https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/forums/engine-oil-filters.6/

Oil Filters made in U.S.A.

I'm not saying other countries make a bad oil filter. I want to keep the money home for the American worker. What "excellent" oil filters are made in the U.S.? I can't seem to find a thread on this subject. Thanks.

bobistheoilguy.com

You can start here. I've only recently fell into the whole oil-rabbit-hole, even after hot rodding for 50yrs. I should have fallen into the hole years ago 🤪

 

Do you realize your link is fifteen years old and probably the info has changed by now? The Wix issue has started just the past year for instance.

 

Yeah, I ran into something similar last week. I went to a local auto supply chain to get a filter for a suv, I asked for a Wix. They told me they were getting away from Wix. I asked why. Their response was they were having trouble getting restocks from Wix, it had been months since they had received anything from Wix. I don't know what's going on!

 

Anyone who swings wrenches used to use ____ but I think like batteries they all went to crap. Last week I went to try docs filters why not right. But they couldn’t differentiate the differences between 7.3l idi or 7.3l power stroke. Which is longer Soooooo I gave up called local parts store and got whatever’s they sent that’ll fit.

 

I buy OEM from Rock Auto, Ebay, or walMart. Whoever has best price- BUT wherever you buy, you run risk of getting counterfeit parts. YouTube will show you how to ID stuff.
But I always just get OEM manufacturer.
Its a difficult world today to buy anything correctly.

 

That's too bad hearing this about Wix, they were my go-to on filters but now I think I should do some research. Many years ago Fram was my go to as was previously posted the quality went downhill. It's unfortunate that we are subjected to so much Chicom garbage. They are great at putting a lipstick on a pig.

 

I use nothing but Wix XP.
Wix is owned by Mann-Hummel, a German firm.
AC Delco is still made in the US, for the most part.
Vietnam is taking a lot of manufacturing away from China to include oil and air filters, and automobile tires.

I work part time at O'Reilly and we have no problems stocking Wix.

 

I like Wix too. But they are sourced from suppliers worldwide according to their free filter app.

 

Gave up on Fram long ago, due to the crimped end leaking. One blew off and dumped out 8 quarts on one of my built 428's. Luckily no damage.
Never had a Wix problem, was a well thought of filter line in the trucking industry.
With my Fords, I've always stayed OEM using Motorcraft.

 

Just looked and Amazon is much cheaper on oil filters than walmart.

 

That's where I get my Motorcraft.

 

Saw this the other day.

 

Update

 

Buy an oil filter cutting tool and buy a few filters and cut them open to see for yourself. Amazon.com: MOCW 77750 Oil Filter Cutter Billet Aluminum Universal Oil Filter Cutter Tool 2-3/8" - 5" Cutting Range : Automotive

I stay away from the low end Fram orange filters because of the paper end caps. But some Fram filters are quite good actually. Fram doesn't manufacture filters like most of the brands. They're jobbed out to various suppliers worldwide. I like Napa Gold, Wix, some Purolator, higher end Fram, Motorcraft, Baldwin, etc. And Wix currently makes their automotive filters in the U.S., Mexico, Poland, China, and South Korea. The Wix app shows a lot of details about each filter including country of origin.

Attached are pics of a recent manufacture new/unused Fram $3 filter from Walmart. These were marketed for a while by Subaru America and built by Fram. Same as the orange can Fram filters...garbage. Thankfully, Subaru America is now sourcing filters from their OEM Tokyo-Roki and not Fram.

 

Back in 1990, I was studying Lubrication/Hydraulics. We disected many major brands of auomotive oil filters and studied/measured the internal/external constuction, reinforcement and filter quality. Also used specialised microscopes and optical comparator grids to analyse the filter elements density and efficiency.
Purolator was the best with; #2 Wix, #3 Fram and everyone else ranked equally.
This was over 30 years ago though.

 

I really used to care about filters but just gave up. Was a big fan of Baldwin then to wix but with it all going to crap I go with whatever fits because I only use full synthetic oil And do full services within 3,000 miles to in advance compensate for idle or in the even it goes over mileage I’m good. Fuel filters done every service as well Got lotsa iron and don’t care who’s company name on it or what color it is. And now everyone Gona razzz on me but I never change air filters. Just blow them out along with radiators every service. Let the ballbusting commence

 

It's a free country and do what you want with your money. I made a living with 2 careers with one in aviation and one in equipment maintenance. I've turned wrenches, taught maintenance, and set up and ran an industrial maintenance organization from scratch. There ARE definitely differences in filter quality. Paper air filters aren't recommended to be cleaned with compressed air because most people use too high of pressure and damage the media. I have cleaned them when I couldn't obtain new. When I was a teenager, I worked servicing garbage trucks and heavy duty offroad diesel powered equipment. We ALWAYS cleaned air filters with compressed air nightly and replaced them every 3 months.

I cut open spin-on oil filters periodically and verify at least quality of construction. Many spin-on oil filters are of at least decent quality, but some aren't. You only know if you cut them open. If you don't care, it's your equipment and your money.

 

Like ur style with the it’s a free country and serious experience in the field. My last statement I should’ve clarified was specifically trucks. As a 14 yr old kid I worked at a rock crushing site and one of my duties was greasing and swapping out air filters that were blown out by a subcontractor by the box truck load. This was by far the worst air quality site and airborne rock dust was even felt on your teeth. And they didn’t go through any engines Entire adult life was in tree service as a owner wood chippers and stump grinders are incredibly self destructive machines and air filters and radiators blow out ever 20 or less hrs of operation every machine is greased every day it’s used so it sits with clean grease until next use. Chainsaws air filters blown never replaced as well. ANY air filters with damage or holes obviously would get replaced but truthfully I can’t remember the last time that happened. In my entire career as an owner blew three engines one on a 02 international truck that had bad o rings in piston water jackets. And had a track mounted cat 4 cyl engine that had engine block failure the center of block would cave in and would be symptomatic of head gasket until straight edged and block was deflected. Replaced with cat reman 400 hrs and 5 yrs later same block collapse but was only warranted for a year due to forestry use so did it again outta pocket and that was a better reman and still going today. This is what I’m basing my reasoning on and haven’t had any problems. And that’s real

 

I'm still using some pre-imported Filters, the K&N is for my Mopars, FramX2 and the older Fram for my Fords and Royal Purple filters go on the Chevy El Camino.....Chevy truck gets Fram, newer Fords get Motorcraft. Maybe if Trump puts some outrages tariffs on Mexico-China Fram and others will start making them in the U.S again.

 

Fram is the only brand that seems to consistently have filters fail. I used them for years and thought the fram fuel filter that started leaking was just a fluke but later found out about the fram quality issues and started to avoid them.

 

Ford Senior Master Tech here. FYI,,,,Motorcraft oil filters are made by Purolator for Ford. Motorcraft filters use a Silicone gasket where as most cheaper filters dont.

 

Personally, I think Motorcraft filters are some of the best made, especially for the low price you pay for them.

 

I use Wix for my F250 Diesel (synthetic black filter). I have good oil analysis results so im sticking with them. Here's something to consider (not entirely related to this thread); I bought a filter from Napa; bring it home, go to pre-charge it with oil and notice a black residue on the gasket. I smell it and WTF- its a used filter thats been cleaned. I bring it back and they have me grab another off the shelf. This time i check and same same- used oil filter. People clean them and swap it with new ones so another "thing" to check for; scam asses.

 

Yep, I like Wix too.

 

And here is one version of Subaru USA's OEM filter after they switched from the Fram design, I'm assuming after the Covid supply issues lessened. This was obtained from our dealership. Not bad but, I ordered OEM Japanese filters for our new Forester.

 

And this is an "OEM" Subaru USA filter sourced from Walmart. Looks like a Fram garbage filter to me. You just don't know unless you cut one open. This was a $12 filter.

Added: Made in USA doesn't always mean you get decent products.

 

if all these filters are so crappy why no horror stories of blown motors associated with these.been using fram filters for over 50 years no issues using them.did someone have a bad issue or just some soreass crying the blues.

 

Did you read why I quit Fram?

 

There are a bunch of posts on different forums where Fram caused engine problems. Some of them are long term caused by farm not having a decent anti drain valve, others were the end caps coming off, others were the filter paper tearing apart and getting stuck in oil passages.
Mine was a fuel filter. Think about the evolution of fuel systems, carburetors had a small filter usually in the side of the carb, then filters moved to inline somewhere in the engine compartment then under the vehicle and finally into the tank. My 1988 had the filter inline and mounted to the firewall. A fram filter leaked and sprayed gas onto the engine and exhaust.

 

Fram has a separate line that is sold to retail outlets and they are to be avoided. They used to add a letter after the standard part number for those outlets.

My local speed shop has US made Wix filters, so I grabbed a couple on my last trip. I use Moroso in my old Ford. AC Delco used to be made here. YMMV.

 

I`m currently driving a 2008 Kia Sportage that I`ve owned for 15 years with only two repairs,Valve cover gasket and a A/C Compressor and am at 87,000miles. I always buy my filters,Air& oil from Kia. No problems. I do most of my own work and Keep Records Bigtime.

 

This guy posts reviews of oil filters and linked is a review of a Wix XP filter.

Another video (3 years old) with comparison of Wix XP and Napa Platinum.

And probably TMI with more filter inspections (2 years old) from a different poster.

I've used Walmart's Supertech filters and generally they're good values but, some look like Fram with paper endcaps now. The Supertech filter boxes actually have illustrations showing whether they have metal or paper endcaps though. The extended mileage Supertech filters seemed to all have metal endcaps. At least the handful I looked at in one store.