Quality USA-made oil filters

[efnfast]

I've been using Napa Gold filters for the last 2 decades without any issue but apparently earlier this year they switched manufacturers and are now made in China and apparently quality has gone downhill. Forum posts seem to confirm this (lots of leaks, failed drainback valves, etc.)

So I figured I would just switch to Wix filters since Napa Gold used to be made by Wix. But apparently Wix got bought out by M+H and quality has also gone downhill over the last year.

Any thoughts on Amsoil filters? Apparently they filter really well, but comes at the cost of a lower flow rate.

Frustrating to research this since most information is 1-10 years old so not relevant to how oil filters are made in 2024.

[J R Jones]

Purchasing departments and outsourcing can be problematic. OEM parts are typically reliable and performance tested. Their sales volumes are huge.
Ford/Motorcraft filters are made to their spec by Purolator: "Filters at least 95% of all particles 20 microns and larger". Dec 10, 2022, Powerstroke.org
Having worked for OEMs, I find many in the aftermarket try to copy OEM, emphasis on "try".
jim

[JohnK]

Country of manufacture is not the indicator of quality that some think it is. There's plenty of crap made in the good ol' USA by people that don't know what they're doing. I worked for a large capital equipment manufacturer that outsourced a lot of manufacturing overseas. The amount spent on implementing rigorous quality control at our contract manufacturers was significant, but the resulting quality was as good or better than anything we could make in the US. I hate simplistic reductionist thinking, but if you're going to try to overly simplify what makes for a good quality product it's the size of the company behind it (and therefore the amount spent on QC) rather than where a part is made.

[CNIdog]

I'm seriously thinking of buying a filter cutting tool to open each filter I use to see how it holds up as well as looking for glitter. Seems you can't trust any brand these days with counterfit stuff out there.

[lance corsi]

John K, I think you’re referring to me. I believe my reference was to Chinese made items. If they ever made anything worth keeping, they didn’t send it over here.

[Nigel Allen]

Have used Fleetguard on everything from our warehouse forklift, hundreds of generators we maintain, even the fuel filter on the roadster.
Great cross reference software is also handy.

[Olli]

For the past few decades I've been a fan of Motorcraft, WIX, WIX XP filters. I have recently seen some very positive tests on the Purolator BOSS filter.

Olli

[john42]

John K, I think you’re referring to me. I believe my reference was to Chinese made items. If they ever made anything worth keeping, they didn’t send it over here.

I've visited China many times and taken QA tours of manufacturing floors many times. The quality of the product being made is dictated by the company making said item. China manufactures frequently make 2 versions of many products. 1 of low quality dictated by the US company to send to the US and one of very high quality that they sell to the Chinese people and other countries willing to pay for a higher quality product. The problem isn't "China". The problem is greedy US companies chasing profits while sacrificing quality. So, just trying to keep the "blame" where it belongs. It sits squarely with US corporations not China.

[Dgc333]

John K, I think you’re referring to me. I believe my reference was to Chinese made items. If they ever made anything worth keeping, they didn’t send it over here.
If you are responding to this post using a computer, tablet or cell phone it was made in China. Apple and Samsung cell phones are made in the same factory in China. I ordered a new iPad for my wife from the Apple store and it shipped directly from China. The same for the most recent HP laptop I purchased from HP com.

To say that China does not make good products is categorically wrong.

[Kbl7td]

What issue are you exactly expecting to have? If you’re that worried, then I suspect changing the oil more often rather than focusing on the source of major major oil filter brands, would do you more benefit.


***edit just to build on this, I got curious. Here is a post from another forum…

Welcome to the Global World of Automotive parts. In general, the newest manufacturing plant of a world class company is built to incorporate the latest technology, so as it happens so often, the newest plants built in China / Mexico / India / emerging new location will have good tech. These new locations are usually "baby-sat" by the home office engineers until QC meets all expectations, then the home team leaves the new plant and leaves it in the trained hands of the locals. Home office visits on a regular basis...more often if the KPI's are not on target (Key Performance Indicators)

China and SW Asia are emerging markets for automotive, expect more and more stuff to be made there & consumed there, while people in North America complain there are no manufacturing jobs for Billy or Sue to take on with their HS Diploma or other post secondary college degrees.

Actually, the old machinery from ACDelco Rochester, NY was unbolted from the floor and sent to Mexico one machine at a time to get each piece up and running during the transition. This is about cheap labor only. Jobs need to be there for the "less intelligent" people too instead of paying them starvation/less than survival wages. Better they make a decent check than some fat hog getting rich and just hoarding money, which is what's being allowed now.

[J R Jones]

What issue are you exactly expecting to have? If you’re that worried, then I suspect changing the oil more often rather than focusing on the source of major major oil filter brands, would do you more benefit.

Good point, oil filters are not chalenged until the oil breaks down and large deposits develope to clog the filter. I use Castrol Synthetic and change both oil & filter at 5000K miles. That is way-sooner than required and I never have an issue.
jim

[ggunter]

Well said John 42. The Chinese build to the specs given to them by the American vendors. They will build it to any spec the US manufacturer wants. It's all about that profit!!!

[SJDave]

I've been running these in my 347 for the last 12 years, absolutely no bypass...zero chance of debris getting into the oil.
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