Wix 46814 x2 vs Motorcraft FA1805

[chrisf8657]

Hi guys,

Decided when I was bored to do a pleat count on 3 filters I have. First is a Wix 46814 which is now dirty enough it needs replaced. It has exactly 75 pleats. It has a dark orange paper. The exact same one I just ordered, now a off-white paper, has 95 pleats, but same model, and still like the other, says "Made in USA". But this new one with 95 pleats shows at least 4-5x more light than the older 46814.

The Motorcraft FA-1805, in comparison (which Wix 46814 is the replacement for), has 82 pleats. The older 46814 looks just like the Motorcraft, except for a few less pleats.

What happened?
(I will post pictures later)

Thanks!

 

[chrisf8657]

Old Wix (still new) vs. New Wix:

Motorcraft (top) vs. "Old" (still new) Wix:

(Old filter looked like Wix on bottom but dirty, threw it out - I have 2, bottom one is new, just wanted to keep filters on hand)

 

[Texan4Life]

thanks for the pics... I wonder what the difference between the 2 medias are?

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: chrisf8657
Old Wix (still new) vs. New Wix:

The New Wix 46814 looks almost exactly like Mann filter for my '00 E430.

 

[ltslimjim]

Yes, as long as it's not cheap material for the pleats, I don't see a problem. Sure, you may have a preference for thicker pleats, but a used oil analysis would reveal actual filtration 'problems' resulting and if filtration can stay solid with slight increase in air flow(you noted seeing more light?), why not?

 

[chrisf8657]

I going to assume they base # of pleats based off the "flowability" of the paper, correct?

Might explain why the paper changed between two different filters, yet one has more pleats...

Or the machine doesn't cut the pleats at the same # each time, just same size...the How-it's-made video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U38ZdVFZIM) said "The machine keeps track of the pleats"