Warning about SuperTech MP3614

Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
271
Location
West Texas
It is oil change time and every time I'm at Walmart I see the SuperTech filters that are made in USA, so I figured I'd pick one up to replace my Napa Gold 1348. I picked up a SuperTech MP3614, I noticed that the MP3614 had the threads a bit more recessed than the Wix 1348, but it didn't seem like that big of a difference. I went to put the ST filter on and from my count I could only get about 1-1/2 of the 5 threads onto the block. I wasn't very comfortable with hardly having any threads holding the filter on, so I pulled the ST filter off and put a Motorcraft FL910S on. Anyhow, I just wanted to give everyone a heads up about the MP3614, if you are planning on running it in place of a Wix 51348, NG 1348, Purolator 10241, Motorcraft FL910S etc, just make sure that you have enough threads on your block to reach the more recessed center hole. I took a few pictures of the MP3614 compared to the NG 1348 to give an idea, in the pictures it doesn't look like much of a difference, but it sure made a big difference of trying to screw it onto the block.
 

Attachments

  • 20220516_150156.jpg
    20220516_150156.jpg
    82.3 KB · Views: 380
  • 20220516_150208.jpg
    20220516_150208.jpg
    90.4 KB · Views: 363
  • 20220516_150213.jpg
    20220516_150213.jpg
    91.4 KB · Views: 276
  • 20220516_150217.jpg
    20220516_150217.jpg
    89.9 KB · Views: 267
  • 20220516_150225.jpg
    20220516_150225.jpg
    89.2 KB · Views: 263
  • 20220516_150240.jpg
    20220516_150240.jpg
    69.2 KB · Views: 286
  • 20220516_150253.jpg
    20220516_150253.jpg
    93.3 KB · Views: 288
  • 20220516_150257.jpg
    20220516_150257.jpg
    89.7 KB · Views: 287
  • 20220516_150301.jpg
    20220516_150301.jpg
    82.3 KB · Views: 290
  • 20220516_150303.jpg
    20220516_150303.jpg
    84.8 KB · Views: 386
More pictures
 

Attachments

  • 20220516_150306.jpg
    20220516_150306.jpg
    84.4 KB · Views: 88
  • 20220516_150310.jpg
    20220516_150310.jpg
    78.4 KB · Views: 99
  • 20220516_150313.jpg
    20220516_150313.jpg
    83 KB · Views: 90
  • 20220516_150339.jpg
    20220516_150339.jpg
    58.4 KB · Views: 84
  • 20220516_150357.jpg
    20220516_150357.jpg
    85.4 KB · Views: 72
  • 20220516_150403.jpg
    20220516_150403.jpg
    79.5 KB · Views: 67
  • 20220516_150411.jpg
    20220516_150411.jpg
    77.9 KB · Views: 85
Yeah, 1-1/2 thread engagement isn't to reassuring. Should try to measure the distance from the base gasket down to the start of the threads to see how much difference there is.
 
Maybe you have a short nipple. I used the same filter on a Toyota 3rz engine and it has a lot of nipple. One and a half threads means the gasket is only about .1 in from the base when threads touch. Never saw something so close like that.
Your filter suffers from wide pleats. With the plastic cage they can be seen in your picture 303. I made sure my pleats were pretty uniform, after returning one ST with wide pleats like yours. Because wide pleats are no good. The cage does block the view a little but your wide pleats are clear.
 
Last edited:
I admire the way you simply stated the facts and your personal feelings in comparisons to other filters you have used for the application. You didn't call names or create a huge the sky is falling panic. With that being said - good catch and hopefully it doesn't cause any real world issues to people using it but atleast BITOG folks will be aware of this.
 
Maybe my eyes are bad.... Could well be that...

But the Wix filters looks to be convex and the ST filter appears to be concave....

Which would explain the shortening of the threading of that ST filter. The wrong baseplate is in that ST 3614 filter I bet.

I bet if you took a straight edge and put it across the ST 3614 it would like completely flat on the outside exges of that filter. Then put it on the Wix filter and I bet that straight edge would sit upon the top of the center of that filter while not touching the outside filter edges.
 
Last edited:
The gasket sits very high on the ST filter. Wrong gasket or doubled up?
Is the ST filter not supposed to have an orange silicone ADBV? Looks orange down the center at the bottom but not up top.
 
It does appear that the MP sealing gasket protrudes significantly more than the Wix. Could be just that, or that in combination with the MP threads slightly more recessed more in relation to the can base edge. I'm leaning most to the former observation. If so, it would seem in this case a thicker gasket not superior to thinner.
 
I admire the way you simply stated the facts and your personal feelings in comparisons to other filters you have used for the application. You didn't call names or create a huge the sky is falling panic. With that being said - good catch and hopefully it doesn't cause any real world issues to people using it but atleast BITOG folks will be aware of this.
Thank you sir, I simply wanted to give folks a heads up that they'll need a bit more nipple coming out of the block than with a similar filter from Wix/Purolator (which are what I generally run, so have the most experience with).
 
There is a difference between the 51356 and 51365 that is exactly as you describe.

threads both are 20x1.5mm
BP is 8-11 on both
flow is 9-11 for both
gasket is 63/55 mm for each
Those two filters only differ visually in height by 20mm; 86 vs 66.

And most folks think they are easily interchangable because many applications can accommodate the height difference. But the base end has the exact contrast you mention; one has a "shallow" base thread and one has a "recessed" base thread.

I wonder if someone who set up WMs filter interchange list didn't understand the difference and mistakenly over-extended the applications for this filter?
 
There is a difference between the 51356 and 51365 that is exactly as you describe.

threads both are 20x1.5mm
BP is 8-11 on both
flow is 9-11 for both
gasket is 63/55 mm for each
Those two filters only differ visually in height by 20mm; 86 vs 66.

And most folks think they are easily interchangable because many applications can accommodate the height difference. But the base end has the exact contrast you mention; one has a "shallow" base thread and one has a "recessed" base thread.

I wonder if someone who set up WMs filter interchange list didn't understand the difference and mistakenly over-extended the applications for this filter?
I am assuming that you are onto something. The filter is the same in every other way, but when I went to put it on, the gasket touched the block before it even started to thread on, I knew right away it wasn't going to work, but tried to see how far I could get it on, I got 1-1/2 turns and that was as far as I could get it.
 
It’s pretty much the same filter as a OEM Kohler filter. I have one ready to go on my mower. It could be that the gasket is too thick. Yes, the WIX filter has a convex thread plate.
Short nipple?
Filter cross references don’t always work. An example is the Toro/Exmark branded Loncin 708cc engines. A FRAM 4967 and STP S4967 will work and a WIX 51394/NG1394 will not work. The base plate contacts the engine block before the gasket can fully compress. The results are a constant slow oil leak.
The FRAM 4967 and STP S4967 also fit my Kawasaki Mule SX.
 
Last edited:
Honestly unless I'm missing something, I'm not seeing any relationship and/or comparison to any other extraneous to topic application(s). Topic Champ Labs made MP '3614' application and cross references to it listed in the OP are accurate. The issue here based on the information posted seems to one dealing specifically with MP 3614. As noted, issue appears to be one of an overly thick sealing gasket perhaps combined with some excess recess of the threads in relation to the can base edge.

I have zero doubt that it is a 3614 application and xrefs to filters listed. The nubs added to hold the sealing gasket are relatively new feature of Champ Labs made filters/ecores, and may or may not be a factor in the MP3614 thread grab observation.
 
Honestly unless I'm missing something, I'm not seeing any relationship and/or comparison to any other extraneous to topic application(s). Topic Champ Labs made MP '3614' application and cross references to it listed in the OP are accurate. The issue here based on the information posted seems to one dealing specifically with MP 3614. As noted, issue appears to be one of an overly thick sealing gasket perhaps combined with some excess recess of the threads in relation to the can base edge.

I have zero doubt that it is a 3614 application and xrefs to filters listed. The nubs added to hold the sealing gasket are relatively new feature of Champ Labs made filters/ecores, and may or may not be a factor in the MP3614 thread grab observation.
I just checked the MP3614 that I have on hand. The top of the uncompressed gasket is about 3/16” above the beginning of the threads.
 
Back
Top