Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic
I didn't like the Denso First Time Fit air filter for my Vibe (Toyota 1.8 engine). This is an all-fiber filter that is pressed or molded into shape. Some of the sealing suface was irregular and looked like it wouldn't fit right the first time.
That model is definitely not the same as the OEM filter, which was marked both Toyota and Denso. The AC Delco replacement was also a Toyota/Denso filter.
My complaint is really application-specific. In an application that has a gasket, I wouldn't hesitate to use a Denso.
Here is the original filter, clean side. The Denso aftermarket filter is fuzzier. The sealing surface isn't as smooth, and had some spots that seemed defectively fuzzy.
Denso recently switched their engine air filters to the FTF line, which is all-Chinese. They made the switch a couple years ago. Before that, Denso used to sell reboxed OEM air filters, same country of origin as OEM, and the line was called "OE Quality." Denso also changed the part numbers during the switch from OE Quality to FTF.
However, Denso's cabin filters are still the reboxed OE cabin filters.