Microgard Select vs Wix at Oreilly

[Carlostrece]

I like my local Oreillys and its manager is a great guy who sometimes rescues stranded motorists (when he has time) by bringing them parts they need. He doesn't charge for delivery to stranded people. Sometimes he even installs the part for no labor charge.

In my case (a few weeks ago) I was stranded. He brought me a battery and installed it for me. No charge for the delivery or installation. He's awesome! This was very helpful because I'm handicapped, but he didn't know that until he arrived on scene.

Yesterday I briefly told him that I've been learning about oil filters at BITOG. I told him that auto store house-brand filters, including Oreilly Microgard Select, are all made by Vietnam Advanced Filtration Inc (VAFI) and are excellent quality filters and among the best.

He freaked out like he'd just been tased. Then he nervously denied that they're made in Vietnam. He automatically assumed I was making a negative accusation. He wasn't aware of any facts about it. I said relax, they're excellent filters. He calmed down a little. I told him they're among the best.

He then told me that Microgard Select is their mid tier product line and Wix is their best product line. I was shocked by his lack of knowledge of the products he sells, but I hid my shock to be polite.

I told him that Microgard Select, Napa Gold, and other autostores' housebrand filters are better than Wix. He clearly did not believe me, but politely thanked me for the info. It was obvious that he now thinks I'm full of

He's a good man, but it's mind boggling how a manager knows so little about the products he sells. It's also sad that because of brand name alone he has excessive faith in Wix, but inadequate faith in Microgard Select.

I still like him. In future, I'll buy Microgard Select products and no longer Wix.

Pentius (S Korean) filters are also attractive to me, but I'd have to buy them from Amazon sight unseen, then visually inspect after they arrive. With Oreilly Microgard Select being locally available, I can visually inspect Microgard before buying. Price of one Pentius filter vs one Microgard Select is the same.

 

[tmorris1]

Wait a few months or a year and the O'Reilly filters will be made by someone else and be junk, while the Wix will be better... It seems to be a never ending cycle. When I first joined this forum, Fram was junk and Wix/Napa Gold and Motorcraft were the best. Then Fram was great again, now not so much I guess. Wix is junk now? It is hard to keep up. Do far I haven't had an engine grenade from an oil filter, so I guess none of them can be that bad.

 

[Brian123]

I like my local Oreillys and its manager is a great guy who sometimes rescues stranded motorists (when he has time) by bringing them parts they need. He doesn't charge for delivery to stranded people. Sometimes he even installs the part for no labor charge.

In my case (a few weeks ago) I was stranded. He brought me a battery and installed it for me. No charge for the delivery or installation. He's awesome! This was very helpful because I'm handicapped, but he didn't know that until he arrived on scene.

Yesterday I briefly told him that I've been learning about oil filters at BITOG. I told him that auto store house-brand filters, including Oreilly Microgard Select, are all made by Vietnam Advanced Filtration Inc (VAFI) and are excellent quality filters and among the best.

He freaked out and nervously denied that they're made in Vietnam. He automatically assumed I was making a negative accusation. He wasn't aware of any facts about it. I said relax, they're excellent filters. He calmed down a little. I told him they're among the best.

He then told me that Microgard Select is their mid tier product line and Wix is their best product line. I was shocked by his lack of knowledge of the products he sells, but I hid my shock.

I told him that Microgard Select, Napa Gold, and other autostores' housebrand filters are better than Wix. He clearly did not believe me, but he politely thanked me for the info. It was obvious that he now thinks I'm full of

He's a good man, but it's mind boggling how a manager knows so little about the products he sells. It's also sad that because of brand name alone he has too much faith in Wix and inadequate faith in Microgard Select.

I still like him. I'll be buying Microgard Select products and no longer Wix.

Pentius (S Korean) filters are also attractive to me, but I'd have to buy them from Amazon sight unseen, then vieually inspect after they arrive. With Oreilly Microgard Select being locally available, I can visually inspect Microgard before buying.

I have had a few Beers, so I will do my best, when you started this conversation the 1st thing you needed to say was, have you ever heard of BITOG, if he said NO or said what is BITOG then you need to be quiet. You cannot talk with non BITOGERS about Oil or Oil Filters, they have their opinions, but they help us out in our time of need.

There is a guy that lives near my parents' house that thinks Bradd Penn Oil is the best oil ever made; he is not a BITTOGER. This guy put in a Starter on my car and also put in a lower Coolant Hose. I was on vacation 1 time and there was a big tree that fell into the yard of my parent's place, he cut the everything up and took all of the Wood.

This person did call me up when he was trying to set up the Linkage on his 6-speed manual transmission on a 1971 Plymouth Road Runner. I walked through the Woods, and I helped him out. He did call me after that time to ask me to go get him some Refreshments, only a 4-mile drive, so I did it.

I can chat with a BITOGER here and not get upset, because 9 out of 10 times I am wrong, but I learn something. What I learn here benefits my car more than my Ego. Non Bitogers will never understand us, again, there are times where we need their help.

The Bradd Pen Oil Guy with the 1971 Plymouth Road Runner also put a new Cord in on my Chainsaw.

 

[Chris142]

In my area the regular microguard filters are from China. The select from Vietnam.

 

[BrendanC]

Wait a few months or a year and the O'Reilly filters will be made by someone else and be junk, while the Wix will be better... It seems to be a never ending cycle. When I first joined this forum, Fram was junk and Wix/Napa Gold and Motorcraft were the best. Then Fram was great again, now not so much I guess. Wix is junk now? It is hard to keep up. Do far I haven't had an engine grenade from an oil filter, so I guess none of them can be that bad.

Wix turned to junk when M+H bought them out.

 

[Fair enough]

A manager may just manage people and warehousing product, like a president of a company who doesn’t know his stock either, and has to call around. It happens.


I was doing more home oil filter inspections and put my finger, small one, into filter thread holes and wiped on the inner core. Some came back with metal particles. Used a bright led light on my finger, yep, considerable differences. Purolators I have three, were very good. Pentius and Toyota a little tiny bit of bright specks, and my Frams that came yesterday, quite a lot. This all goes into the engine on first start with the new filter. If I could find a magnet I would see if it’s steel. 99% sure it is and from the center tube. Not from the threads.

 

[fantastic]

I agree with the Parts sales rep. WIX has higher tier filters than Microgard. WIX XP for example. Now, that's not to say that Microgards have not proven consistent quality & that WIX basic filters are perfect b/c they're not. Their also going to potentially sell a lot of WIX since that is a lot of repair service volume for them. Good story none the less.

 

[Glenda W.]

Wix has a reputation going back decades so it’s hard to buck. When I worked at a GM dealer in the 80’s and 90’s they fully stocked Wix because they were so requested over AC Delco. Sadly M+H ruined them and mostly only us and WCW fans know.

 

[ZeeOSix]

He then told me that Microgard Select is their mid tier product line and Wix is their best product line. I was shocked by his lack of knowledge of the products he sells, but I hid my shock to be polite.

Hanging out in this forum tells the real story on what's going on with oil filters, which is a very dynamic and constantly changing world.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Wait a few months or a year and the O'Reilly filters will be made by someone else and be junk, while the Wix will be better... It seems to be a never ending cycle. When I first joined this forum, Fram was junk and Wix/Napa Gold and Motorcraft were the best. Then Fram was great again, now not so much I guess. Wix is junk now? It is hard to keep up. Do far I haven't had an engine grenade from an oil filter, so I guess none of them can be that bad.

Yep ... it's oil filter Whack-a-Mole that never ends.

 

[ZeeOSix]

For those that know the real story, the MicroGard Select is just as good or better manufacturing quality, but better in the efficiency department than the XP, so I'd disagree with the example that the XP is a "higher tier filter". The XP probably even has worse efficiency than the lower tier MicroGard filters. Not really much "higher tier" about the XP except it's construction quality, unless the louvers are not opened enough.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Wix is a more expensive filter. Dude's job is retail, where more expensive is supposed to be better.

He helped you out with a battery. Say thank you, and be on your way.

 

[kschachn]

For those that know the real story, the MicroGard Select is just as good or better manufacturing quality, but better in the efficiency department than the XP, so I'd disagree with the example that the XP is a "higher tier filter". The XP probably even has worse efficiency than the lower tier MicroGard filters. Not really much "higher tier" about the XP except it's construction quality, unless the louvers are not opened enough.

Exactly. Some people are as described earlier, blinded by brand.

 

[bullwinkle]

Wix's history goes back to Dana, pretty sure they were a major defense contractor (& Wix a military filter supplier) going back to their origins as Spicer, before WW1-it takes a while to destroy a reputation like that. Mann is giving it their best shot!

 

[fantastic]

"Higher Tier" would mean mileage duration & construction. The WIX XP uses more synthetic media to go further. Your not going 20k on a Microgard unless using it on a Toyota. Efficiency should be better on the Microgard based on their claims.

 

[CKolo]

Wait a few months or a year and the O'Reilly filters will be made by someone else and be junk, while the Wix will be better... It seems to be a never ending cycle. When I first joined this forum, Fram was junk and Wix/Napa Gold and Motorcraft were the best. Then Fram was great again, now not so much I guess. Wix is junk now? It is hard to keep up. Do far I haven't had an engine grenade from an oil filter, so I guess none of them can be that bad.

^^^This right here^^^

Blind, brand loyalty no longer works.
Best part of this site is that it helps us make informed decisions on changes to products AND the QUALITY of the product(s). I’ve been checking in on this site since ‘03 when German Castrol was the rave and Valvoline was bashed.
The older I get, the more research I do before making purchases. I don’t know if that’s wisdom, OCD, senility, or a combination of the three.

Way back in my 20’s, I NEVER would have imagined investing so much time researching oil for the Harley, and oil and filters for the 5.0 coyote. If you would have told me I would be doing that back then, I would have laughed in your face.

 

[tmorris1]

^^^This right here^^^

Blind, brand loyalty no longer works.
Best part of this site is that it helps us make informed decisions on changes to products AND the QUALITY of the product(s). I’ve been checking in on this site since ‘03 when German Castrol was the rave and Valvoline was bashed.
The older I get, the more research I do before making purchases. I don’t know if that’s wisdom, OCD, senility, or a combination of the three.

Way back in my 20’s, I NEVER would have imagined investing so much time researching oil for the Harley, and oil and filters for the 5.0 coyote. If you would have told me I would be doing that back then, I would have laughed in your face.

I agree with this and often do the same, but in reality it probably doesn't make as much difference as we like to think it does. There are plenty of 200-300k mile vehicles that are running the cheapest whatever.

 

[RaymondP]

Never thought about metal filings in a spin on oil filter due to the manufacturing process. So happy both my current vehicles use cartridge filters. Read lots of negative comments about Mann but have been using their cartridge filters on my 3 series Beemer. Unfortunately have to buy the "kit" version (HU 816z) that includes the disposable plastic oil drain plug. Not many options but very open to alternative suggestions

Re BTOG readers or not. Agree others are a bit mystified at my interest but don't understand the opportunities to learn and share experience on such a diverse range of subjects and contributors to this forum. As the saying goes...."You don't know what you don't know."

 

[Glenda W.]

Never thought about metal filings in a spin on oil filter due to the manufacturing process. So happy both my current vehicles use cartridge filters. Read lots of negative comments about Mann but have been using their cartridge filters on my 3 series Beemer. Unfortunately have to buy the "kit" version (HU 816z) that includes the disposable plastic oil drain plug. Not many options but very open to alternative suggestions

Re BTOG readers or not. Agree others are a bit mystified at my interest but don't understand the opportunities to learn and share experience on such a diverse range of subjects and contributors to this forum. As the saying goes...."You don't know what you don't know."

The first defect I ever found on an Endurance was badly cut threads with the metal filings. Now we see the QC problems have spread to other things. The cartridge filters are the easiest to inspect!!

 

[CKolo]

Used to have a F150 with the 2.7 ecoboost.
Hated those cartridge filters.
Knowing what I know now about what we’re seeing with these spin-on canisters…well, you old school 80’s Metalheads may remember Cinderella’s ballad said it best:
“You don’t know what you got …”

The song will be stuck in your head all day now…and you’re welcome