Check the link in my signature - NapaGold/Wix online.

It has been quite a while but the last made in Turkey Fram filter that I saw cut open also had the wound cord bypass section. The made in Mexico Fram was cotton gin waste.

When we had the big comparison thread we saw Baldwin filters that also had no cotton gin waste.

All of the filters made in Mexico or India were reported to have the cotton gin waste for a bypass section regardless of the name on the label. There are large filter factories which make filters for a number of different labels.

Even the dealers have no vested interest in supplying a filter that will protect your engine. There is no engine under a warranty plan that uses these filters, is there?

I tried some Mann filters years ago and wasn't impressed a bit. I found a few metal shavings and louzy paper and that was after someone said they were the best. I've been using Wix ever since and have been happy with them.

I saw the made in Turkey Fram today at Pep-Boys. I was really suprised at how heavy duty it was. You just have to look at it and feel it to believe it. In comparison, the made in India Pro-line and Puralator felt like a Pepsi can. The Turkey filter has very strong, well finished metal, much stronger than even the Mann. I think its pretty safe to assume that Fram does not actually manufacture this filter, and I'm pretty curious to know who actually does make it.

But Wix doesn't have a bypass section.

I assume the bypass section (in filters that have them), which I think sends oil back to the pan, doesn't filter as well as the other section that sends it to the engine. I'm wondering if this section that sends it to the engine filters to below 25 microns. I understand the Wix filters to 25.

I have a Wix in my car now, and like you say it was kind of a pain to get the o-ring on right. It kept falling into the filter housing. I had to be very careful to get it on right.

Fram Oil Filters are very good & are made in Italy or GB
Some peoples just like others names.
Look on

The made in Turkey Fram filters are the only ones I trust.

Looks you get Oil Filter, which one was made for new cars for breaking period.
If you look on new Diesels from MB 606 Engines do not have bypass filters.
One element more filtration & more Oil flow.
Today Oils are better & really; do not need bypass Filter for regular cycle of Oil change.
If some one is interesting to use Synthetic good Oil can add bypass Filter & change Oil on longer cycles.

How true, pull an STP filter out of the box for a 617 and the filter has Mann stamped right on it. They don't even try to hide it.

I second post #34! After reading the LOOOOONG oil thread on this forum where a bunch of oil filters were cut open, I was impressed with the material inside of the "Made in Turkey" FRAM oil filter. So today I went to Pep Boys, and they are selling these "Made in Turkey" FRAM oil filter - they even had one on the shelf for my '84 300SD (617). I opened the box, and I was really impressed with how well-made it looked! The metal and seam and seal quality looked outstanding - indeed rugged all around. It was about $11, so I picked it up.

I'll use it in my next oil change.

Speaking of oil... Are Delo, Delvac, and Rotella not about the same thing? How big is the difference between those?