If you're using a WIX oil filter read this

[fj40z]

First off I am sure that WIX makes a great filter. So sure I put them on both my Cruisers. With that being said a faulty 51515 roached my 1FZ. A couple weeks ago before I left to go to work, I started the 80 before I went to work to let it warm up a little since it was around 20 degrees outside. Started and sounded fine as I walked back in the house, sounded fine as I got back in. I always check my oil pressure gauge and temp gauge before I drive off and both were normal before I drove off. Less than a mile later I hear something that sounds like a threshing machine flying to pieces. I glance at my gauges and I have zero oil pressure. By the time I slow down enough and get it pulled off the road it's knocking like crazy. I immediately knew the damage was catastrophic to the motor. After talking to a friend @stevezero he told me he had the exact thing happen to his LX450 a few years ago and it was a oil filter problem so I decided to start there. Pulled the filter and cut it to inspect, it was really dirty to only have 4000 miles on the synthetic oil and the fins were very distorted. I throw on another WIX 51515 and start it and immediately my oil pressure goes exactly back to normal but the damage was already done. Still knocking like crazy. I decided to contact WIX about the possibility of having a faulty filter. I was told that they would have a district manager contact me but since I was using the wrong filter for the 80 and I had already cut it they would not warranty any of the damage. I get the part about me cutting the filter, I totally understand but they say that the WIX 51515 was listed for use on Landcruiser's 1971-1996. I have a 97 and it's supposed to have WIX 51348. I couldn't believe my ears, but nevertheless I talked to the district manager and he explained to me that they would not be able to do anything about it but he would like to look at the filter. Luckily I had kept it and all its contents because when he looked at it he discovered the bypass valve had not been installed like it should have been in my filter. He said he believed I got an oil pressure surge from the valve sticking open in my oil pan and since the filter had no bypass valve to help keep the drain back valve from being loose it dislodged and blocked off the filter totally.
He also said if the filter had the bypass valve none of this would have happened because the drainback valve would have not been able to come off. He also said that if the filter had been assembled correctly my motor would be fine but since I had already cut it and it was the wrong filter they would not warranty anything. So I'm left with a roached motor.

 

[Allen9480]

Sucks. I'm glad I replaced my Wix filter a couple of weeks ago.

 

[BILT4ME]

Where did you buy the filter?

What did they supply to you?

The 51348 version is the SMALL version.

The 51515 is the LARGE version. They BOTH have the drain back valve in them.

The fact that they are both designed to do the same job could very well be argued by an attorney. They are both designed to fit the same thread and gasket size. I would keep pressing Wix as well as go after the Auto Parts Store that sold it to you, especially if it was done by "Application".

All of the Wix filters on the O'Reilly website state a 1 year warranty.

 

[jamesurq]

WOAH... that's F-ing bull****.... sorry, but they admit fault and then because you used the wrong filter it's your problem? What are the physical differences between the two filters? Anything? Who told you the wrong part number?

 

[fj40z]

Where did you buy the filter?

What did they supply to you?

The 51348 version is the SMALL version.

The 51515 is the LARGE version. They BOTH have the drain back valve in them.

The fact that they are both designed to do the same job could very well be argued by an attorney. They are both designed to fit the same thread and gasket size. I would keep pressing Wix as well as go after the Auto Parts Store that sold it to you, especially if it was done by "Application".

All of the Wix filters on the O'Reilly website state a 1 year warranty.

I bought the filter at O'Reillys. The District sales rep for WIX said he might be able to work with O'Reillys and get me some discounted filters and fluids but that was it. I explained to him that O'Reillys didn't make the faulty filter WIX did, they should be responsible.

 

[fj40z]

WOAH... that's F-ing bull****.... sorry, but they admit fault and then because you used the wrong filter it's your problem? What are the physical differences between the two filters? Anything? Who told you the wrong part number?

I knew the part number as they were applicable to the both of the 80's I have previously owned.

 

[jamesurq]

You should probably lawyer up at this point, man.

Hate to say it, but without one you're getting nothing. With one, you'll likely get 67% of the value of any fix. Get a quote to have it rebuilt - your attorney will need it. Feel free to have it quoted at a Toyota dealer, since any settlement will need to be split with the attorney it makes sense to get the highest one.

 

[jfz80]

WOAH... that's F-ing bull****.... sorry, but they admit fault and then because you used the wrong filter it's your problem? What are the physical differences between the two filters? Anything? Who told you the wrong part number?

Um. Me maybe

Ive always used a 51515 And did not know that 97s came stock with the small filter therefore kicked in a part change for aftermarket as well.

Difference in filters is physical size

What they are using as an out more than anything is the fact the filter was cut open before they saw it.

Where did you buy the filter?

What did they supply to you?

The 51348 version is the SMALL version.

The 51515 is the LARGE version. They BOTH have the drain back valve in them.

The fact that they are both designed to do the same job could very well be argued by an attorney. They are both designed to fit the same thread and gasket size. I would keep pressing Wix as well as go after the Auto Parts Store that sold it to you, especially if it was done by "Application".

All of the Wix filters on the O'Reilly website state a 1 year warranty.

1) oreilly
2) supplied what was selected and placed on counter by OP likely
3) correct on number and size however have to correct your statement and say both "SHOULD" have a bypass valve and anti drain diaphragm. The district mgr admitted his filter was missing the bypss valve but hands are tied cause its been cut open and wrong number
4) was likely selected by number and not by application chart
5) oreillys will probably warranty that filter and give him another but what good does that do to give you a filter that you dont trust. And wouldnt be fair to ask more of oreillys as they did nothing at fault.

 

[fj40z]

I do understand what they are talking about as to the filter being cut. I told them I know from a legality standpoint I didn't have a leg to stand on, but I was going to give them a chance to do what was right from a morality standpoint.

 

[jamesurq]

I wouldn't be so sure that you don't have a leg to stand on. And I bet they're not sure either. A strongly worded letter from a lawyer might change their mind.

 

[Rice]

This is very sad to me. In addition to the many man hours and dollars lost for Stephen, I'm also bummed about WIX letting him down. I've exclusively run these filters in all my rigs for at least 30 years now. I came to depend on WIX because it was the go-to filter for everyone in the racing community and I've never doubted its dependability, including a few high dollar motors. I do not know at this point if WIX is something I plan to stay with or if I'll be finding an alternative. I plan to do some more reading, but the online stories you find about any lube related engine failure can be very difficult to "filter" .... was the failure because of the filter or because of the end user. Uhg!

Thank you, Stephen, for sharing.

 

[BILT4ME]

I do understand what they are talking about as to the filter being cut. I told them I know from a legality standpoint I didn't have a leg to stand on, but I was going to give them a chance to do what was right from a morality standpoint.

Unfortunately, then you are SOL. Attorneys and most companies don;t operate or make money solely on morals. I wish I was wrong, but when it gets down to costing money from one of them, whomever has the deepest pockets and the best attorney wins.

I look at it this way:
If the counter person at O'Reilly looked up the part by application and then handed you THAT part, THEY (O'Reilly) are culpable in the claim.
If YOU gave the counter person at O'Reilly the part number and they did NOT back it up by asking for application, then they are culpable in the claim.
If YOU gave them the part number and that's what they supplied, they are NOT culpable.

The filter changeover date is 4/96 manufacture of your vehicle when the oil filters change.

I would be willing to bet that 98.2% of all 80's on the road in the USA using the Wi filters are using the 51515 oil filter due to the added oil volume.

Also, start surfing the Interwebs for other folks with failures of the 51515 oil filter and build a case. I'll bet you find more.......

(67% of all statistics are made up on the spot)

 

[jamesurq]

Did he admit the fault in the filter in writing? IE: could you quote him on a public board like this: "It's definitely a defective part - we screwed up, but because of a technicality, we don't have to stand behind our product".

Might be a great quote for Amazon's review page... or perhaps the BBB page? Or maybe the New York Times?.... that last one is obviously a stretch...

 

[jdayment]

I agree with at least talking to a Lawyer when I worked at Carmax we had many cars come in with knocks due to incorrect filters or oil being used put in by Jiffy Lube or Wal Mart. We would start our diagnosis and later find that incorrect oil levels, wrong size filters, incorrect weight of oil being used by different service centers causing catastrophic failures and after some back and forth they would bend and cover the customers cost of repair or at least partial cost. Cutting it open really doesn't do anything. I could get my oil changed somewhere drive down the road remove my drain plug and the service center wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

 

[Rice]

Did he admit the fault in the filter in writing? IE: could you quote him on a public board like this: "It's definitely a defective part - we screwed up, but because of a technicality, we don't have to stand behind our product".

Might be a great quote for Amazon's review page... or perhaps the BBB page? Or maybe the New York Times?.... that last one is obviously a stretch...

It's definitely a conversation I wish Stephen had a recording of.

 

[jfz80]

Im In same boat of unsure if i want to continue its use. The distric mgr mentioned they are all hand assembled and only every 10th filter gets a QC check so it is possible that it was a assembly line error. With the number of filters they produce and the human element at hand it has to be a possibility a few leave the factory out of spec.

Wish i could have heard the convo but did he say that because the faulty valve scenario the oil was continuously bypassing filter never going through media or did I hear that wrong?

That sounds like the beginning of trouble there if i understood the explanation correctly.

When we disected another members the pleats were much more uniform and still white though he had less miles on it.

 

[jfz80]

@jdayment

Cutting it open allowed the attempt of fraud in the eyes of the district mgr who seemed to believe whole heartedly steve was telling nothing but the truth. He even mentioned he expected to see a perfectly good filter as 99% of the time but was shocked to see it actually had failed. He gets to see them all though and said less than honest folks could cut it open and tamper with the inside to try and place blame on wix.

 

[jdayment]

@jdayment

Cutting it open allowed the attempt of fraud in the eyes of the district mgr who seemed to believe whole heartedly steve was telling nothing but the truth. He even mentioned he expected to see a perfectly good filter as 99% of the time but was shocked to see it actually had failed. He gets to see them all though and said less than honest folks could cut it open and tamper with the inside to try and place blame on wix.

That's true but I would continue escalation of the claim through Wix. I should reword my legal recommendation to say use that as a last resort. If we ever had someone claim that they had an attorney and threaten us we would automatically stop all communication with the customer and say they or their legal representation needed to contact our legal department and then give the number. I am sure most large companies follow the same procedure. The fact that the District Manager made the comments he did does not help their case. I would not expect them to cover the entire cost but help out with at least a percentage of a replacement motor or a rebuild.

 

[Hornd]

Um. Me maybe

Ive always used a 51515 And did not know that 97s came stock with the small filter therefore kicked in a part change for aftermarket as well.

You should probably lawyer up at this point, man.

Difference in filters is physical size

What they are using as an out more than anything is the fact the filter was cut open before they saw it.

If they evaluate the filter odds are they will find zero wrong = zero liability
I would take tons of pictures and label every picture.
Go get a new filter and perform same disassembly to prove an inconsistency.
Present the information to Wix and let them prove your pictures wrong.
This will cost you only your time.

Unless you have a friend, a laywer is not getting involved unless you show $$$.

Being comprehensive and extremely detail oriented in these cases makes winners vs losers.

Wix has a lawyer that can squash you, but they are not going to get super involved in defense over a motor (Peanuts in their world) and might settle with you based on your diligent analysis.

Consider your winnings too:
Erin Andrews -- How $55 Million Gets Whittled Down ... to $6 Mil[/QUOTE]

 

[Hornd]

You do know the Toyota Filters are $45/10 on Ebay Shipped?