Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: dras on March 15, 2012, 05:53:13 PM

Title: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: dras on March 15, 2012, 05:53:13 PM
I'm not interested in arguing the merits (or lack of) of the above mentioned filters, but does anybody know? I can't find them anywhere.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: B.D.F. on March 15, 2012, 06:13:54 PM
Super Tech is WalMart's 'house' brand. Those filters are only available from WalMart. The filters themselves are made by Champion, a company which also makes oil filters for quite a few other brands.

Brian

I'm not interested in arguing the merits (or lack of) of the above mentioned filters, but does anybody know? I can't find them anywhere.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: dras on March 15, 2012, 06:19:30 PM
Ya, I already knew that, but none of the Walmarts near me carry them anymore. About all they have anymore is Fram and a very few AC Delco filters.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: OregonLAN on March 15, 2012, 06:37:57 PM
I think Wal-Mart is discontinuing the Super-Tech brand in their stores. A Wal-Mart in Oregon didn't have any Super-Tech filters and only had a couple quarts of Super-Tech oil left. They are carrying about 400% more Fram filters than previous and another brand of oil. I'm not a huge fan of Fram cardboard filters, so I will stick with Napa (Wix) filters and stock up when they go on sale for 50%.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: galaxieman on March 15, 2012, 09:07:28 PM
I noticed that this weekend when I tried to get one... I ended up going up the road to carquest and getting a Bosch 3323 for $6.  Walmart wanted almost $13!
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: stevewfl on March 15, 2012, 09:12:11 PM
Wow at the wally world filters.  I hate Walmart so much I shop target, and didn't know these things exist.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: OregonLAN on March 15, 2012, 09:48:47 PM
Wow at the wally world filters.  I hate Walmart so much I shop target, and didn't know these things exist.

I hate Walmart also. Unfortunately, our Target carries nothing for automotive and Fred Meyers is a total ripoff, so I haven't much choice unless I order it online...
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: jjsC6 on March 16, 2012, 06:49:55 AM
Like a couple of you, I only go to Walmart for oil because they can't be beat on price.  I hate going there though.  I have decided to use only the mfrs filter.  My theory is that I know it is a quality filter, and for a few bucks more I am on record with the dealer as to when I actually changed my oil.  My dealer sells the factory filter for $12.95.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: Conrad on March 16, 2012, 10:11:19 AM
Wallys must not have been making enough money off of the Super Tech filters anymore. That would be the only reason that they stopped selling em.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: B.D.F. on March 16, 2012, 10:51:59 AM
This has happened before- quite a few stores run out of stock on that filter and the area where the Super Tech filters seems to be disappearing but then it gets restocked. So hopefully that is what is going on again. I am not going to get into an oil filter / mfg. warranty debate but I do think those filters offer a great value- a 'real' filter (with rubber check valve and no paper or cardboard inside) for right around $3. The only downside to those filters that I have found is the paper thin housing, it is so thin you can dent it with your hands and they really do not like being gripped by almost any kind of oil filter wrench. I am currently using a large set of serrated oil filter pliers that seems to be working pretty well but removing these filters can be a challenge as the housing just crushes or rips underneath most removal tools.

Brian


Wallys must not have been making enough money off of the Super Tech filters anymore. That would be the only reason that they stopped selling em.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: Summit670 on March 16, 2012, 12:13:00 PM
I wrapped a few turns of masking tape around the bottom of my car filter last time I changed that and we'll see how well it stays put for grip when removing during the next oil change.  I know I like those Frams with the "line-x" type bottoms because you can still grip them even when they are oily.

If it works, I'll be wrapping all my filters before I install them.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: OregonLAN on March 16, 2012, 04:37:56 PM
Yeah, they are definitely thin walled. I have a pair of oil filter pliers that I use to remove them. It pretty much destroys them getting it off.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: OCK913 on March 16, 2012, 05:12:58 PM
After reading this thread I went to my local Wally World to stock up on a few filters in case there were eliminating them. There were absolutely NONE on the shelf. There happened to be an automotive employee right there so I asked where the ST filters were. His reply was that Walmart corporate called for them to be removed. He said all stores should have taken them off the shelf and they were being replaced with Purolater brand filters. They previously did not carry Purolater. I did see a selection of Purolater filters o the shelf and they were all priced at $3+ (give or take some change) but they did not have the correct one for the C14 or either of my 2 vehicles.
So take that for what it worth, that is what he told me.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: B.D.F. on March 16, 2012, 08:05:46 PM
Great- and I liked those filters too.

Brian

After reading this thread I went to my local Wally World to stock up on a few filters in case there were eliminating them. There were absolutely NONE on the shelf. There happened to be an automotive employee right there so I asked where the ST filters were. His reply was that Walmart corporate called for them to be removed. He said all stores should have taken them off the shelf and they were being replaced with Purolater brand filters. They previously did not carry Purolater. I did see a selection of Purolater filters o the shelf and they were all priced at $3+ (give or take some change) but they did not have the correct one for the C14 or either of my 2 vehicles.
So take that for what it worth, that is what he told me.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: Conrad on March 17, 2012, 06:02:41 AM
After reading this thread I went to my local Wally World to stock up on a few filters in case there were eliminating them. There were absolutely NONE on the shelf. There happened to be an automotive employee right there so I asked where the ST filters were. His reply was that Walmart corporate called for them to be removed. He said all stores should have taken them off the shelf and they were being replaced with Purolater brand filters. They previously did not carry Purolater. I did see a selection of Purolater filters o the shelf and they were all priced at $3+ (give or take some change) but they did not have the correct one for the C14 or either of my 2 vehicles.
So take that for what it worth, that is what he told me.

That's strange that they wouldn't just sell the filters that they had left on the shelves.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: lather on March 17, 2012, 07:21:16 AM
That's strange that they wouldn't just sell the filters that they had left on the shelves.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.
That's the way walmart operates. They made Purolator a deal they coudn't refuse.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: dras on March 17, 2012, 09:22:54 AM
It's just wierd that they don't even show up on the Champion Labs website. I wonder if they stopped making them. They have a new one on their site (new to me at least) called an eCore or something to that effect. I haven't taken the time yet to try to get some answers from their support folks about the Super Tech line. Maybe some other retailer carries them.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: stevewfl on March 21, 2012, 06:46:16 AM
TARGET FTW

I'll pay 1-2% more to avoid long lines, trashed carts and the peopleofwalmart.com  :D
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: stlheadake on March 21, 2012, 05:52:56 PM
ST filters = Kipass failures?  Just wonderin'   :rotflmao:
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: stevewfl on March 21, 2012, 09:34:17 PM
KiPass failures???  Very strange phenomenon to me  :D
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: B.D.F. on May 01, 2012, 09:33:02 PM
I happened to be in WallyWorld the other day and did a quick check- all Super Tech filters are gone and there is an entire rack of Purolator 'Classic' filters there instead. As you mentioned, something like $3 or $4 but they do not seem to carry the Pure One filters.

Seeing as WalMart no longer carries Rotella oil, at least the one local to me, I guess I will get used to going to the local auto parts emporium for both filters and oil. By the way, has anyone else noted the significant price increase in motor oil? I assume it is just following the price of crude oil up but it is still surprising due to the rate of increase.

Brian

After reading this thread I went to my local Wally World to stock up on a few filters in case there were eliminating them. There were absolutely NONE on the shelf. There happened to be an automotive employee right there so I asked where the ST filters were. His reply was that Walmart corporate called for them to be removed. He said all stores should have taken them off the shelf and they were being replaced with Purolater brand filters. They previously did not carry Purolater. I did see a selection of Purolater filters o the shelf and they were all priced at $3+ (give or take some change) but they did not have the correct one for the C14 or either of my 2 vehicles.
So take that for what it worth, that is what he told me.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: lt1 on May 02, 2012, 02:11:59 PM
I haven't been able to find T6 at WalMart lately, but the local ones all still seem to have Rotella T.  Still about $13/gallon in AZ.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: B.D.F. on May 02, 2012, 03:21:22 PM
Interesting. Rotella 15W-40 is $17 or $18 / gal. in most places and can occasionally be found here (RI) for $15 and change. I do not think there is any 'brand name' motor oil sold here for $13 a gallon anymore. Maybe the difference is in shipping costs and motor oil originates a lot closer to you?

Brian


I haven't been able to find T6 at WalMart lately, but the local ones all still seem to have Rotella T.  Still about $13/gallon in AZ.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: lt1 on May 02, 2012, 04:55:41 PM
I could be wrong, but IIRC I bought my last gallon of T only about a month ago.   FWIW, 87 gas is about 3.78 here at the cheap (ARCO) stations, but up to about 3.95 at some of the stations across town.
Title: Re: What happened to Super Tech oil filters?
Post by: stevewfl on May 02, 2012, 07:39:20 PM
WalMart should have Cycle Gear right next door in the same crummy strip malls  :D