K&N Oil Filters COO-China

[Gunner]

For quite a number of years, I was using Perf-Form or an occasional Amsoil oil filter on my bikes.  In last couple of years, I switched to K&N for my Valkyrie IS and my '09 Aero since I could catch them on sale on a regular basis and I really like removing them with that nut on the end of them.

Today, while go through my stock of oil filters and planning out what I would need to get for the cars, bikes, and various equipment this spring, I noticed in very small print that the K&N is made in China. 

After seeing "made in China," my one last K&N motorcycle filter was put to the back of the shelf and I just ordered four of the "made in the USA" Perf-Form oil filters.  (But that is just me!)  There is some other information regarding quality of the current filters on other m/c forums, but I have not experienced any problems in the couple of years I have been using K&N.

I would have never imagined K&N would outsource to China until I saw it in the fine print.  I guess K&N uses Korea also from what I saw in some of the other m/c forums.
 
This news is about as depressing as it was to me last night when I was walking around Sears thinking how much longer it will be until they are gone.

Oh well...the times they are a chang'n!

Gunner

[cookiedough]

doesn't surprise me one bit to be honest.  I've read somewhere that AC Delco oil filters used in years past on my GM cars are now made in China as well.

I've also heard, not knowing if 100% true, that K&N and Hi-flo is made by same company as well.  I have bought Hi-flo oil filters for my ATV's and Valk thus saving the 5-7 bucks more in price just to get the nut at the end, never saw the need for it since is easy to get at with a normal oil filter wrench.   I believe KN-303 is same as HF-303 (for hi flo)  for my cycle I think the number was as well as KN152 vs. HF152 for my ATV's.  If you look at the guts of both, they are the same except for the nut at the end. 

My Carquest branded oil filter I use which is made by WIX and is made in Korea, nothing wrong with the quality though looks exactly like OEM at near 1/2 the price. 

Try to find ANY vehicle with much over 70% American made parts is pretty hard to come by in today's world let alone made in the USA. 

[sandy]

How many times do I (we) have to say: A Purolator Pure One is made in America and is the top rated filter. PL14610 is 3/4" longer than stock with more filter area. PL14612 is the stock length. I don't care if my filter is chrome, nutted or invisible. It is a part that needs to do an important job. I paint mine with silver paint the day before I change my oil.

[Robert]

How many times do I (we) have to say: A Purolator Pure One is made in America and is the top rated filter. PL14610 is 3/4" longer than stock with more filter area. PL14612 is the stock length. I don't care if my filter is chrome, nutted or invisible. It is a part that needs to do an important job. I paint mine with silver paint the day before I change my oil.

I totally agree and have used the KN filter and switched to the Purolator when the oil looked a bit dirty. I had changed the oil put on a KN filter after about 1000 miles I noticed the oil was a bit dirty. Didn't change the oil but put a Pure one filter on. The oil turned a few shades lighter after a couple hundred miles. I wouldn't change for the reason of made in China but its not as good as the Pure one so that is why I would change. So many products are made in China but US designed.