Champ(Champion Labs) filter = made in China?

[nthach]

I ordered 2 Champ PH6607 equivalent filters from Rock to have on hand for a car I maintain along with two Mahle OC575s and a pack of Nissan-specific crush washers. I was expecting the usual Champ USA-made metal center tube/blue BPV "button" or an e-Core. Nope, what I got looked like similar build to a Chinese-made filter like a Premium Guard or Ecogard. Raw seam and the printed text on the dome end of the filter aren't what I expect for Champ-made filters.
Label - notice the seam - if it was made by Champion Labs, it would be a flat seam with the same powdercoat as the can:

Dome end - it doesn't say Product of USA/Producto de EUA and the serial number:

Baseplate, I didn't take a shot of the center tube and BPV, I didn't want to take the plastic off - which was also a giveaway that it was a Chinese filter.

And compared to a tiny Mahle OC575 I used for this Nissan. Mahle lists this for motorcycles too, probably why. It's the same size as a Hiflo Filtro HF202 or Fram PH6017A "motorcycle" filter for many Japanese bikes.

 

[mpgo4th]

Knock off? Not the first time members have posted getting filters from Rock Auto that were not what they wanted. Champ is still making there passenger car filters in Ohio as of last month so I'd say it's a Chinese clone. Heard of a Delco filter coming in labeled Delko from China before.

 

[wdn]

“In 2017, the company expanded its presence as a global supplier of quality filters by opening a facility in Shanghai, China.”

 

[wdn]

Since Champ owns and operates a factory in China there is no reason to believe this is a counterfeit or a knockoff. Since you bought in bulk packaging from Rock Auto there is no requirement for the item to be marked Made in China or any country of origin at all, as it would be for a consumer labeled carton with a filter in it. Rock Auto probably buys them by the pallet load or in huge cartons. I see no evidence of fake or knockoff.

 

[SEMI_287]

I had bought an Champ made STP Extended Life filter in Autozone last week made in China. Not a knock off, unfortunately. I bought a case of the Champ XL filters of Ebay for $37 shipped and the whole case was made in USA. Luck of the draw I guess.

 

[HighbrowHillbill]

Knock off? Not the first time members have posted getting filters from Rock Auto that were not what they wanted. Champ is still making there passenger car filters in Ohio as of last month so I'd say it's a Chinese clone. Heard of a Delco filter coming in labeled Delko from China before.

Whhaaaa? Rock Auto isn't safe? I just ordered 30k miles of maintenance items from them for my new 6.7L F350. SAY it ain't so.

So I have to become a detective to see if I got legit Motorcraft parts?

 

[Job]

I bet is is legit and the new version of it. Champ website doesn't seem to show a pic of it anymore, but Luberfiner does and it is the USA made version. I suspect it is a switch to a new country of manufacture for the Champ? It wouldbe made in their factory to their standards. I don't want to say it, but it looks pretty good.

 

[nthach]

I had bought an Champ made STP Extended Life filter in Autozone last week made in China. Not a knock off, unfortunately.

I’ve seen those - they say Leak Tested on the dome end of the can. This Chinese Champ has the part number and serial printed on the dome end.

 

[wdn]

Rock Auto is legit. You have one guy wildly speculating and then somebody else latches onto it. It is just the worst sort of unfounded gossip that has become so typical of here. Just a silly echo chamber. It’s already been established that Champion Labs opened a factory in China and makes filters there. That is on Champ. They also let themselves get bought out by a windshield wiper company earlier this year. None of this reflects on Rock Auto.

That particular filter happens to sell for $1.41 cents on Rock Auto, less than a cup of coffee. It is clearly marked as an Economy filter. It is also pictured there and looks just like what OP received and shows us here. I don’t know what people expect for one dollar.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I don’t know what people expect for one dollar.

 

[Job]

This filter could an Asian market filter, Rock auto does seem to find oddball stock. There were Fram Europe filters that were apparently made in France. It sort of makes sense to sell where you make and save the shipping costs.

 

[JTK]

Interesting. I recently mail ordered a box of a dozen Champ PF48 filters for my Ram for $32. They're regular run of the mill looking USA made E-cores.

 

[JC1]

Just run the filter. I'm sure it will be fine.

If not, cut it open and post some pics for us to enjoy.

 

[mpgo4th]

I had bought an Champ made STP Extended Life filter in Autozone last week made in China. Not a knock off, unfortunately. I bought a case of the Champ XL filters of Ebay for $37 shipped and the whole case was made in USA. Luck of the draw I guess.

STP extended life filters are made in China by Premium Guard. Champ is made in the US in Ohio. If you don’t agree, call them. I did

 

[mpgo4th]

Co

Whhaaaa? Rock Auto isn't safe? I just ordered 30k miles of maintenance items from them for my new 6.7L F350. SAY it ain't so.

So I have to become a detective to see if I got legit Motorcraft parts?
[/QUOT

Whhaaaa? Rock Auto isn't safe? I just ordered 30k miles of maintenance items from them for my new 6.7L F350. SAY it ain't so.

So I have to become a detective to see if I got legit Motorcraft parts?

Thats right. Go to YouTube and check out a channel called fordtecmakeuloco. He has a video dedicated to counterfeit Motorcraft parts. They are copied often. He shows examples of real and fake ones and how to spot it.

 

[mpgo4th]

I’ve seen those - they say Leak Tested on the dome end of the can. This Chinese Champ has the part number and serial printed on the dome end.

Not a Champ. It’s Premium Guard. Leak tested is a dead giveaway.

 

[PimTac]

Rock Auto is legit. You have one guy wildly speculating and then somebody else latches onto it. It is just the worst sort of unfounded gossip that has become so typical of here. Just a silly echo chamber. It’s already been established that Champion Labs opened a factory in China and makes filters there. That is on Champ. They also let themselves get bought out by a windshield wiper company earlier this year. None of this reflects on Rock Auto.

That particular filter happens to sell for $1.41 cents on Rock Auto, less than a cup of coffee. It is clearly marked as an Economy filter. It is also pictured there and looks just like what OP received and shows us here. I don’t know what people expect for one dollar.

Are you getting Champ and Fram mixed up? Fram was bought out by Trico.

 

[drtyler]

And they recently purchased Raybestos & Champ Labs.

https://www.tricoproducts.com/resou...and-champion-laboratories-inc-champ-labs.html

Are you getting Champ and Fram mixed up? Fram was bought out by Trico.

 

[wpod]

I won't buy Fram made in China filters or any other Made in China filter.

 

[PimTac]

And they recently purchased Raybestos & Champ Labs.

https://www.tricoproducts.com/resou...and-champion-laboratories-inc-champ-labs.html

That was quick. Probably planned ahead of time.