Defective??? Wix WL10332 with closed/nearly closed louvers

[FlyNavyP3]

Purchased 3 Wix WL10332 filters from Rock Auto along with some other parts, intention was to use them on a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. However upon inspection all 3 filters have louvers that are not open enough for me to feel comfortable installing the filters. Provided pictures to Rock Auto and awaiting a response, not sure if I will have to return them or not. But, if I get to keep them I will cut them open and share with the group. If you're running this number filter or the Napa Gold Equivalent 100332 I would recommend that you check that you don't have the same issue.

All 3 are date coded 5/24/24 with time stamps of 15:49:50 15:49;51 and 15:50:49, so they all rolled down the line together, perhaps the louver die was just set too shallow this day?

Cheers all.

Luke

 

[Nukeman7]

No way I would use those filters...the louvers are almost completely closed. Clearly still poor quality control issues at Mann-Hummel.

 

[I<3oil]

Welcome to Wix

 

[Glenda W.]

Yikes. Good catch. Need to inspect every filter before use.

 

[FlyNavyP3]

Reminds me of why I stayed away from Purolator and then other Mann Hummel products, I guess they've ruined Wix now too. Before the merger, Wix almost exclusively ran a perforated center tube, when it was louvers, they were well formed and open. Shame, I purchased Genuine Toyota filters instead, they might be less efficient according to older studies, but at least they won't be in bypass 100% of the time like these Wix filters would.

 

[fantastic]

Not good

 

[Vercingetorix]

Canisters for the win!

 

[Propflux01]

Mann-Hummel used to be one of the shiznits for filters. I wonder what happened?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Baldwin (and also Hastings when they used that name) have a better louver design where this never happens. Rock Auto still lists them as Hastings, but you will probably get a Baldwin (with a snazzy red can).

So, consider Baldwin, or a different brand that still uses round holes. Beck/Arnley, Denso, Full (if you can still get one), or even the Chinese filters (Premium Guard, Ecogard, Pronto, etc). Of course, there's still Fram 4967 (or better yet, the longer 4386)

And why did Wix switch to a different part number for the new hybrids? What's wrong with using the 57145?

 

[Rand]

I checked my 2 new fram ultra 10060's
one is great the other is about 60% opened- but not great.

 

[Sayjac]

Could be. Small filter, like to see the louvers with the media removed, perhaps flashlight taken them. That said, based on 'what I can see pics' likely wouldn't be comfortable either. The one anecdote of topic filter I see posted here before shows 'hecho en Mexico'. 'If' that is the case here, based on recent filter c&ps that is a significant negative for louver formation and construction overall. Bosch Premium is an excellent example of that, US made were excellent. Current Mexico coo, no bueno.

 

[Kira]

Inaccuracies in depth-of-cut effects filter media. Roller and knife depths have to be thoughtfully adjusted to varying materials.
This doesn't happen sometimes.
Looks like the louver roller wasn't set deeply enough.

It appears that bad filters can come down the line anytime for any reason.
That alone is a good argument for more frequent oil changes as you'd be limiting the time a less effective OCI could damage your engine.

 

[FlyNavyP3]

Could be. Small filter, like to see the louvers with the media removed, perhaps flashlight taken them. That said, based on 'what I can see pics' likely wouldn't be comfortable either. The one anecdote of topic filter I see posted here before shows 'hecho en Mexico'. 'If' that is the case here, based on recent filter c&ps that is a significant negative for louver formation and construction overall. Bosch Premium is an excellent example of that, US made were excellent. Current Mexico coo, no bueno.

COO is in fact Mexico.

 

[Reloader59]

Purolators are fine, I have many and show no closed louvers. Different factory and country where the WIX are made. Those louvers are quite terrible. definitely wouldn't use it.

 

[Chris142]

Looks like the louvers are now the filter media

 

[bullwinkle]

It’ll be interesting to see what RA does… I’m not a big fan of what Mann has done to Wix, would be good to see it cut open & lit up with no media to see if ALL the louvers are unopened!

 

[Corollaman]

After seeing lots of closed louvers pics on different oil filters I honestly try to avoid any filters that use louvers.

 

[I<3oil]

Welcome to Wix

Lmao @ @RoadDukie angry reacting to the truth

 

[dkryan]

Inaccuracies in depth-of-cut effects filter media. Roller and knife depths have to be thoughtfully adjusted to varying materials.
This doesn't happen sometimes.
Looks like the louver roller wasn't set deeply enough.

It appears that bad filters can come down the line anytime for any reason.
That alone is a good argument for more frequent oil changes as you'd be limiting the time a less effective OCI could damage your engine.

Personally, I believe it’s a poorly constructed OIL FILTER that could potentially damage your engine………..as opposed to a “less effective OCI….”

And it seems like it’s a crapshoot nowadays when it comes to finding a consistently built quality oil filter one can rely on…….especially for extended OCIs…

 

[Fair enough]

I returned a Bosch Premium last year about the same. Some other poor diy’er probably bought it and ran it. Maybe the other side is open isn’t good enough.
Fram has them now, what a not great decision. The Purolators and Frams I bought this year are all opened ok.