This 51515 (FL1A) sized Napa Pro Select was on one of my Land Cruisers (the '93) for a 3 month, 3210 mile OCI. Fill was Castrol GTX dino 10W-30. I cut this used filter open primarilly to be able to compare it to the also Wix manufactured "Auto Extra" that I just posted pics of here.
Well, I've read posts about brittle media in the entry level Wix made filters, but I usually use other brands (Puro, Motorcraft, Hastings), so I never personally experienced it before this. Well, I was pretty surprised to see this...
This failure scenario had been brought up previously in this thread, but no photos were ever produced of the claimed multiple failures. I have cut open a LOT of filters both new and used before, and I have never felt such brittle media as in this filter. After I took the pics of the torn media, I literally could just poke my finger completely through the media...anywhere. It tore ridiculously easily. I even wanted to give the filter the benefit of the doubt and thought that somehow my cutting tool caught the media....but the tear is on the closed end side of the filter, completely away from the end that got cut open.
Again, I know this brittle media in certain lower end Wix made filters has been brought up before, and the consensus is that yes, it is brittle, but it stays intact when in use. That may be generally true, but it was not in this particular case. If this media's (for lack of a better word) "delicateness", is not an anomaly, I don't understand how this media that either is or becomes brittle can be acceptable. Isn't an engine just too hostile an environment with severe temperature fluctuations, vibration, and the pressure of the oil system for even the possibility of fragile filter media?
I don't completely know what to make of this because of the Auto Extra filter previously mentioned that I also cut open today. That filter seems to be almost identical to this one, and in new unused form, the media feels fine. I guess I am interested in hearing the thoughts of those on this great forum...
Well, I've read posts about brittle media in the entry level Wix made filters, but I usually use other brands (Puro, Motorcraft, Hastings), so I never personally experienced it before this. Well, I was pretty surprised to see this...
This failure scenario had been brought up previously in this thread, but no photos were ever produced of the claimed multiple failures. I have cut open a LOT of filters both new and used before, and I have never felt such brittle media as in this filter. After I took the pics of the torn media, I literally could just poke my finger completely through the media...anywhere. It tore ridiculously easily. I even wanted to give the filter the benefit of the doubt and thought that somehow my cutting tool caught the media....but the tear is on the closed end side of the filter, completely away from the end that got cut open.
Again, I know this brittle media in certain lower end Wix made filters has been brought up before, and the consensus is that yes, it is brittle, but it stays intact when in use. That may be generally true, but it was not in this particular case. If this media's (for lack of a better word) "delicateness", is not an anomaly, I don't understand how this media that either is or becomes brittle can be acceptable. Isn't an engine just too hostile an environment with severe temperature fluctuations, vibration, and the pressure of the oil system for even the possibility of fragile filter media?
I don't completely know what to make of this because of the Auto Extra filter previously mentioned that I also cut open today. That filter seems to be almost identical to this one, and in new unused form, the media feels fine. I guess I am interested in hearing the thoughts of those on this great forum...
