Interesting Wix Filter Info

[CapitalTruck]

Received this from the folks at Bumper to Bumper/Auto Value in response to a series of questions about a filter I bought for my parents' Mazda 3 2.3L. The packaging said "Contents Made in USA", the filter was stamped "Poland". Thought it was kind of interesting. I'm writing off the second sentence as a way of protecting Wix as a premium brand name. I highly doubt they make two lines of filters in the same factory, one "premium" to sell as a Wix and another "regular" to sell as Parts Master, etc.

 

_________

 

Parts Master Filters by Wix are designed to meet or exceed Original Equipment (OE) specifications in performance and dimensions. They don’t however have the same filtering performance of the Wix premium filter. Although the majority of our Parts Master filters and Wix branded filters are made domestically there are part numbers that are manufactured in other countries to stringent Wix quality specifications. In this case both are manufactured in Poland by Wix.

 

 

 

Concerning the packaging, Wix communicated back to me that the packaging on this part number was converted in May of this year to reflect the “Made in Poland” tag line. Normally a running change on packaging is done to use up existing box inventories. That is how the part you purchased did not have the proper designation.

[C & A s Dad]

Wix is our supplier as well. They do mfg two quality levels of filters in the US. For us, the Wix Premium filter is in our CARQUEST Blue packaging and their economy line filter is in our Red packaging. The Parts Master brand would be equivalent to our Red filter. The good news is Wix's economy filter is manufactured using the same construction as the premium line with the exception of the filter media itself. The economy line uses a filter media that is less efficient than the premium filter media. They still meet or exceed all OE specs and in my opinion are still far ahead of many other brand's premium offering but simply are not as good as the Wix premium filters.

 

I do know Wix now has some global ties since they are now owned by Affinia instead of Dana. It is my understanding they either are already or soon will be producing some of their filters in China. My guess is the filters produced in China will be the economy line only.

[Z45]

Wix filters are made all over the world. The filter for my CTS (cartridge type) is made in Poland and in the gold wix box. The Filter for the Allison trans is Made in China and is in a white box with a Wix label.

 

My understanding from a Wix engineer is this.

 

The standard WIX filter in the Wix box is also the same filter as the NAPA Gold and the CarQuest Blue. Wix does manf. filters for other companies to those companies spec's. Lots of filter companies do that.

 

I think the difference is also the anti-drain back valve is silicone (orange in color) in the WIX, NAPA Gold and CarQuest Blue but nitrile (black) rubber in the economy brands. The silicone ADBV is the sing of the Wix quality line.

 

I don't know where that Mazda engine is made but if its not made in the US than chances any filter to fit it will be made in the US are slim. The major filter companies will just contract with the oem filter maker to produce a filter for them to package and sell.

 

Another tidbit of info I heard today. Friend is an AC Delco service center/retailer. Said ACD rep was in recently and told him GM is shopping ACD. So soon AC Delco will no longer be a GM company and then you will likely see quality suffer like when GM sold of Delphi and they had so many problem with shoddy electronics soon after because they went to China for cheap parts.

 

Here is a link to a schematic of a Wix filter.. http://www.wixfilters.com/productinformation/index.html

[C & A s Dad]

Mike, I could be wrong, but I thought GM sold AC Delco some time ago. I know they began sourcing from other suppliers some time back ie. Denso and NGK plugs in a Chev from the factory, Bosch O 2s in GM vehicles.

 

Like I said, I could be wrong because we are not a Delco distributor. AC plugs are the only ACD product we handle.

[Z45]

fyi

 

GM considers selling off ACDelco

 

Posted Oct 22nd 2008 4:33PM by Noah Joseph

Filed under: GM

 

In this economic climate, everyone is looking to generate cash and reduce overhead. And General Motors is certainly no exception, the automotive giant already having announced its intention to sell off its HUMMER brand. The General is also looking to offload its facility in Strasbourg, France. But the biggest sale yet could be the potential divestment from ACDelco, one of GM's parts subsidiaries.

 

ACDelco has been in operation for over 100 years, and offers no fewer than 37 product lines encompassing some 100,000 different parts on offer, both for GM vehicles and those made by rival automakers. The sale of ACDelco is part of a campaign to raise several billion in liquid assets for GM, and in as bold a sign of the times as any, the corporation has selected Merrill Lynch to manage the sale process. Full details in the press release after the jump.

 

[source: General Motors]

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

General Motors Explores Potential Sale of ACDelco

 

General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced today that it is exploring a potential sale of ACDelco, its global independent aftermarket parts business, a brand of GM Service & Parts Operations. A sale is expected to promote more rapid growth of ACDelco globally.

 

As the company announced in July, GM is undertaking a number of initiatives to bolster its liquidity position by approximately $15 billion through year-end 2009, including the sale of assets which are expected to generate approximately $2-4 billion of liquidity. In addition to the ACDelco business, GM previously announced it is exploring the potential sale of its Hummer brand and its technical and manufacturing center in Strasbourg, France.

 

ACDelco provides light-duty maintenance and repair parts and associated services for both GM and non-GM vehicles in more than 100 countries. Part of GM Service & Parts Operations, ACDelco is headquartered in Grand Blanc, MI, with approximately 600 employees worldwide.

 

GM has retained Merrill Lynch to assist in this initiative.

 

About ACDelco

 

With over 100 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry, ACDelco is a global leader in automotive replacement parts and related services. Products include maintenance parts commonly replaced during the lifetime of a vehicle (e.g., batteries, oil filters, air filters, wiper blades, shocks and brakes), as well as repair parts (e.g., alternators, radiators, chassis and heating/cooling components).

 

ACDelco is among the world's best known comprehensive All Makes, All Models providers, featuring high quality auto parts for both GM and non-GM vehicles and services, with the brand's "genuine OE" reputation signifying high quality replacement parts, support and training in the automotive aftermarket. In the United States, ACDelco offers 37 full product lines with over 100,000 part numbers, comprised of both GM original equipment and All Makes, All Models product.

[c4cruiser]

Mike, I could be wrong, but I thought GM sold AC Delco some time ago. I know they began sourcing from other suppliers some time back ie. Denso and NGK plugs in a Chev from the factory, Bosch O 2s in GM vehicles.

 

Like I said, I could be wrong because we are not a Delco distributor. AC plugs are the only ACD product we handle.

 

I believe that it was Delphi that GM sold awhile back. But I would not be suprised to see AC Delco be sold when GM goes thru some big restructuring process (and they will even if they don't declare Chapter 11).

 

Regarding AC Delco, are the AC Delco filters sold in retail stores (AutoZone, Kragen, Wally World) different than what you see at dealerships or sold thru auto repair facilities?? I have seen AC Delco filters that are marked as being made in Korea, Mexico, and even China so far.

 

Using foreign components in GM products is nothing new. My 92 Corvette had a Bosch traction control system and a variety of Bosch sensors and a Nippondenso A/c compressor. The brake calipers were made by PBR from Australia.

[C & A s Dad]

Thanks Mike, I guess that clears that up.

 

George, I know several years ago there were "counterfiet" AC Delco filters being slipped in under the radar but I am not sure today if they is true or not.

 

Maybe MS3Dale can chime in hear and tell us if the filters he sells through his Dealership are the same as the retail stores sell.

[Starrman]

I think the AC Delco filters are made by Champion Labs, along with a lot of others

 

Here's a lot of good info on oil filter brands and manufacturers

 

http://www.knizefamily.net/minimopar/oilfilters/index.html

 

 

FWIW, I use Mobil 1 extended life filters along with Mobil 1 Truck & SUV synthetic oil that gets changed at about 5k-6k miles. I bought my Yukon from my father in law 2 years ago and he always used Mobil 1 from first oil change. I figured I'd just keep using the same, why change. Plus they are both carried at Wally World and my wife works there so I get a 10% discount.....$35 for 6qt synthetic oil/filter change isn't bad

[Z45]

I think the AC Delco filters are made by Champion Labs, along with a lot of others

 

Some are and some are not. They source for several manf. The oil filter for my Cadi CTS is made in Mexico and its an AC Delco. It uses a cartridge type. I have not been able to find any that are made in the USA. The Wix comes from Poland, a Fram comes for China as well as others I checked into locally. So I use a Wix or ACD what ever is handy but since I only need to change once a year, don't need to worry about that to much.

 

AC Delco has had a problem with counterfeit in the past and may still have. What was happening according to my friend who is a Dealer for ACD is that a company in Mexico was making and selling filters to a well known (I forget the name) auto parts chain store in the SW US. They were not authorized ACD dealers and anyone who bought one of those filters was screwed because ACD would not stand behind them. While the filters met standards for the countries they were to be sold in, they did not meet US standards and were not supposed to be sold here.

 

I am told but I do not know if this is true that GM has a plant that makes ACD filters for GM assembly operations because they need a reliable source for production of engines.

 

 

fyi

ool!! That's just like us, We make filters for our competitors too. Even Fram.

 

It's a mater of economies. Should we tool up to make a particular filter, or is it cheaper to purchase it from someone else. Does the current market volume warrant the expense. Purchase units until we do get tooled up so that we have the application in out product lineup.

 

When we lost the Sears business to Purolator, many moons ago, every Monday morning there were Purolator trucks at our warehouse picking up Wix filters to be rebadged (with our permission)in Fayetteville as Sears Filters. Purolator didn't have the manufacturing capacity for the business they thought they weren't going to get. So they purchased our capacity and paid a premium for it. We were happy, Sears was saving 0.25 cents ($1/4 cent) a filter and Purolator ate the big bullet.

 

It's the way it works everywhere, no matter the business/product.

 

btw - Wix makes Amsoil filters with media purchased from Donaldson that is licensed only to Amsoil (nano-fiber media).

[C & A s Dad]

Thanks for that "BTW info". I knew Wix produced Amsoil's filters but my source inside Wix would not talk about the Nano Fiber technology. He just would say it was a joint venture with Amsoil.

 

I have considered using them but have not yet made the move.

[Z45]

from my source..........................

 

 

We also make the new Amsoil filters that everyone is yakking about. We purchase the media in large rolls., not the finished elements.Q. Can you say if the same media is used in all the Eao filter models? A. Sorry, but that's another one of those... "and then I'd have to kill ya questions".

 

 

I use them along with the SSO 0W-30 Synthetic in my 2008 GMC. They don;t make one for the CTS V6