[SuperBurban]

I have cut apart many oil filters just to see how they are made. The Mopar filter I cut up looked like it was Purolator because it had the string tied around the paper filter, crimping it like the Purolator filters have. That was several years back. Seems I recall that almost yearly, MaMopar goes out for quotes and no telling who will be making the filters when new purchase orders go out to the low bidder.

Thats exactly right. I spent three years hauling various parts into the Durango assembly plant, when they made them in Del. There was hardly a part on them, that was not contracted out to the lowest bidder. Some contracts were for a year, some for 6 mos, who knows on others. Heck, Chrysler even pitted the various assembly plants against each other on annual contracts.

Its getting so no one makes their own products. Many companies that once had a good name, are willing to give it away in the long term, to make bigger profits now, by cutting quality. By the time the word gets around, and the consumer starts switching to other companies, the CEO, and his management team will have cashed in their stock options, and departed the drivers seat.