Has wix gone south?

[woodlandfarms]

I have been using wix for a number of years as I had heard Fram had fallen from good graces... Now I have seen a number of comments here, and in other websites, saying Wix has dropped quality control.

Is this true? If so, what are the brands that seem to be of quality these days? Have a few oil changes coming up on various gear....

 

[DieselPower]

I have had some bad experiences with Wix/NAPA filters in the last few years. The problem I keep running into is that the threads are poorly formed or not there at all. Hard to install a filter with little to no threads. It really sucks when your out doing mobile service and it's a 30+ mile trip back to get another filter.

Personally I won't use their filters anymore, I have had it. I use Fleetguard, Donaldson and Caterpillar. If one of these 3 brands is not available I'll use Luberfiner or Baldwin. Never had any problem with any of them. I like the first three because most are OEM filter manufacturers, Fleetguard is Cummins, Caterpillar is of course Cat and Donaldson can be found as a OE filter on many pieces of equipment and most MD/HD truck manufacturers have switched to their PowerCore air filters.

 

[LRH]

Wix is no longer a division of Dana; now part of the Affinia Group

 

[Diamondpilot]

I switched over to Quaker State Filters about 5 years ago and have been very happy. If QS is not available I resort to Fram primarily because I have never had a problem and they are readily available. Actually, never had a problem with either.

I take care of about 75 engines that require at least one oil change per year and about 10 of which require 3-5 changes per year so I go through a lot of filters and oil. I buy the filters in bulk, usually 6 of each at a time, and buy the oil by the case or gallon.

Chris

 

[Hematite]

Wix is no longer a division of Dana; now part of the Affinia Group

Well, that could be the answer right there!

 

[ScottAR]

Strange, the store where I work sells thousands of dollars a month of Wix filters and
we have almost zero problems from them. I remember one recall on one part number a
couple years ago and one service bulletin on one part application. Other than those
two, We've very little problems. I've also never had a personal problem from their products.

I may in fact be biased or simply very lucky. I would and do put them on everything.

 

[mattman]

I have used wix filters a good bit no problems. Have not heard any other folks complain about wix.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just changed the fuel filter in my neighbors Dmax yesterday with a Napa Gold filter, aka Wix while doing a oil change and tire rotation. The threads were plastic on the fuel filter he supplied. I used a Fram on the oil with Rotella Synthetic. Not sure if they are all the fuel filters are like this but it seems cheap to me. I had changed the fuel filters in my Dmax years ago but forget if they were plastic or not.

Chris

 

[ScottAR]

Must be a design change... The last one I remember looking at had metal threads in both
ends... I can kinda see using plastic in the sensor end as the sensor is plastic and prone
to breaking. Which end was plastic? the mounting end or the sensor end?

 

[Dargo]

Personally I won't use their filters anymore, I have had it. I use Fleetguard, Donaldson and Caterpillar. If one of these 3 brands is not available I'll use Luberfiner or Baldwin. Never had any problem with any of them. I like the first three because most are OEM filter manufacturers, Fleetguard is Cummins, Caterpillar is of course Cat and Donaldson can be found as a OE filter on many pieces of equipment and most MD/HD truck manufacturers have switched to their PowerCore air filters.

I personally still have great results with Wix and have noticed no change. I think I'd do without before I'd stick a Fram on anything I own! Definitely have seen extremely poor quality there. They compete to be the cheapest on the shelf. There is a reason Fram is generally the cheapest.

Besides the list you have mentioned, I'd like to add Hastings with them. I use almost exclusively Donaldson, Baldwin or Hastings for air filters.