New Wix Design, Looking for Opinions

[craZivn]

Hello all, first post but I've been gleaning lots of info over the years from BITOG. Anyway, my latest order of filters from RockAuto is completely different from what I expect in Wix. So different that I'm debating whether I even want to use these or if I should send them right back.

First off, the filter is of completely different construction than the last batch I bought of the same model. The inlet holes are fewer and inside it's got a plastic cage instead of the steel perforated tube. The threaded plate is held on by bent tabs and sealed with a thin rubber washer. The bypass valve spring is also secured by bent tabs which released with disconcerting ease when I went in with a pick. The ADBV is white, which I've never seen before. I'm not sure what it's made of.

There is also rust inside the filter housing as you can see in the pics.

The filter is a 51348. Stamp on the bottom reads "062023 GN 01". Made in China by Mann + Hummel. Wix logo is stamped on the side in white, no sticker. The filter arrived sealed in plastic shrinkwrap inside it's Wix-liveried box.

Incidentally I received a damaged filter in my previous batch which I dissected a few months ago so I have a comparison. I've included three pictures of it. They're the ones with the red ADBV, the steel core tube and the spot-welded drainback spring retainer. It was perfectly clean inside the filter housing with no rust. It is also a 51348. That one is made in the U.S.A.

My initial reaction is to send the remaining five filters back and switch to a different brand henceforth. My question is, am I overreacting? Has anyone else had issues with this new style of filter? Is the rust acceptable at all?

Thanks,
Ivan

 

[SC Maintenance]

That is quite the rusty can.

Guess my choice to not use wix anymore a few years ago was the right one.

Thanks for sharing your C&P!

 

[Creekside]

That rust inside of the can is wild. Hard pass for me. That would be going in the trash.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Thank you for the cut and post.

Yikes that is a lot of rust for not even being a year old!

 

[MParr]

No more WIXorlator for me.

 

[Mewbs]

Thank you for the cut and post.

Yikes that is a lot of rust for not even being a year old!

Some real chinesium filters here. Rock + Catcher inc. setting the lowest bar.

 

[craZivn]

So I take these replies as a hard YES to "send the remaining filters back and switch to a different brand". Will do! And no problem on sharing the C&P, I'm glad I did before deciding to run these on my van!

Ivan

 

[ZeeOSix]

My initial reaction is to send the remaining five filters back and switch to a different brand henceforth. My question is, am I overreacting?

No way I'd use any oil filter with rust like that inside the can. That's total garbage. The quality of construction would make me suspect it being counterfeit made in some garage on a pig farm.

 

[facility1]

lots of rust,pleats and anti back drain valve look fine,,probably send back unused ones,fram ultra maybe a better one to use instead.

 

[craZivn]

I looked up how to do the burn test, and the ADBV is in fact silicone if I'm understanding correctly. Took a while to light up, burns with a white smoke and white ash as pictured.

I noticed that it is very flimsy though, compared to the red ADBV of the U.S.-made filter. (Sorry that's the best pic I have of the red one, it's sitting up at the shop.) Probably works fine as an ADBV but the difference is notable.

I've initiated a return for store credit of the remaining five, waiting for approval before I ship them back.

 

[SC Maintenance]

made in some garage on a pig farm

That's disparaging to pig farmers. Where do you think Bacon comes from?

I agree that filter sucks. More likely made in a "high tech" CCP controlled factory using the best rolled steel the CCP can muster.

 

[fantastic]

That's a pass from me. This is no wix xp.

 

[GMBoy]

Sir I must say those are some precise and detailed cut aways and excellent photography!

 

[FlyingVan]

Could it be that they are fake? I don't know where RA gets them from, but these are the worst I've ever seen. That rust is just crazy.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

These Mann Wix oil filters have been on the decline for quite some time now. I used to be a big fan, but I won't touch them anymore. Too many people here experienced Wix filters leaking at the baseplate seam for me to trust them.

It wouldn't surprise me if the one with the rust was fake, but I still wouldn't use Wix anymore regardless. It's hard to find good quality oil filters these days but I'm using Denso lately and the construction is very nice.

 

[jim302]

Could it be that they are fake? I don't know where RA gets them from, but these are the worst I've ever seen. That rust is just crazy.

I highly doubt that. Many aspects of the construction, such as the white ADBV and the design of the inlet holes are shared with other MANN+HUMMEL filters.

 

[malibuguy79]

Yikes

 

[tblt44]

Looks like a a/c delco or supertech center. Are they all going to a plastic cage ?

 

[craZivn]

Sir I must say those are some precise and detailed cut aways and excellent photography!

Thanks! It's a little messier in person but I used a rotary cutoff tool with a thinwheel to make all the cuts.

@FlyingVan and @cheesepuffs2 if I'd gotten them from Amazon or the 'Bay I'd suspect they were fakes with how poor they are compared to the last batch, but I think that RockAuto uses reliable suppliers. Here are pictures of the box and the outside of the filter prior to the dissection, it's the first time I've seen a Wix with pad printing instead of the colored sticker.

Also a quick update, RA has approved my return as defective so I'll be sending the remaining five filters back. Now comes the long sojourn through BITOG and the interwebs to research a new brand and model on which I can rely...

 

[jim302]

It wouldn't surprise me if the one with the rust was fake, but I still wouldn't use Wix anymore regardless. It's hard to find good quality oil filters these days but I'm using Denso lately and the construction is very nice.

Someone found this WIX at O'Reilly... same country of origin and same design externally. This is a genuine filter.


(The audio commentary is not useful... this is purely to show that this is not a fake filter. )