the last used wix i cut open looked just like this after the same exact amount of miles. does anyone have any input on my previous thought?? that this happens to the media because of the spiral inner core?
WIX 51040 cut open
- Thread starter Jakegday
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: SuperBusa
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I wonder if the media is 'swept' rather than squashed. Does not/ would not the metal core tube maintain the unit height?
I think what happened is the media grew some due to use, oil saturation, etc. ....
That makes sense with a partial celluose media. Just like my wooden screen door that wont close since its saturated with moisture
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I wonder if the media is 'swept' rather than squashed. Does not/ would not the metal core tube maintain the unit height?
I think what happened is the media grew some due to use, oil saturation, etc. ....
That makes sense with a partial celluose media. Just like my wooden screen door that wont close since its saturated with moisture
I think we have seen plenty of used celulose media that was straight. I think we need to find another explanation. Take 2 pieces of paper. Put a little oil in the center of one, and water in the other. The water will swell the paper and puff it up. The oil will lay flat.
what about the center core spiraling?? causing the oil to rotate as it goes through?? could that be the cause of this happening to wix filters?
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: SuperBusa
The ST I was talking about is the 7317 which has the metal end caps and center tube.
Post up a photo of said filter.
How many would you like?
The ST I was talking about is the 7317 which has the metal end caps and center tube.
Post up a photo of said filter.
How many would you like?
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2008
- Messages
- 5,508
Originally Posted By: SuperBusa
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I wonder if the media is 'swept' rather than squashed. Does not/ would not the metal core tube maintain the unit height?
I think what happened is the media grew some due to use, oil saturation, etc. If the length of the pleats grow slightly, then they have to bend slightly as seen in the photo - mostly with metal end caps and metal center core. Most filters will have wavy pleats after they have been used awhile ... at least most photos I've seen of used, cut open filters seem to show this.
Exactly. The media probably swells a bit and it has nowhere to go, hence the waves. It's probably the reason behind uneven pleats on other filters also, just that the waves went in opposite directions, making it look worse than it really is.
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I wonder if the media is 'swept' rather than squashed. Does not/ would not the metal core tube maintain the unit height?
I think what happened is the media grew some due to use, oil saturation, etc. If the length of the pleats grow slightly, then they have to bend slightly as seen in the photo - mostly with metal end caps and metal center core. Most filters will have wavy pleats after they have been used awhile ... at least most photos I've seen of used, cut open filters seem to show this.
Exactly. The media probably swells a bit and it has nowhere to go, hence the waves. It's probably the reason behind uneven pleats on other filters also, just that the waves went in opposite directions, making it look worse than it really is.
I wonder if we are looking at a capacity to usage factor. The WIX with the distorted pleats is quite black, perhaps its pores filled with the particles it is there to catch. The ST's straight pleats still show much of their original color. Do the pleats get distorted when a filter is run to where the restriction goes up sharply because it has caught enough junk to clog it?
Note, not near enough information here to beat up on Wix.
Note, not near enough information here to beat up on Wix.
Originally Posted By: Jakegday
the last used wix i cut open looked just like this after the same exact amount of miles. does anyone have any input on my previous thought?? that this happens to the media because of the spiral inner core?
Keep in mind that the oil flows into the base and then between the can wall and filter media before it goes through the media and into the center core. Seems like the oil would not really have any spiral flow with this flow path. If the oil came up the center tube, and then out the tube through the media, it might have this effect ... but of course the oil does not flow in this direction.
I think it's caused because the pleats grow slightly from use, and they are fixed at the ends, so have to deform someplace to take up the slight growth.
Originally Posted By: labman
Do the pleats get distorted when a filter is run to where the restriction goes up sharply because it has caught enough junk to clog it?
Possibility ... if the filter starts producing more and more PSID, it might have an effect on causing pleat distortion due to more pressure on the outside edges of the pleats.
Only way to find out is to look at the same filter with a low OCI on a clean engine to see if the pleats have the same wave pattern or not.
the last used wix i cut open looked just like this after the same exact amount of miles. does anyone have any input on my previous thought?? that this happens to the media because of the spiral inner core?
Keep in mind that the oil flows into the base and then between the can wall and filter media before it goes through the media and into the center core. Seems like the oil would not really have any spiral flow with this flow path. If the oil came up the center tube, and then out the tube through the media, it might have this effect ... but of course the oil does not flow in this direction.
I think it's caused because the pleats grow slightly from use, and they are fixed at the ends, so have to deform someplace to take up the slight growth.
Originally Posted By: labman
Do the pleats get distorted when a filter is run to where the restriction goes up sharply because it has caught enough junk to clog it?
Possibility ... if the filter starts producing more and more PSID, it might have an effect on causing pleat distortion due to more pressure on the outside edges of the pleats.
Only way to find out is to look at the same filter with a low OCI on a clean engine to see if the pleats have the same wave pattern or not.
Heres a AcDelco WIX pf52 with wavy media in both directions.
Nothing to worry about, get over it. I seriously doubt uneven pleats or bent out of shape media will cause catastrophic failure. IIRC the pleats fold over, swell, and move a bit while oil pressure picks up.
I will add that my STs I cut open always have uniformed pleats, but of course any filter that costs under 4 dollars here is deemed garbage.
Nothing to worry about, get over it. I seriously doubt uneven pleats or bent out of shape media will cause catastrophic failure. IIRC the pleats fold over, swell, and move a bit while oil pressure picks up.
I will add that my STs I cut open always have uniformed pleats, but of course any filter that costs under 4 dollars here is deemed garbage.
Last edited:
I haven't paid that much attention, but I think the lightly used filters with my 3 month OCI always had straight pleats. I have to agree it may not make much difference.
I haven't paid that much attention, but I think the lightly used filters with my 3 month OCI always had straight pleats. I have to agree it may not make much difference.
Oh, the Purolator Classic usually sells for about $3.50 and look at the raves it gets.
Oh, the Purolator Classic usually sells for about $3.50 and look at the raves it gets.
Last edited:
To me it looks like the end cap of the Wix was pushed down distorting the media.......
Originally Posted By: Silver02ex
Baxter's auto parts is the only place in my area that sell Wix filters. The ST i just bought was $2.50.... My mistake... It's 1 cent short of 3 times the price. Take a look for yourself, it's the same price online as it is in the store
Sorry... we can't help that you're paying full retail price for Wix filters.
There's got to be a better deal out there somewhere.
Baxter's auto parts is the only place in my area that sell Wix filters. The ST i just bought was $2.50.... My mistake... It's 1 cent short of 3 times the price. Take a look for yourself, it's the same price online as it is in the store
Sorry... we can't help that you're paying full retail price for Wix filters.
There's got to be a better deal out there somewhere.
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Originally Posted By: Silver02ex
Baxter's auto parts is the only place in my area that sell Wix filters. The ST i just bought was $2.50.... My mistake... It's 1 cent short of 3 times the price. Take a look for yourself, it's the same price online as it is in the store
Sorry... we can't help that you're paying full retail price for Wix filters.
There's got to be a better deal out there somewhere.
I don't expect or want anyone to help me. I was just stating that the Wix is 3 times the price as what I was paying for an ST. This is the reason why I don't buy Wix or Napa Gold. If it performs 3x better than an ST, maybe, but I don't see it.
Originally Posted By: Silver02ex
Baxter's auto parts is the only place in my area that sell Wix filters. The ST i just bought was $2.50.... My mistake... It's 1 cent short of 3 times the price. Take a look for yourself, it's the same price online as it is in the store
Sorry... we can't help that you're paying full retail price for Wix filters.
There's got to be a better deal out there somewhere.
I don't expect or want anyone to help me. I was just stating that the Wix is 3 times the price as what I was paying for an ST. This is the reason why I don't buy Wix or Napa Gold. If it performs 3x better than an ST, maybe, but I don't see it.
- Status
