Not all Premium Guard / MicroGuard filters are created equal...also Wix XP versus Microguard Select

[Navi]

In this Youtube video the Whip City Wrencher can be seen comparing the standard Microguard filter versus the "Select" Microguard filter...in the Premium Guard world the "Select" would be the "EX". The standard Microguard/Premium Guard we can see where the media rips open with the wrenchers fingers. Not to poo poo just the Microguard/Premium Guard but the Purolator One cut-opens Ive seen do the exact same thing. So my suggestion is when you talk about these filters only talk about the higher end. Personally speaking I wouldnt put the ripping media filters into anything. To me a filter where the media rips open is a very faulty problematic design.

One thing I noticed is that RockAuto places the Pro-Tec, PG2500 and the Purolator One into the "Economy" section. The "Economy" filters are usually sold to quick-change oil places and can be had for under $20 for 1 dozen. I would never use those filters for anything whether it be a high end Porsche or a 10 year old Toyota Corolla. If the filter falls apart after a few thousand miles than that filter is not good for anything.



Finally let me point out the Wix XP versus Microguard Select filters. At the end of the video the Whip City Wrencher declares the Microguard Select the champion of the match. I wanted to point out in other older videos the Wix XP had the polymer mesh backing and I cant see that same backing in this newer video of the Wix XP.



Thanks again Whip City Wrencher who seems to be the authority on "cut opens".

 

[DannyM]

In this Youtube video the Whip City Wrencher can be seen comparing the standard Microguard filter versus the "Select" Microguard filter...in the Premium Guard world the "Select" would be the "EX". The standard Microguard/Premium Guard we can see where the media rips open with the wrenchers fingers. Not to poo poo just the Microguard/Premium Guard but the Purolator One cut-opens Ive seen do the exact same thing. So my suggestion is when you talk about these filters only talk about the higher end. Personally speaking I wouldnt put the ripping media filters into anything. To me a filter where the media rips open is a very faulty problematic design.



Finally let me point out the Wix XP versus Microguard Select filters. At the end of the video the Whip City Wrencher declares the Microguard Select the champion of the match. I wanted to point out in other older videos the Wix XP had the polymer mesh backing and I cant see that same backing in this newer video of the Wix XP.

LOL.. That red basic Microgard is not a PG filter.... That is your favorite company Mann Hummel from their factory out of Mexico and it's media rips easy because it is very thin which is no surprise but it's a basic jobber level filter so that is not a shocker. You can see on the flap of the box when Whip open it where it shows the website: http://mhftwarranty.com/

As far as the older XP that is history with the synthetic media with backing.. but PG already makes a better filter than that anyway here in this thread: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/carquest-ep-p84502-vietnam-virgin-c-p.398511/

 

[Navi]

Mann and Hummel is NOT my favorite company. The Wix XP in the distant past used to be the gold standard...fast forward to today...no more "backing"...no more white all synthetic filter. All that is gone...

 

[Navi]

BTW here is the new Carquest EP vs Fram Endurance. Carquest seems to be the winner...but its also $16.

 

[GW.]

I’m happy you’re catching up on oil filter construction. For those that frequent the oil filter section this is old news. We’ve been seeing the demise of Wix since 2016 and Fram’s fall around 2020. As @DannyM mentioned the regular Microgard is not made by PG. Below is the PGI portfolio

 

[Faawrenchbndr]

The Wix XP hasn’t been the “gold standard” for at least a decade

 

[User_19876]

Glad I clicked this. I had no idea the basic MicroGard filters were MH. The Carquest standard duty certainly appear to be PGI.

 

[Urshurak776]

MicroGard standard filters are made by M&H. The EX filters, as advertised in photo above, are made by PGI. Welcome to the party @Navi ! Everyone has already left and gone home, but stick around and have a beer!

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Where does EcoGuard fall in the lineup?

 

[Urshurak776]

Where does EcoGuard fall in the lineup?

https://premiumguard.com/about-pgi/our-brands/

All the details of EcoGard are in the link above. Owned by PGI. Really seem geared towards aftermarket standard OCI, like quick lubes. I have used a couple. They're just fine for a 5K OCI.

 

[Navi]

When I was buying Wix no one sent me an email saying times are tough and so they are cheapening it up. I had to find out by watching cut open videos.

 

[Impatient]

I’m happy you’re catching up on oil filter construction. For those that frequent the oil filter section this is old news. We’ve been seeing the demise of Wix since 2016 and Fram’s fall around 2020. As @DannyM mentioned the regular Microgard is not made by PG. Below is the PGI portfolio

View attachment 343314

aren’t some Pentius filters also “in the club?” And for Carquest, is it just their Premium and Premium EP, or are any lesser Carquests in this club, or just those two levels?

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Ever bitten into a jalapeño popper or something and been like, “Oh wow, that’s spicier than I expected!” Yeah. That’s what these filter threads are like.

To answer the above, from my reading at least, Pentius is high quality but appears not to be related to Premium Guard.

 

[GW.]

aren’t some Pentius filters also “in the club?” And for Carquest, is it just their Premium and Premium EP, or are any lesser Carquests in this club, or just those two levels?

Pentius is not made by PG but very similar. All Carquest are PG except the HD line I believe.

 

[GW.]

When I was buying Wix no one sent me an email saying times are tough and so they are cheapening it up. I had to find out by watching cut open videos.

We’ve been posting Wix problems here for a decade. BITOG usually finds problems first due to the volume of c&p’s. Some people are so brand loyal they refuse to believe. I used Wix prior to 2016 for 20+ years but had to move on.

 

[DannyM]

BTW here is the new Carquest EP vs Fram Endurance. Carquest seems to be the winner...but its also $16.

That Carquest EP comes out closer to $8 as long as you get the oil there also. See below the total price is $38 before tax for a 5 jug Valvoline Restore Protect and the EP filter so if that 5 jug goes for $30 at Walmart which is probably the best price, then you are getting that EP filter for $8. https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/projects/oil-change/bundle

 

[nthach]

MicroGard standard filters are made by M&H. The EX filters, as advertised in photo above, are made by PGI. Welcome to the party @Navi ! Everyone has already left and gone home, but stick around and have a beer!

In my region of the US, all the Microgard Reds were PGI filters - MGL51348/51394/57055 are the ones I’ve looked at.

 

[ZeeOSix]

BTW here is the new Carquest EP vs Fram Endurance. Carquest seems to be the winner...but its also $16.

Mostly when the Champ Labs made Endurance can and usually does have a ruffled up leaf spring that leaks oil past the media. Endurance is now out of production too.

 

[Faawrenchbndr]

When I was buying Wix no one sent me an email saying times are tough and so they are cheapening it up. I had to find out by watching cut open videos.

That’s exactly how I found out the AMSOIL filter filters were leaking and internally.

 

[Impatient]

Pentius is not made by PG but very similar. All Carquest are PG except the HD line I believe.

Thanks. I almost bought some Pentius online, but Advance Auto had a sale (don’t they always?) and I got several Premium and EP instead so I am good for awhile now. Of course, I still manage to fret about the one for my Subaru, as the CQ valve pressure relief setting doesn’t match the high (22psi?) reading that Subaru burned into my brain for so many years. But surely better than the Endurance filters I just took out a couple months ago, which evidently were in constant relief mode (sarcasm). Interesting how ruffles-free WCW’s Fram was, compared to mine night & day. That was an unfortunate case of me being both late to the discussion, and buying ahead, thinking the wire-backed thing was going away as it had with the Ultras. Who would have thought that would become the least of my worries.