Oil filter pricing.. can we avoid counterfeits?

[Tizzy]

How can we avoid getting counterfeit filters when we think we’re buying from a reputable supplier?
The WL10255XP, WIX (XP) oil filter for a 2026 Ram 1500 with the SO 3.0 Hurricane is listed for $7.xx at Rock Auto, $14.xx at Amsoil, and $21.xx at Oreillys. I’ve read to avoid Amazon and obviously EBay for purchasing oil filters and even big box stores like WalMart have had counterfeits.
Is it avoidable or inevitable?

 

[ClutchDisc]

Never had a problem buying oil filters from RockAuto and will continue to do so. Amazon and Ebay - no thanks.

 

[oldhp]

I won't use louvers. On 3.6 Charger no problem, uses cartridge filter. 2026 GMC Canyon 2.7 takes a Pf66 AC Delco. It is 30 micron with louvers. So I use the MicroGard Select oil filter. Metal tube with nice big holes @ 25 microns very nice looking filter media and metal crimp with even spaced pleats. So I go to O'Reily's to see what I'm buying.

 

[facility1]

just a thought on louvers vs holes, louvers if properly cut can and will give a more even flow through the filter media ? and holes are more concentrated just where the hole is and once that hole area (small) you may have more restriction upon contamination of filtered out dirt ?? (leaving some filter media still clean) ,,, and the circular spiral shape of the louvers tube design might cause enhanced even flow through the filter???,and the E-core design is in reality maybe the best, if having a wire mesh support in the filter media, this is just a thought on observation,,,,,,,,,,,,flame suit is on.................or does it really matter in flow altogether.?,

 

[ZeeOSix]

^^^ If the design of the center tube does change the flow distribution I doubt it really matters. And even a center tube with holes will have a very small pressure drop (dP) across it. If holes were detrimental to the media, we would see evidence of that. Cut open filters with holes in the center tube that have caught a lot of debris still show a pretty even distribution of the debris between the pleats, so seems the oil flow is pretty evenly distribute across the media.