Jim, You have a point, one in which I agree 100% with. This does have me rethinking my ‘testing’ method. Thinking I may go ahead with the RTV, rubber tube and water test. Followed up with cutting each filter down the middle to verify construction. If my first test does indeed show air bubbles escaping from where the two metal plates are supposed to be bonded. The follow up test cutting them down the middle could back that up if I can show a gap between those two plates. Also might be able to pass something between those two plates? Piece of thin wire or paper? There are two things I can definitely vouch for so far. Prior to the first oil change on the Buick. Every cold start yielded an immediate extinguish of the oil pressure light. After the first oil change involving the WIX filter. It took an eternity to extinguish the oil pressure light after cold start. Had to disconnect the coil wire. Then perform 3ea, 10 second runs before the oil pressure light went out. Reconnect coil wire, start engine, oil pressure light went out almost immediately. On the ‘05 LTC involving the WIX filter. Every cold start yielded an extremely long swan song from the lifters until the oil filter was refilled. She’s my daily driver. Has been since 2011. I’m very familiar with her nuances and noises. On both vehicles, both issues were gone after I went back to the oil filters I had been using. In addition to this. I have, right or wrong, prefilled the new oil filters prior to install. I too played devil’s advocate on the ‘05 LTC. I used a second WIX filter. As I was filling the oil filter, I notice oil/air bubbles popping up between the two metal plates. Not the anti drain-back valve. I still have that filter. Going to figure out some way to test that one as well. Any thoughts or ideas are more than welcome. Paul
So I heard somewhere that WIX is now being produced in China. Not sure if all of them are or not, but if that's the case, I won;t be buying WIX anymore, but I need a good alternative then. Someone did a test between a WIX built in China and one in USA, same part#. Not a filtration test, but a construction test, or analyses. The Chinese one had shorter overall length filter material and also the material under a microscope was far inferior with all kinds of daylight coming through. I have a few Purolators that Rock Auto was unloading but I have no idea if those are good either.
Our sideways filters are a drainback problem for sure and the rubber flapper "valves" on the filters may work initially but when then get blasted with 80+ psi for a while they don't do much. Does anyone make one with a positive drainback valve with a spring? Years ago I almost went to a remote filter that would be vertical but I figured the extra plumbing might be an issue.
Please read all the info from the K&P website. They don't use a drainback valve .......... however, the K&P filter flows so "unrestricted" when compared to a paper element filter, that you get oil pressure way quicker than with a conventional filter with a drainback valve.
This is an interesting thread. I have yet to run into a 1258 with the black check valve. I checked my shelf today, and the 3 we stock (Napa Gold) all have the orange check valve. I ordered 12 more, which will be coming from different locations, so it will be interesting to see what shows up. Typically we use about a dozen of these filters a year, including on my own GS, and I haven't had a problem yet. I have used WIX oil filters, both Pro Select and Gold, for around 35 years, including all 17 years at my own shop. Who knows how many tens of thousands, with very little trouble, until Covid. As mentioned, WIX sold around 2017, and then the pandemic caused both supply chain issues as well as quality issues. Because of the supply chain issues, Mann-Hummel subcontracted some of the filter numbers to smaller companies (not the 1258 as far as I know). There were plenty of problems with some of those, and bulletins were issued. But the problem filters weren't limited to just the subcontracted ones. We found mislabeled Gold filters (wrong part number) and they even had a recall on one number (7055 for Subaru IIRC), for leaks around the swage near the open end. But up until Covid, WIX/M-H have been a shining star for many years IMO. Hopefully they can find their way again.
Wix cold start: Baldwin cold start: https://youtube.com/shorts/fSHlvEMFKVI?feature=share I'd say the second clip shows the needle moving sooner. It's close but I feel like it's quicker. What say ye?
I'm trying to show the difference between the Wix and Baldwin oil filters in terms of initial oil pressure at start-up relating to the anti-drainback valves in each filter. Next year's ride along videos will be much better choreographed.
Got it, just trying to learn from the ongoing conversation. I was comparing the cold weather, cold engine, start up oil pressure lag compared to the warm weather, warm engine, start up, "ride along". Again I'm not qualified to challenge anyone here, just trying to learn what to look for.
OK, so the 12 oil filters showed up from a couple of different Napa warehouses. They were all made in the USA, and all had Sept 22 date codes. I smoke-tested only 6 of them, and sure enough 3 were heavy leakers and 3 were OK. I called the tech line and asked if they had any complaints on that part number, and they said they only had 2 complaints for external leaks in the past 12 months or so. I explained the situation and wanted to know if my test was valid and if that anti-drain back valve was supposed to seal better. I also explained that many people are complaining of too long of a run time before any pressure reads on the gauge, and that may have some engine wear/fail consequences. She was unsure what to say and was going to escalate the concern up the chain. I'm supposed to hear back from them early next week. s
Bob, thank you for taking the time to add some "science" to the discussion. I especially appreciate it because I sensed you were a tad skeptical of the thread's hypothesis. I expect Wix will deny any issue, even if they are alarmed by it. Hopefully, if it is a valid test, they will take corrective action. Speculation time...I know some Wix filters have moved from a coil spring to the more common leaf spring. If that's true on our filter #, the leaf spring seems like it might not have the travel of a coil spring, potentially creating a looser fit. Brett -- great video! I notice my issue on warm starts when the car fires right up. I don't see it as much if the car has a few turns from the starter.
I have a System1 oil filter for many years. When I bought it, I sent them an E mail because I didn't see an anti drain back feature. They told me they actually have one, but they don't include it with the kit because it restricts flow a bit. They sent me one free of charge. I have used it ever since, but didn't really see a big difference to be honest. It is, of course, reusable as is the filter. Below are pictures, of the filter and anti drain back valve, as well as the GSCA Extra article that inspired me to buy one in the first place, back in 2000.
This is the oil filter I have been using for a long time now. I also use it on my 93 F150. Very similar to the K&P Filter. Web site: gopurepower.com.
