Big Changes for WIX 51334 - Pics

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Bought several WIX 51334 filters for my Elantra using those O'Reilly coupons last week. I noticed at the store that WIX changed their boxes. Now they can't be opened without sabotaging the box (good for the retailers - people can't switch filters now, but bad for the consumer - can't tell if a filter is damaged before buying). I finally got around to putting them away on my garage rack and I got the itch to check for damage, so I opened one...

shocked2.gif


The box isn't the only change. These now appear to be Hyundai filters painted black! See the pics below, but the changes I noticed with the new one (right side of comparison pics):

*Filter is slightly shorter
*Totally different paint job
*Open end is sealed
*Fewer holes above ADBV
*No longer U.S. made, now South Korea
*Mann-Hummel prominently featured on the can

I'm not too concerned with the changes, as I know Hyundai makes great filters, however I'm very curious why the filter is slightly shorter. Has anyone already done a C+P on these? I'll definitely do one once they come off. Eager to hear everyone's input!

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^

Nope; they are just re-boxing OE Hyundai/kia filters. They are made by the same company that owns Wix so no point making several lines for the same filter line.
 
Originally Posted by diyjake
Going from made in usa to made in south korea is cutting corners to me.


Or, with more and more different filter numbers in the marketplace, perhaps they just outsourced instead of building a larger manufacturing factory. Let's see now...most Purolator filters are made in USA.
 
Pretty much previously covered in two links. Fewer inlet holes compared to old not significant. As long as total area of inlet holes equals the block mounting stud inner diameter area, all that's needed. New filter design at least that, likely more. As noted, looks like some production standardization of an application by the parent company.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4993030/new-wix-51334-design

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4977894/1
 
Originally Posted by diyjake
Going from made in usa to made in south korea is cutting corners to me.


The recent C&P of a few South Korean made oil filters have shown to be at least equal to those made in the US. Some actually better.
 
Originally Posted by diyjake
Going from made in usa to made in south korea is cutting corners to me.


For me, it looks like an upgrade. I highly doubt that the quality will suffer. The OEM KIA filter is one of the best filters in terms of build quality.
 
OMG! you got an OEM Filter in a Wix box. the So Korean engine will explode with a So. Korean filter!

I hope it didnt cost more than the affordable KIA/Hyundai.

High diff is likely due to he Wix having a base end bypass whereas the Mann may have a dome end bypass.


I tried these on my Rogue QR25DE and it don't flow well at all -or - rather let us say the engine had tremendous racket which was solved by swapping out the filter. I call that typical VVT ready to fall apart racket. Dont kneoo whay they protest after an oil change but ive seen it too many times on too many cars,
 
Like it or not, this appears to be a good move by Wix (and MANN+HUMMEL). Now owned by MANN+HUMMEL, they already had the existing product line in Korea producing OEM filters for Kia. This filter cross references to the Motorcraft FL-810A, which was used on a handful of late 70s and early 90s domestic vehicles - most of them are all in the scrap yard by now. Mostly, this filter was used by Asian imports though:

ACURA CL 1997-2003
ACURA EL 1997-2003
ACURA INTEGRA 1988-2001
ACURA MDX 2001-2002
ACURA RL 1996-2004
ACURA SLX 1996-1999
ACURA TL 1995-2003
ACURA VIGOR 1992-1994
ASUNA SUNFIRE 1993
BUICK OPEL BY ISUZU 1976-1979
CHEVROLET LUV 1997-2005
CHEVROLET SPECTRUM 1985-1988
CHRYSLER SEBRING 2001-2005
DODGE STEALTH 1991-1996
DODGE STRATUS 2001-2005
DODGE VERNA 2004-2006
EAGLE VISTA 1992
FORD ASPIRE 1994-1995
FORD COURIER 1973-1976
FORD FESTIVA 1988-1993
FORD PINTO 1975-1979
GEO SPECTRUM 1989
GEO STORM 1990-1993
HONDA ACCORD 1984-2002
HONDA CIVIC 1988-2000
HONDA CIVIC DEL SOL 1993-1997
HONDA CR-V 1997-2001
HONDA CRX 1988-1991
HONDA ODYSSEY 1995-2004
HONDA PASSPORT 1994-2002
HONDA PILOT 2003-2004
HONDA PRELUDE 1983-2001
HONDA S2000 2000-2009
HYUNDAI ACCENT 1995-2019
HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1992-2019
HYUNDAI EXCEL 1986-1994
HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE 2010-2014
HYUNDAI IONIQ 2017-2019
HYUNDAI IX35 2015
HYUNDAI KONA 2018
HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2001-2019
HYUNDAI SCOUPE 1991-1995
HYUNDAI SONATA 1989-2019
HYUNDAI TIBURON 1997-2008
HYUNDAI TUCSON 2005-2018
HYUNDAI VELOSTER 2012-2019
HYUNDAI XG300 2001
HYUNDAI XG350 2002-2005
ISUZU AMIGO 1989-2000
ISUZU AXIOM 2002-2004
ISUZU I-MARK 1981-1989
ISUZU IMPULSE 1990-1992
ISUZU OASIS 1996-1999
ISUZU PICKUP 1988-1995
ISUZU RODEO 1991-2004
ISUZU RODEO SPORT 2001-2003
ISUZU STYLUS 1991-1993
ISUZU TROOPER 1984-2002
ISUZU VEHICROSS 1999-2001
KIA AMANTI 2004-2006
KIA FORTE 2010-2019
KIA FORTE5 2012-2018
KIA MAGENTIS 2001-2010
KIA NIRO 2017-2019
KIA OPTIMA 2001-2019
KIA RIO 2006-2017
KIA RIO5 2006-2011
KIA RONDO 2007-2016
KIA SEDONA 2002-2006
KIA SORENTO 2003-2019
KIA SOUL 2010-2019
KIA SPECTRA 2004-2009
KIA SPECTRA5 2005-2009
KIA SPORTAGE 2005-2019
KIA STINGER 2018-2019
LOTUS ELAN 1990-1992
MAZDA 323 1986-1989
MAZDA 626 1980-1982
MAZDA 808 1972-1977
MAZDA B2000 1980-1984
MAZDA GLC 1977-1985
MAZDA MIZER 1976-1977
MAZDA RX-7 1980-1991
MERCURY BOBCAT 1975-1979
MERCURY TRACER 1988
MITSUBISHI 3000GT 1991-1999
MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE 1992-1996
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2000-2012
MITSUBISHI GALANT 1988-2012
MITSUBISHI LANCER 2004-2015
MITSUBISHI MONTERO 1992-2016
MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT 1997-2011
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 2003-2006
MITSUBISHI PRECIS 1989-1994
MITSUBISHI SIGMA 1989-1990
NISSAN URVAN 2000-2006
PONTIAC SUNBURST 1985-1988
SUBARU OUTBACK 2016-2019

According to this list, Kia is by far the largest market for this filter for new vehicles (2019+). Why have two production lines within the same company producing nearly identical filters for this market? One being the "exact OEM model" for Kia, and one being designed by Wix prior to the merger as an "OEM equivalent"? You probably wouldn't see this type of thing happening for a filter where a majority of the current and future uses were domestic, but the domestic model use for this filter is dead. Someone realized they could save some cash by exclusively importing this model, and continue to offer the same (if not better) quality.
 
Excellent news IMO. I used a WIX 51334, made in Mexico, in my 2013 Elantra a while back and it didn't like it at all. Noisy and mpg dropped. Switched it out to OEM and the engine ran quiet again, mpg jumped up to normal. The new design looks like OEM, so I may give it another go if the price is right.
 
Regular Wix filters at 99 percent at 23 microns. XP filters at 99 percent at 35 microns. Bosch filters at 99 percent at 20 microns. Hmm.. Think I am going to make the full switch to Bosch.
 
Originally Posted by elpcmaster
Regular Wix filters at 99 percent at 23 microns. XP filters at 99 percent at 35 microns. Bosch filters at 99 percent at 20 microns. Hmm.. Think I am going to make the full switch to Bosch.

Cool, you do that.

Are we done here?
 
Originally Posted by tony1679
I'm not too concerned with the changes, as I know Hyundai makes great filters


Of course Hyundai doesn't actually make filters, they are made by Mann-Hummel and this appears to be a consolidation effort on their end, as others in this thread have noted.
 
If I need to change oil on a older Honda or anything Hyundai/Kia or Subaru(that uses a PH3593A filter), I'll be using these.
 
Very, very interesting - I recently stocked a few of the new style boxes on the shelf at work at the O'Store you bought those from. I noticed the box was different but didn't think much of it.
 
Do you think the consolidation of different filter brands will benefit the quality of the filter, applying innovation from each company it acquires, or will benefit the profit for the new owner? Does the car manufacturer choose the filter OEM filter manufacturer by it's quality, innovation or cost.
 
Originally Posted by Ded Mazai
Originally Posted by diyjake
Going from made in usa to made in south korea is cutting corners to me.


For me, it looks like an upgrade. I highly doubt that the quality will suffer. The OEM KIA filter is one of the best filters in terms of build quality.

I wonder if it will show some specs now, there is none available for the OEM hyundai filter except one pass in a hyundai video saying 99% efficient at 50 microns.

Basically a boulder strainer.

I have used OEM on my elantras since they weee new and none have blown up yet, but if these are "tighter" ......
 
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