Mazda OEM (MahleTennex) vs Supertech6607

[Joe1]

I've been using Mazda OEM filters for my 97 Protege since car was new. At first, they were manufactured by Toyo Roki and made in Japan. In the past few years they have been manufactured by Tennex in the USA. I've read in a few articles that Mahle of Germany purchased a major stake in Tennex from Nissan, with Nissan now being a minority shareholder in the company.
http://www.mahle-tennex.co.jp/English
http://www.mahleinc.com/home_inc.nsf/out/1.0.0.0.3C8EF234DBBC416885256C92004D5C6E?OpenDocument
I purchase these filters mail order for $4.25 each from a Mazda delaer in Alabama. I've read a lot of good things about supertech filters on this board in regards to "most bang for the buck". The $1.99 cost is attractive. The Tennex filter appears to be more substantial than the Super Tech, with thicker metal, and I believe it has an orange colored silicon anti drainback valve. Would you guys recommend switching to a Super Tech 6607 on a car with 101k miles? I currently use Super Tech 10w30 full synthetic with 6000 mile drain intervals. Also, there is not much written about Tennex filters on this board. WHat do you experts think of them? Visually, they appear to be built like a tank, and feel sturdy, but I do not know how well they filter. My filter supply is exhausted and I will be buying more before next oil change.

 

[Ken2]

Mahle makes top quality parts. I'd feel good about sticking with them. I wouldn't worry about trying to save the cost of a good cup of coffee every 6000 miles, and maybe give up some filter quality.


Ken

 

[Ray H]

Joe, do the OEM filters for your Mazda have a bypass valve? If they DON'T, you ought to be able to try the SuperTech 3593A in good conscience. According to another thread, that number replaces the ubiquitous SuperTech 2808 that I and many others used to use. (WalMart's discontinued that one.) Champion Labs -claims- that the 3593A will take the place of the 2808, but my car NEEDS an oil filter with a self-contained bypass valve. If your OEM filters don't have a bypass valve, the inference is that the bypass valve is built into the engine somewhere - possibly at the oil pump. A reply from a Champion spokesperson on that other thread stated the 3593A HAS a bypass valve, but if it does, I sure wasn't able to figure out from peering inside one at a WallMart where it was or how it was configured. I try not to be obsessive about the oil filters I use, but I do believe it's important that they at least match the OEM filter's component features list. The 6607? I wouldn't put one of those on my grandaughter's tricycle.

 

[Al]

ST-3950 is oversize with the same 11-17 bypass as the 6607. Other filters are the Mobil 110 or the K&N HP-1010 or Bosch 3323.

Don't use the 6607

 

[FowVay]

I don't know about the Mahle filter that you're using but that particular supertech filter is very tiny inside. There isn't very much filtering media inside of that thing at all. I have disected several of them and there's hardly enough media to cut away from the metal cage.

If you can fit a bigger filter I'd recommend that. I wasn't impressed with this particular supertech.

 

[cryptokid]

grab a purolator PL14459, it fits the 1.8L mazda dohc bp motor in your protege perfectly. assuming you have the 1.8 and not the 1.6.
the 14459 is also oversize, its actually meant for hondas, mazda rx7's and some other stuff.

 

[unDummy]

Anyone try the 3985 in place of the 3950?

 

[porterdog]

I saw lower oil pressure with the ST on my 94 Miata when switching from the purolator 14459 to the 6607; I'll try one of the larger ones once I figure out what the differences are. IMO, steer clear of 6607.

$0.02,
Robert