First Oil Change at 600 miles - What I Found

[Donald]

I remember simple times NOT so long ago...
As just a few examples, My Harley branded OEM oil filter was once made with pride by Champion in York South Carolina, The York plant now closed a few years back and the most recent Harley OEM filter is now made by MAHLE produced in India.

A WIX filter ( NAPA GOLD once made by WIX, Nope NO more ) WIX was made with Pride in Gastonia NC, Best I can tell SOME WIX filters "MAY" still be made in Gastonia but WIX is now owned by MANN+ HUMMEL a German Company with GLOBAL Production.

And now I hear First Brands ( FRAM ) Files Chapter 11...

In 2025 Is it that hard to make a oil filter in the USA that can actually turn a profit?
Those folks who made those Filters in North and South Carolina were the very ones that used his / her paycheck to pay for his / her new New Harley!

You can probably make a profit making oil filters in the US but make a bigger profit making them in Mexico or overseas. If you are the CEO of a filter company you are looking to return maximum profit to shareholders.

 

[carl2591]

after going through covid and the supply chain issues in 20-21 22.. I only do oil change when i have EVERYThing in hand.. oil filters, and if needed crush washer. etc. I had a fumoto valve..

my 2003 7.3L ford needed a FL1995 motorcraft filter that was normally at most walmarts so I would get the 15qt of 15w40 oil Delo and the filter no problem.. oil was not really a problem most of the times but the ability to find the filter was getting tough.. at one point none of the MC for like 2 months but the Puralator and frams were most still on shelves.. when they started showing back up the prices SHOT from 9.95 to 29 buck.. OOMMGGG>> what a crack.. they are still costing around 27 bucks... from 10 to 27.. corp greed plain and simple..

as far as shipping estimates.. they are estimates.. at best.. most time accurate but that one time they will drop the ball.. DANG>.

I flushed the pan with 4 quarts of spare oil I had sitting around doing nothing and it came out with some glitter as well, so I put it to good use.

I had to order a Subaru filter and crush washer from Amazon yesterday as my dealer parts department seemed to think it was okay to close at 1pm on Saturdays - eeek. As I was waiting for it to arrive today, I had the car draining all day yesterday and a long time today, about 24 hours. The owner's manual stipulated that it took 5.3 quarts including the filter. I put in 5 quarts at first and it was at the bottom of the low level mark. I put in a 6th quart and it was just below the upper fill mark. I then put in about .25 quarts. In all I got 6.25 quarts into the engine, far more than I expected, glad that I had some spare bottles on hand. I don't know if the long drain caused me to get more oil out of it than what typically happens. I was so afraid to overfill it going by the specs, but the dipstick can't really lie ?

The new Amsoil 5w20 feels very smooth, pretty sure it has more viscosity than the factory fill 0w20, judging by feel and quiet smooth sensations on the initial drive.