Wix Cross Reference Oil Filter Chart: How to Find Compatible Replacements

When you're shopping for an oil filter and the brand you usually buy isn't available, a cross reference chart helps you find a compatible replacement from a different manufacturer. Wix is one of the most widely used filter brands in the industry, and their cross reference system is a practical tool for anyone doing their own oil changes — or anyone trying to verify what their shop is using.

What Is an Oil Filter Cross Reference?

An oil filter cross reference is a lookup system that matches one manufacturer's part number to equivalent part numbers from other brands. The goal is to identify filters that share the same thread size, bypass valve pressure, anti-drainback valve design, filter media construction, and physical dimensions.

Wix maintains a published cross reference database — available on their website and through third-party parts lookup tools — that lists their part numbers alongside equivalent numbers from brands like:

• Fram
• Motorcraft
• AC Delco
• Purolator
• Bosch
• Mann
• Mobil 1
• K&N
• Champion
• STP

If you have a Wix filter number and want to know what Fram equivalent it matches — or the reverse — a cross reference chart gives you that translation.

How the Wix Filter Numbering System Works

Wix organizes their oil filters under a few product lines, most commonly the Wix 51xxx series for standard spin-on oil filters and the Wix 57xxx series for cartridge-style filters. Extended performance filters often carry different prefixes or suffixes.

Each number corresponds to a specific combination of:

• Thread pitch and diameter (how the filter screws onto the engine block)
• Gasket diameter (for a proper seal)
• Bypass valve setting (measured in PSI — typically between 8 and 25 PSI depending on application)
• Anti-drainback valve (present or absent, depending on engine orientation)
• Filter capacity and media type (how much debris the filter holds before bypass)

Two filters may look nearly identical but have different bypass pressures or media ratings — which matters when your engine is cold, under high load, or operating with a high-performance tune.

Using the Wix Cross Reference Chart

The most reliable way to use a Wix cross reference is to start with either your vehicle's year, make, model, and engine size, or an existing part number from another brand.

Starting from your vehicle: Wix's lookup tool (and major retailers like RockAuto, AutoZone, or NAPA) will return the recommended Wix filter number for your specific engine. From there, the cross reference shows what other brands list as equivalent.

Starting from a competitor part number: If you have a Fram PH3614 or a Motorcraft FL-400S, for example, you can enter that number into Wix's cross reference and find the matching Wix number.

📋 Here's a simplified example of how a cross reference table is structured:

These are illustrative examples. Always verify against your vehicle's actual specifications.

Variables That Affect Which Filter Is Right for Your Vehicle

Cross references identify dimensionally compatible filters, but compatibility is only the starting point. Several factors shape which filter makes sense for your specific situation:

Engine type and oil viscosity: Turbocharged engines, high-revving engines, and diesel engines often have tighter filtration requirements. A filter rated for a naturally aspirated economy car may not be appropriate for a turbocharged performance engine.

Oil change interval: If you're running extended-life synthetic oil on a 10,000- or 15,000-mile interval, the filter's capacity and media construction matter more than if you're changing every 3,000 miles. Not all cross-referenced filters have identical media ratings.

Engine orientation: Filters mounted horizontally or at an angle need a reliable anti-drainback valve. If that valve is absent or weak, oil drains back into the pan at shutdown, increasing wear at startup. Cross-referenced filters don't always share the same anti-drainback design.

OEM specifications: Some manufacturers — particularly European and Asian brands — specify filtration ratings (measured in microns) or bypass pressures that differ from standard North American market filters. A cross reference match by number doesn't guarantee it meets OEM spec.

Driving conditions: Towing, track use, off-road driving, and stop-and-go commuting all place different demands on filtration systems. What works for highway driving may be marginal under hard use.

Where Cross References Fall Short

Cross reference charts are built from published dimensional data. They tell you whether a filter will physically fit and function in the most basic sense. They don't tell you:

• Whether the filter media quality is equivalent
• Whether the bypass valve pressure is identical
• Whether the anti-drainback material is equally durable at high temperatures
• Whether the filter meets any OEM-specific certifications your warranty may require

🔧 For most everyday passenger vehicles with standard oil change intervals, a cross-referenced Wix filter or its listed equivalent performs reliably. For vehicles with specific manufacturer requirements, performance modifications, or extended drain intervals, the details beneath the part number matter more.

The Missing Piece

A cross reference chart gives you a starting point — it tells you which part numbers line up on paper. What it can't account for is your specific engine, how your vehicle is driven, what your oil change intervals look like, and whether your manufacturer has requirements that go beyond dimensional fit. Those details live with your owner's manual, your vehicle's service history, and anyone who's looked at your engine directly.