Hello BITOG folks. I hope I'm not hijacking this post thread & that my input will prove useful here.
Re Wix vs M1 filters:
I'm not sworn to any particular filter brand (but am ADVERSE to several, most notably Fram - ANY/ALL Fram). I use Purolator, Bosch (appears a re-branded Purolator), Mann, Mahle, Wix/Napa Gold & M1... price is my determining factor. I'd not exceed x2 oc's re-using the first two lesser brands, but would go x3 or 4 extended oci's with the others, given mostly highway use.
I presently have a Napa Gold/Wix filter on our Accord.... this Wix filter has been in use now for close to 27k mi & three+ years (since 12/2016), with the following oci's.(beginning with the one preceding our ownership):
- 10/2015 -115k mi - Unknown oil, white CarQuest filter*. < prior car ownership >
- 12/2016 - 124,142mi - initial Napa Gold 7356 (Wix) install with M1 5w/20 [approx 9k oci]
- 1/2018 - 131,071mi - oc with M1 oil mix of various viscosities (long story). Filter emptied & reinstalled... 6,929mi oci.
- 5/2019 - 140,740mi - oc with Citgo syn-blend 5w/30. Filter emptied & reinstalled... 9,669mi oci.
- 3/2020 - 151,- - - mi - oc (tonight~tomorrow) with Citgo "full synthetic" 5w/30. NEW M1 filter (purchased x3yrs ago)... 10,340ish mi oci.
Pertinent details ~ '05 Accord 2.4L four cyl in good running condition with documented previous owner-present maintenance history... speedy lube & repair shop oc's with oci's ranging between 4k to 10k, presumably a new cheapo filter each oc. Roughly 70% highway use overall. Daily winter warmups of x3-5min while scraping ice off the windows. First two years of our ownership the car was driven only x6mi each way to work, but as of a year ago the commute increased to 22mi each way. Occasional multi-state highway travel. A quart of oil is consumed & replaced/refilled between 7-8k mi, unless oil changed. My oc's involve very elevated/angled jacking with drain plug out overnight when possible, but at least a few hours... yielding a nearly complete drain (x5qt refill vs 4.5qt per owners manual).
I'll cut the 27k mi Napa Gold/Wix filter open & photograph the guts. I also still have the previous filter (*white CarQuest filter) we got the car with four years ago - it was in use for approx 10k ~ I'll cut it open as well. Photos will be posted here if I'm able to figure out how to do it.
Fyi; yes, I know Citgo oil has gotta be so-so & that the "Full Synthetic" (also "Fully Synthetic") bragidosh is hype, but there was a nice rebate at Benny's (like a miniature Woolworth or K-Mart... out of business over a year now). I've got another two cases of Citgo to get through... but intend to shorten oci's down to 7-8k or when the engine is a quart low.
Apologies for the long post