quote:
Originally posted by Drew99GT:
I don't think they are as quality as Fram air filters. I won't use them anymore, but I still like the oil filters.
O, please.
Not as quality as Fram???
Purolator doesn't produce all of its filter, as no any other big brand does, even Fram, especially for the asian makes.
Most of the big filter brands get their filters from unspecified manufacturing sources and then resell them as if they've produced them themselves.
Therefore the statements like "I'll never buy a filter of some particular brand" doesn't make any sense!
The quality of the filters varies DRAMATICALLY even within the same brand depending on where and when a filter has been sourced from.
Air filters are a commodity nowdays.
Chances are that a Purolator or any other brand air filter you buy today won't be the same exact filter you buy 6 months from now even though it will be sold under the same part number.
The brands shop around for better deals the same way you do and change the suppliers when they get one.
Of course if you go with one of the niche brands like Amsoil or Purolator PureOne, you'll encounter much better consistency.
Just one example.
I was shopping for an air filter for my Focus.
On three consecutive visits to the same store (Autozone) I've encountere 3 (three!) different air filters of the same part number, packaged in the same exact box as STPs.
The first had a yellow media, made in UK and looked like it was produced by Mann.
The second one 3 months later was white in color, made in USA and looked exactly like the OEM Motorcraft I've purchased from a dealership earlier, complete with a metal mesh screen etc.
On my third visit the filter media was white, made in Mexico but didn't look like OEM at all (very smooth, almost glassy) and had no mesh screen.
So three visits, 3 absolutely different filters, even though all of them were being sold under the same brand and part number.
[ September 14, 2006, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: avette ]
