Rural King supposedly replacing Prime Guard with Wix.

[User_19876]

Just visited Rural King. Nothing but FRAM on the shelf. When I asked, the associate told me everything else was being replaced with Wix. Not sure if that will be the case, but they were liquidating the Prime Guard, Delco, Motorcraft, and Mopar filters. They had all of them piled in two buggies. Picked up a few of these 5436’s for my Mom’s Terrain. These cross to xx9018 and PF457/458. These don’t look bad for $2. Glued seam is the only thing that really bothers me. Pleats are even and tight. All the 2222’s for my Hemi were long gone.

EDIT: these cartridge filters do include a new o-ring.

 

[Glenda W.]

That’s unfortunate. Prime Guards are consistent quality wise.

 

[LostInTransit]

I'd rather have the Wix product. I've never had a Prime Guard in the or any other car or track I've ever had. we drove past Rural King in PA. We'll be stopping more other if they start carrying Wix as it's getting very hard to locate here in MD

 

[Zee09]

Dumb move....

 

[92saturnsl2]

It'd be helpful if you mention your location as Rural King has been expanding.

I was there last weekend (Elizabethtown, KY) and they still have the same hodgepodge of filters (Fram, Prime Guard, AC Delco, Motorcraft, some ag stuff (Hastings/Baldwin/Filterfleet?), all overpriced and not comprehensive, only stock the most popular. None of them are price competitive.

Needless to say I've cruised down that aisle plenty and left empty handed. Rockauto or Walmart eats their cake both in price and availability.

 

[DannyM]

Just visited Rural King. Nothing but FRAM on the shelf. When I asked, the associate told me everything else was being replaced with Wix. Not sure if that will be the case, but they were liquidating the Prime Guard, Delco, Motorcraft, and Mopar filters.

I think Highline Warren was the origin of Prime Guard filters.. they have the trademark to 27' https://www.highlinewarren.com/

 

[User_19876]

It'd be helpful if you mention your location as Rural King has been expanding.

I was there last weekend (Elizabethtown, KY) and they still have the same hodgepodge of filters (Fram, Prime Guard, AC Delco, Motorcraft, some ag stuff (Hastings/Baldwin/Filterfleet?), all overpriced and not comprehensive, only stock the most popular. None of them are price competitive.

Needless to say I've cruised down that aisle plenty and left empty handed. Rockauto or Walmart eats their cake both in price and availability.

I travel the southeast for work. This was in Bristol, VA. My brother says it’s the same in Maryville, TN. I would imagine this is a corporate move, if they are in fact abandoning Prime Guard and the others.

 

[Hootbro]

I wonder if Tariff costs are impacting the decision to move to WIX?

 

[User_19876]

I wonder if Tariff costs are impacting the decision to move to WIX?

This could be part of it as Prime Guards seem almost exclusively in China. The other Asian nations have settled the tariff deals, haven't they?

I went back today, and was pleased to see the new M1-113's for my truck on the shelf, and cheaper than Walmart by $1.50. The new Wix filters are trickling in as well. Prices seem close to Amazon.

 

[Fair enough]

I wonder if Tariff costs are impacting the decision to move to WIX?

Or a reason I dwell on, made in USA. If you’re king of rural your visitors want that. If WIX is still made in USA. I suppose some are.

 

[Hootbro]

Or a reason I dwell on, made in USA. If you’re king of rural your visitors want that. If WIX is still made in USA. I suppose some are.

Would think the FRAM offers would cover that angle if it was a thing of any significance.

 

[zrxkawboy]

I'd rather have the Wix product. I've never had a Prime Guard in the or any other car or track I've ever had. we drove past Rural King in PA. We'll be stopping more other if they start carrying Wix as it's getting very hard to locate here in MD

What do you prefer about the construction of the WIX filters?

 

[Fair enough]

Would think the FRAM offers would cover that angle if it was a thing of any significance.

Not sure if angle is covered now. My old Ultra box and filter say made in USA. My latest PH3614 from 2025 box states see product for country of origin. On the filter it says product of USA.
This aligns with Champ/Fram made Supertech oil filters saying XX% USA content. It’s produced in USA means it can have “globally sourced materials”.

 

[Hootbro]

Not sure if angle is covered now. My old Ultra box and filter say made in USA. My latest PH3614 from 2025 box states see product for country of origin. On the filter it says product of USA.
This aligns with Champ/Fram made Supertech oil filters saying XX% USA content. It’s produced in USA means it can have “globally sourced materials”.

Does not really matter if it is 100% sourced and made in the USA if it made like crap.

 

[64bawagon]

Our Michigan store looks very much like the one posted. A large Wix presence and all the other brands off to one side. I was hoping for some clearance prices but all were at full price.
I have run the Prime guards on a few beaters and they held up well. Most brands of cartridge filters are indistinguishable from each other.

 

[53' Stude]

Does not really matter if it is 100% sourced and made in the USA if it made like crap.

Dang right! Spoke to auto guy at Rural King yesterday; he said it ain’t happening there as they sell tons of Prime Guards

 

[53' Stude]

Just visited Rural King. Nothing but FRAM on the shelf. When I asked, the associate told me everything else was being replaced with Wix. Not sure if that will be the case, but they were liquidating the Prime Guard, Delco, Motorcraft, and Mopar filters. They had all of them piled in two buggies. Picked up a few of these 5436’s for my Mom’s Terrain. These cross to xx9018 and PF457/458. These don’t look bad for $2. Glued seam is the only thing that really bothers me. Pleats are even and tight. All the 2222’s for my Hemi were long gone.

EDIT: these cartridge filters do include a new o-ring.

View attachment 283492

View attachment 283493

View attachment 283494

View attachment 283495

Bet it’s gonna be regional or specific stores only. Especially when most Prime Guard filters are $1.99 everyday

 

[Fair enough]

Does not really matter if it is 100% sourced and made in the USA if it made like crap.

That’s a matter of opinion. I have some USA made and don’t see anything wrong. The only ones I have seen wrong are three new recent Frams I cut open for fun. So I don’t buy Frams for awhile.
I figure talk is cheap. If we complain about overseas manufacturing taking over, then do our small part in not letting it.

 

[User_19876]

Bet it’s gonna be regional or specific stores only. Especially when most Prime Guard filters are $1.99 everyday

Could be. Pricing certainly is regional. Regular price for the Prime Guard 5436 and the 2222 is $2.99 where I shop.

 

[Hootbro]

That’s a matter of opinion. I have some USA made and don’t see anything wrong. The only ones I have seen wrong are three new recent Frams I cut open for fun. So I don’t buy Frams for awhile.
I figure talk is cheap. If we complain about overseas manufacturing taking over, then do our small part in not letting it.

This guy has put his money where his mouth is and has about 4 or more cut opens of USA made factory OEM, FRAM, Purolator, WIX and Champs with blown pleats across multiple vehicles. I have yet to have a bad Asian made oil filter.

You do you boo, but this guy is not gonna regularly reward companies that take me for granted just because they are made in the USA and thinking that alone should carry their product.