I'm pretty upset with the bean counters at WalMart. Their SuperTech filters were touted on this forum, and I've used them for years now. But NO MORE. I'm about ready to put their ST-8A on my minivan for it's semi-annual oil change, and take out of the box. I look at it and see what's missing--plain as day--the anti-drainback valve feature that was always, always there before.
Current editions of the SuperTech ST-8A do not contain an anti-drainback valve, the gasket seen just below the baseplate. I took it back to WallyWorld for my money back, then went back to the stacks to see if their other stock was similar. No ST-8A SuperTech filters on the shelf had the drainback valve gasket. I started looking at their other ST filter sizes to see if they were similarly constructed--without anti-drainback valves even though that valve was clearly shown in the filter's expanded picture on the box. I looked at the other ST filter I use (ST-6607) for my Miata; it still had the drainback gasket.
Not only did it get cheap on the internal valve construction, it also got shorter. It's now about an inch shorter than the Bosch I replaced. I've used the Ford V-8 filter on my Chrysler 3.3l minivan for years now. I've used the Motorcraft FL-1A, the Purolator/ProLine 300001, the ST-8A, Bosch and others. They've always had the drainback valve, and they've always been the same size. Well, that's not true any longer for the SuperTech Ford V-8 filter. It's now gone decidedly cheap.
That's too bad; they've always been desirable and a good deal, but now the WallyWorld branded ST filters are banned in my house. Looks like Pep Boys with their Purolator and Purolator cloned ProLine are on my short list.
Current editions of the SuperTech ST-8A do not contain an anti-drainback valve, the gasket seen just below the baseplate. I took it back to WallyWorld for my money back, then went back to the stacks to see if their other stock was similar. No ST-8A SuperTech filters on the shelf had the drainback valve gasket. I started looking at their other ST filter sizes to see if they were similarly constructed--without anti-drainback valves even though that valve was clearly shown in the filter's expanded picture on the box. I looked at the other ST filter I use (ST-6607) for my Miata; it still had the drainback gasket.
Not only did it get cheap on the internal valve construction, it also got shorter. It's now about an inch shorter than the Bosch I replaced. I've used the Ford V-8 filter on my Chrysler 3.3l minivan for years now. I've used the Motorcraft FL-1A, the Purolator/ProLine 300001, the ST-8A, Bosch and others. They've always had the drainback valve, and they've always been the same size. Well, that's not true any longer for the SuperTech Ford V-8 filter. It's now gone decidedly cheap.
That's too bad; they've always been desirable and a good deal, but now the WallyWorld branded ST filters are banned in my house. Looks like Pep Boys with their Purolator and Purolator cloned ProLine are on my short list.