I have been using Wix oil filters for quite a few years, ever since having read some report online about the quality of different filters. Fram was the worst quality filter back then, but I don't know if that's the case anymore.

But just recently I noticed the Wix filters changed from white to black. I also noticed that the oil was blacker than usual when changing oil in my wife's car last week. It was an extra 700~800 miles overdue. Usually the oil comes out almost as clean as it went in, but this time is was a typical black dirty oil. That was the first oil I have run with a black colored Wix filter.

Has anyone else noticed this about the Wix oil filters lately? Does anybody know if Wix has a new supplier for their filters, or changed designs a bit? The color change of the filter and the blacker than usual oil happening at the same time could be coincidental, but I still wonder.

Sorry not running the Wix but have always used Fram oil filters with no promblems to date. My oil turns BLACK after 5 mins of running after a new oil change, but it always done that.

I realize that the oil in our diesels turns black as quick as you pour it out of the bottle. But my wife's car is a 92 Grand Prix with a 3.4L v6 gasser with 175k miles, and the oil is usually extrordinarily clean when I change it.

Sounds like they changed manufacturers to me

My understanding is that the black, sooty deposits that form so quickly are as a result of combustion by-products. I've also read that the by-pass systems (e.g. Amsoil ByPass Filtration) will remove a lot of these combustion by-products, making the oil much clearer.

My understanding is that you can't compare the oil used in gassers to that in the diesels, since the diesels' fuel and combustion is so different from the gasoline automobiles.

Does anyone have experience with by-pass filtration? Does it make any visible difference? I know Amsoil also sells oil test kits to see what kind of shape your oil is in.

The theory with them is to use really expensive synthetic oil, add by-pass filtration, and then, instead of changing your oil every 2500-3000 miles, you simply test it, and it the oil test turns out OK, you just keep running the same oil! The idea is that you still have superior oil protection, but all the costs even out because of this new paradigm of oil filtration and use.

Sincerely,

Rob :)

My understanding is that you can't compare the oil used in gassers to that in the diesels, since the diesels' fuel and combustion is so different from the gasoline automobiles.

I'm not comparing gassers to diesels. I'm looking for an answer to my question about Wix filters.

Has Wix changed anything about their filters other than their color?

Maybe they are getting their filters from a different supplier, or maybe they simply ran out of white paint at the filter factory and started painting them black. ;)

I'm not comparing gassers to diesels. I'm looking for an answer to my question about Wix filters.

Has Wix changed anything about their filters other than their color?

Maybe they are getting their filters from a different supplier, or maybe they simply ran out of white paint at the filter factory and started painting them black. ;)

Call WIX techline direct, they were very helpful with my questions about fuel filtration, they make a replacement that costs less than Racor BTW, same as what Strokes use on their factory pre-filter.

Search the web for WIX site and there is a email & phone contact, I don't know which was worse the wait for the email or for a live body to take me out of MUZAK holding hell, was about a 15minute hold to get a live body to talk to.

As far as oil turning black fast, I have bypass filtration that helps some, but it still turns black purty quick, gonna be that way unless you figger how to get 100% of the oil out including the cooler & lines, when my pan was off for the crack inspection I did, black oil was still weeping out after 3 days of not running & pan off, that oil BTW makes a great crack fault finder if you think you have got cracks wipe the webs & caps down with a good fast evaporating solvent; I used laquer thinner (Thanks for idea GMCTD) if you got cracks the oil will leech back out of them.

I have a link that first got me to stop using a fram filter, You have to take what you read on the net with a grain of salt....but based on what I read on this site I can now identify a bad designed filter.

This reminds me of an incident that happend to me about 20yrs ago. I was 17 and had a 1978 Rabbit, it used to run 80psi @ hiway speeds and 25psi @ idle. after changing my oil & filter (Canadian Tire filters are made by Fram) the gauge would just barely move and if I reved the sh#t out of it it would get to 25psi, As a test I put the old filter back on and the pressure came back up to what it was, I ended up going back to Can Tire and got another filter and I must have got a good one cause the oil pressure went back up to normal readings. All that being said, anyone could make a bad filter once in a while. After reading thru the oil study you can gather your own opinions so take it for what it is worth.

w_huisman
I know you said the filters (Wix) changed to Black, but are you using the same oil that you were when the filters were white??

Quote
"I have been using Wix oil filters for quite a few years, ever since having read some report online about the quality of different filters. Fram was the worst quality filter back then, but I don't know if that's the case anymore."

I do not think the quality has changed as Fram still uses the smaller holes on the face of the filter compared to the larger less restrictive holes on a Hastings or Amsoil filter


http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html

I hope that Wix quality has not dropped off. I run the amsoil bypass remote system so I don't use the Wix anymore but they have always been the leader in quality as far as filters go. I still use them for air filters though. I need to stock up on them so the next time I go and I remember I will ask the guy.

I installed an Amsoil dual remote bypass filtration system on my truck about 600 miles ago. The oil was 1000 miles old at time of installation and seems to be getting lighter in color. Using Amsoil 15w40 Heavy duty diesel and marine full PAO synthetic.

...as I've said in the past "it's much better to run a dirty old WIX filter than a brand new Fram filter."

good idea about calling WIX. I think I'll try to call them today. Incidentally, I don't think they have changed anything, other than paint. It's much like packaging that changes occasionally.

If I learn otherwise, I'll post back.

SnowDrift

join BOBISTHEOILGUY forums [free btw] (http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi) and search the forums there... more stuff there than you every really need to know about oils and filters