One thing not mentioned is when you watch the You tube cutaways the same Wix filers are vastly different inside. There are counterfeit filters out there, and when one firm is selling a Wix filter for $4.50, and other retailers are getting around $10 for the same number Wix filter, where is the discrepancy?
MOPAR, Toyota, Honda, A/C Delco, and Motorcraft have had problems for years with counterfeit filters, no reason to expect counterfeiters wouldn't resort to one of the best selling brands for decades to target with counterfeit filters. Retailers may, or may not know the product they're offering is not the real deal, but if they're paying less that $2 a unit, and retailing them for $4.50 chances are pretty good it's not genuine Wix stock.
China has been making counterfeit everything for decades, no reason to think that car parts isn't on their agenda too.
Something to mull over.............
I always examine the media on my filters BEFORE it goes into the cannister, always looks the same, it looks just like T/P.................
