Beware of Fram Filters!!

[Mosin]

This I just had to post about Fram Filters...

Russell,

I obtained great satisfaction from reading your oil filter survey.

I worked for two years as the oil-filter production line engineer in

an Allied-Signal FRAM facility and I can confirm every bad thing you

have said about FRAM automotive filters. That's from the horse's

mouth, as it were.

I'm also a quality engineer and can confirm that FRAM applies no

quality control whatsoever to any of the characteristics for which we

buy oil filters. I frequently saw filter designs which were barely

capable of meeting J806. Many of FRAM's designs will block and go to

bypass after trying to filter very little contamination. There were

often leakage paths at the paper end discs when these were not

properly centered on the elements. Some designs had the pleats so

tightly packed against the center tube that they would block off in no

time. I had discovered that the FRAM HP1 that I had been buying for

about $20 Cdn was EXACTLY the same as a PH8 inside - the only

difference being a heavier can - no advantages in flow capacity. The

paper filtration media was of apparently poor quality and the process

of curing the paper resin was very inconsistent - elements would range

from visibly burnt to white. FRAM's marketers admitted that there was

just about no way the public could ever prove that an oil filter

contributed, or did not prevent, engine damage. The only thing FRAM

tested for was can burst strength. Another problem that they have from

time to time is in threading the filter base - often there are strands

of metal left behind on a poorly formed thread.

I have not used a FRAM filter since I started working there. Their

claims are entirely and completely marketing bullshit.

If people really want to protect their engines, a good air filter is

vital (which excludes FRAM from that list as well) and a combination

of one depth and one full-flow hydraulic filter, together in parallel,

will do the job of filtration to perfection.

Thanks for doing a great job in trying to get the truth out! You can

quote me anytime.

[name omitted to protect submitter]

[E a r t h]

sad

[eliassami5]

yea ppl on the jeep forums always warn against using them because they have failed so much, ive only used them about 3 times only because there were no bosh or any other filter in stock at the auto parts store. The only thing good they've got good going for them is the rubber sandy grip they put on their filters...other than that they are complete CRAP.

[Mosin]

I prefer K&N's wrench off filters...

[Bumpindemlowzz]

whats a good filter? I been using mobile 1's

[Mosin]

Mobil 1, K&N, AC Delco, Motorcraft, Purolater, Anything but the cheap Fram's.

Stick with the Mobil 1

[qu1cks1lver56]

i've always tried to stay away from a fram filter. i've heard that my whole life.

mobil 1 and k&n's are the same design pretty much from what im told. i love the K&n wrench off though.

Purolators are good, especially for the money. of course the delco's work good.

[bombout800]

not much of a k&n guy, but fram is about as low as you can go. I dunno about air filters but for everything else filtration wise.. (oil, fuel and what not) get wix. Very close in comparison to some high dollars filters. I didn't know it until about 5 years ago when my amsoil dealer decided to let me in on a little secret.

[AI James]

honestly my explorer has had nothing but fram filters on it the whole time we have had it...my wife was the first owner it was her first car.

Our Explorer is now at 337,XXX with no issues whatsoever other then a trans issue thats ovbiously not related to a oil filter. So imo if they fail...over 300k miles in a vehicle that still doubles as our backup car wen my jetta with the expensive stuff fails is fine with me.

forgot to mention its a 1997 explorer for reference sake

[Hellbound Train]

Stayed away from fram. Been using motorcraft filters in my ranger. Probably switching to royal purple for the oil and filter.