The bottom line, regardless of how you want to define it, is that any filter brand can and most likely will at some point have some level of quality issues from some factor. Most issues are caused by manufacturing sloppiness ... few from actual design problems. One example of a design problem is when eCore center tubes first came out. They were being designed with big wide open windows, which if combined with non-uniform and tight pleat spacing could blow the media out right through an eCore window.Yes, I understood that at the time and don't disagree with any of it (then or now). Note that I dropped the argument in those earlier posts as I understood and agreed with your point and didn't want to take it further.
My = if a company has had problems in the past, the probability of a new bad example indicating a larger problem is higher.
You = Bayesian doesn't work here because there is a high likelihood that when people did the flashlight test, they didn't get the leaf spring lined up with the "set," which means that there may not have been a real failure.
Me (in my head) = Yeah, that could be true, so I'll let it go.
Just because one brand has a problem, or has had a problem doesn't mean they can't rectify it and get back on a good path. BUT, once a major problem has risen and lasted for a long time, like the Purolator filters tearing media, it takes a long time to get the reputation back after the problem has been fixed. I mean there are still Fram haters here that base their Fram hate bias on what happened with Fram filters 30 years ago, lol. So, IMO a "Bayesian argument" in the case of oil filters can't hold much weight since oil filter company ownership and operations, and where they are manufactured changes all the time which makes it at total crap-shoot on how they are going to be designed and manufactured in terms of performance and quality. Oil filters are truly a Whack-a Mole game that needs to constantly be monitored for changes.
As I've mentioned in dozens of threads over the years, all louvers need to be inspected. Some people have been caught off-guard on that because they don't do it, then see some examples posted here, then look at their new filters in the garage and see badly and choked down louvers.True, but my only point was that, if you're buying in person, this is at least a defect one can determine before purchase (as opposed to media tears or leakages which cannot be determined in advance).
So, not trying to pin the louver problem on Purolator exclusively, just saying that it is one of the arguments against using Purolator but it seems like a problem that can be mitigated.
The ill-formed louvers issue is a potential problem on all filters that use them. I've pointed that out many times. So anyone who's touting that stay away from Purolator because of closed louvers has some other agenda. Some people say they will never use any filter with louvers, regardless of the brand. ALL filters with closed off louvers should be avoided on a case to case basis, because all filters that use louvers can have the problem depending on what production line and/or what day they were made. You seem to have a trigger and somehow think people are just picking on Purolators for some reason. I really don't see that much these days. More like stay away from Fram and Champ Lab made filters because of ruffled leaf springs that can leak dirty oil constantly.
More than just Purolators are M+H made ... so based on some of the issues with other M+H branded filters they might have a point, lol.I disagree with that-- there are many people who have many, many times posted "stay away from M+H filters" as a complete and absolute blanket statement.

I'd have to compare the Purolator website efficiency claim for the other models vs their Spec Sheet to see what's up there. Could be all the models referenced on the website don't agree with the M+H Spec Sheets. Why? ... that's the answer we strive to find.Yeah, I'm following the efficiency discussion as well, and it's an issue. But that problem seems to be centered around the Boss. I've not seen anyone question the red or blue cans-- they seem to be fine. So, I'm not really talking about that in my posts here.
Like I said, the best thing to do is look at what's been posted about problems of any filter here in the moving window of the last 6-months and decided for yourself what's going on. People who are still basing their views on things that happened 10, 20 or 30 years ago with a filter brand simply do not understand just how dynamic the oil filter world is, and don't spend enough time reading and staying current with discussions in this forum.I could be wrong, but I'm starting to believe that people today who say "stay away from Purolator because it's made by M+H which should be avoided entirely" are making those statements ~95% based on (real) past problems that seem to have little evidence of being a problem today-- the definition of "inertia."
BTW, all these arguments (I believe) apply to Wix as well, assuming you don't buy them online and can inspect the louvers before purchase.
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