Just yesterday I went to AZ to purchase an STP Max Life Filter for my daughter's 2018 Chevy Cruze as Max Life filters are what I've been using in all of my family's vehicles.... Well, to my surprise I noticed that the gasket is no longer black in color and is now an orange / reddish color much like their Extended Life filter .... and even more interesting ( and disappointing ) is that this filter is now stamped "Made In China" where it used to read "Made In The USA"... As for the actual filtration media, I'm certainly hoping that that is still fully Synthetic and unchanged...I didn't mind paying extra for this filter before as it was American made and of great quality but it now seems ( and I hope I'm wrong ) that STP has downgraded the quality of this filter while keeping the price the same... Anyone else noticed this?
STP Maximum Life Now Made in China
- Thread starter johnnyz73
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I used an EL made in China last winter and it held up fine. The Max life was made by Purolator and I refused it and went with China EL instead. I would never buy a Purolator filter ever. I had one of the torn Pure 1's back when they first showed up. If the Max life is no longer a Purolator, I would say they upgraded it, not downgraded.
Every time I have looked at those stp filters they were made in China.
Who cares what nationality the fingers are putting them together as long as they are to the same spec? Everyone wants cheap prices but no one wants to pay the labour to assemble it on our shores. This is inevitable IMO.
Just to clarify, What I meant about hoping that the quality was not downgraded, it was regarding the materials used to make the gasket. When they were black in color they were made of Ethylene Acrylic as opposed to Silicon ( Nothing wrong with that, just want to get what im paying for ) as with the STP EL filter... Also a great filter as I've used those as well... But if they're almost identical in the materials used to make them, I'd rather pay a few dollars less and go back to the Extended Life Filter. No biggie.
Originally Posted by Chris142
Every time I have looked at those stp filters they were made in China.
The Extended Life filters have been made in China for some time now, but up until very recently the Maximum Life filters were made in the USA by Purolator ... they were very similar to the Purolator Boss filters.
Every time I have looked at those stp filters they were made in China.
The Extended Life filters have been made in China for some time now, but up until very recently the Maximum Life filters were made in the USA by Purolator ... they were very similar to the Purolator Boss filters.
Use the Fram Ultra, $8.97 at Walmart and made in USA. STP EL is fine but the Ultra is the same price.
Originally Posted by Sayjac
At last check here the STP Blue, lowest tier line, was transitioning from a the long time Champ US filter to a China Coo filter too. So it would seem now that the complete AZ STP oil filter line will be off shored/ China filters.
Interesting! A few months ago, I noticed that of the STP cartridges for my car in the local Autozone, the two lower-priced ones looked nearly identical to corresponding Chinese Frams, while the top-priced STP looked nearly identical to a Purolator. Ha-ha!
At last check here the STP Blue, lowest tier line, was transitioning from a the long time Champ US filter to a China Coo filter too. So it would seem now that the complete AZ STP oil filter line will be off shored/ China filters.
Interesting! A few months ago, I noticed that of the STP cartridges for my car in the local Autozone, the two lower-priced ones looked nearly identical to corresponding Chinese Frams, while the top-priced STP looked nearly identical to a Purolator. Ha-ha!
Originally Posted by CR94
Originally Posted by Sayjac
At last check here the STP Blue, lowest tier line, was transitioning from a the long time Champ US filter to a China Coo filter too. So it would seem now that the complete AZ STP oil filter line will be off shored/ China filters.
Interesting! A few months ago, I noticed that of the STP cartridges for my car in the local Autozone, the two lower-priced ones looked nearly identical to corresponding Chinese Frams, while the top-priced STP looked nearly identical to a Purolator. Ha-ha!
So now they are cheaper than a TG, XG or Mobil 1 Extended life?
Originally Posted by Sayjac
At last check here the STP Blue, lowest tier line, was transitioning from a the long time Champ US filter to a China Coo filter too. So it would seem now that the complete AZ STP oil filter line will be off shored/ China filters.
Interesting! A few months ago, I noticed that of the STP cartridges for my car in the local Autozone, the two lower-priced ones looked nearly identical to corresponding Chinese Frams, while the top-priced STP looked nearly identical to a Purolator. Ha-ha!
So now they are cheaper than a TG, XG or Mobil 1 Extended life?
Quote
Originally Posted by Sayjac
At last check here the STP Blue, lowest tier line, was transitioning from a the long time Champ US filter to a China Coo filter too. So it would seem now that the complete AZ STP oil filter line will be off shored/ China filters.
…... A few months ago, I noticed that of the STP cartridges for my car in the local Autozone….
My observation was specifically to the canister/spin on variety STP filters which still make up the vast majority of oil filter applications sold. Don't pay much attention to the limited cartridge offerings. So as noted considering the topic ML observation and the corresponding STP Blue, STP line now seems offshored with China coo. Champ Labs and Purolator made STP at least in the spin on variety have been replaced with the off shore filters. That said, unsurprising cartridges could be different from canister coo, as ime is not that uncommon with many manufacturers.
Also any previous efficiency ratings that were on the STP Blue boxes and STP XL previously, have been removed as they transition(ed). Haven't seen the topic ML yet, but my speculation would the same for them
Originally Posted by Sayjac
At last check here the STP Blue, lowest tier line, was transitioning from a the long time Champ US filter to a China Coo filter too. So it would seem now that the complete AZ STP oil filter line will be off shored/ China filters.
…... A few months ago, I noticed that of the STP cartridges for my car in the local Autozone….
My observation was specifically to the canister/spin on variety STP filters which still make up the vast majority of oil filter applications sold. Don't pay much attention to the limited cartridge offerings. So as noted considering the topic ML observation and the corresponding STP Blue, STP line now seems offshored with China coo. Champ Labs and Purolator made STP at least in the spin on variety have been replaced with the off shore filters. That said, unsurprising cartridges could be different from canister coo, as ime is not that uncommon with many manufacturers.
Also any previous efficiency ratings that were on the STP Blue boxes and STP XL previously, have been removed as they transition(ed). Haven't seen the topic ML yet, but my speculation would the same for them
I used STP on bmw long time ago when I opened it for oil change and saw filter completely collapsed, That was end of relationship of STP and me on any vehicle. I wont use any filter now unless its wire backed media for that matter.
Well, I lucked out today and found 4 of the USA made Maximum Life filters for my Jeep ... the rest ( newest arrivals ) are clearly made differently ( O ring and even the outer texture of the filter are different )and are stamped "Made In China".
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