was a factory Kia filter.

Finklejag · May 18, 2004

Why don't you buy the same filter at a Chevy dealer for $5.25. I have a 03 SAAB 9-3 that uses the same Ecotec block and oil pan. SAAB charges $6.95 for the same filter. The GM and SAAB part numbers are the same. The filter is made by Hengst in Germany. Here is the part number.

12 579 143

labman · May 19, 2004

Try Purolator L 15436. Pep Boys' has them for $5-6. I recently found one at at local discount store for $4. A year ago, Wally's had the Fram PH 9018 for $8. didn't look bad for a Fram.

2 years ago, my insulting stealer was selling the made in France Purflux in an AC box for $8.

Mystic · May 19, 2004

Hey guys, thanks for all the tips! I will check with Chevy and with Purolator.

harrydog · May 20, 2004

What's wrong with the fact that it was made in South Korea?

Mystic · May 20, 2004

The fact that it is made in a foreign country does not necessarily mean that the quality will go down. The quality could even go up. But when products are 'outsourced' to other countries Americans lose jobs. And the quality can go down too. Some have said that oil filters made in Mexico do not have high quality.

Bror Jace · May 20, 2004

I'm with Chris142 and others who say they might be outsourcing a newer number or two.

This is a common practice in the parts business. It's difficult for an aftermarket supplier to have parts already made for cars which are brand new to the street. Much easier to find the one or two manufacturers (sometimes/often the OEM manufacturer) and buy a palletload pre-made just so you can more completely fill orders. After a year or so the manufacturer can decide if the economies involved justify tooling up for this particular application or whether they will continue to outsource as their expected volume will never amount to much.

I worked for a disc brake pad manufacturer and we had all sorts of stuff in our boxes ("Cantex"). Most domestics we riveted up ourself (this was about 15 years ago when riveted pads were common) but we had Mintex for many foreign makes ... and all sorts of odd bits for really obscure applications like English cars and even Textar for older Mercedes and Porsche models.

--- Bror Jace

darrenc · May 21, 2004

I’ve got almost the same filter on my Volvo. The S. Korea Wix model I recently used (normally use Mann or Volvo, made by Mann) filtered very effectively (as effectively as my German Mann’s did) in my most recent used oil analyses. The build quality seemed good too. Based on my experience, I have not complaints whatsoever with this filter.

harrydog · May 22, 2004

For what it's worth, I've noticed that the very best microfiber cloths available all seem to be made in S. Korea. This doesn't necessarily mean a thing, but my point is, S. Korea is capable of producing some very high quality things. As it relates to oil filters, I'd bet that the Koreans would manufacture a product of at least equal quality to what would come out of a US factory. And the quality might even be more consistant.
Korea seems to be at a point where Japan was about 25-30 years ago. They're trying to build a good reputation with consumers in the USA and elsewhere and are probably trying very hard to accomplish that.

Korean_redneck · May 25, 2004

I've always used Hyundai Geniune Parts and my car is running top knotch. My car and the maintenance parts are made in Korea.

Oh yeah, don't be fooled by my forum name, I have a weak a$$ 1990 Jeep Cherokee 2wd 2.5 4 banger at home with 90,000 miles. But I know that my next car is definitly going to be Hyundai.

kwnc · Jun 21, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Mystic:
I have some possible bad news for the WIX oil filter fans. The oil filter element I checked out at CarQuest Auto Parts was labeled on the box as a WIX product but on the element itself on the top it is marked as being made in South Korea.

My car is an Ion with the Ecotec 2.2 engine. It takes an oil filter element rather then the traditional can with an element inside. I have been getting my oil changes at the dealership to be safe and they only charge about 20 bucks for an oil change. The oil filter element at the dealership is apparently made in France and they charge eleven bucks for it!

I have been trying to find oil filter elements that will work that are less expensive. There are not many brands for oil filter elements available that I have been able to locate.

Well, the WIX oil filter element is made in South Korea. They are outsourcing some of their oil filter production, obviously. What this means for quality I don't know. The oil filter element at CarQuest looked okay.

I hate to even mention FRAM but I think I will check out their oil filter element and see what it looks like. I think FRAM makes an oil filter element that will work.

I feel very sorry about WIX. It was my favorite oil filter for quite a while. With production going to other countries lots of people will probably lose their jobs. Whether quality will suffer is unknown right now. If I have to pay eleven bucks at the dealership for an oil filter element I might as well get the oil changes there.

kwnc · Jun 21, 2004

My name is Keith Wilson and I'm the vice president and general manager for Wix operations. I recently read your memo that talked about your cartridge filter for your Ion Ecotec 2.2 engine.

We manufacture the vast majority of our filters; however, we also outsource a small portion of our product offering in order to fill-out our line. As with all Wix product, we verify and approve all of the filters we carry in our line. As a global supplier, we utilize our manufacturing capabilities globally to maximize asset utilization.

Each and every Wix filter goes through extensive testing before it is sold under the Wix, NAPA or CARQUEST brands. Be assured if it is a Wix product, it is the very best product in the world.

I appreciate your comments and welcome any ideas you have that will allow us to continue to earn your business.

slalom44 · Jun 21, 2004

Wow! It's great to know that we're being monitored by the top brass at Wix. Thanks for the reply, Keith. A quick response like yours does a great deal to eliminate bad rumors that tend to take on a life of their own.

It doesn't surprise me that a quality manufacturer would be "taking the pulse" of the public. It's probably one of the reasons Wix has such a good reputation. Too bad Fram hasn't figured that out.

By the way, Keith - I'd like to thank you for having such a good website. The info you provide on the specifications for your filters is extremely helpful when choosing a filter.

Bad news for WIX oil filter fans?

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