I have never seen an oil related failure do to a certain oil or filter. I think that I can just pick whatever is the cheapest I can possibly find (as long as it meets the SL and GF-3 ratings) and as long as the filter isn't a FRAM, and that would work just fine. I doubt I can get any more life out of my engine by using Mobil 1 oil and a PureOne filter than using all ST or anything even cheaper than that. What do you guys think?
Brand doesn't matter
- Thread starter gtm245
- Start date
- Status
if brand doesn't matter, why not FRAM???
Truely I don't think brand matters all that much but since FRAM is the only filter maker to use cheap cardboard (some Purolators might also though, not sure) and they have the lowest filter media, I think I'll just stay clear of them. Filters don't have SAE quality tests like the oils do. Any good oil should meet the SL and GF-3 standards that are set. As far as filters, all have to meet the car manufacturers requirement of 100% efficiency at 40 microns and higher, so pretty much any filter should do that, yes even FRAM. Although I don't like FRAM I know of people that have used FRAM and Pennzoil for years and acquired over 200,000 miles using these two products. So like I said, I don't think it matters all that much.
I'd agree with you, however, I've never seen fram the cheapest. Maybe if FRAM's were $1 or they came out of those quarter machines in front of the stores (you know, where they sell those kiddy toys) I'd buy one and use it.
Seriously gtm245, features are probably more important than brand. For example, if your oem calls for a silicon ADBV, you may want to stick to a filter with silicon. Not all cross reference brands have silicon even if the oem does. If the filter calls for the ford-style bypass valve and it sits at a 45 degree angle on your car, again, I'd go with that design regardless of brand. If the filter you're using is a tiny version of the oem (i.e.: SuperTech 6607 vs a Fram 7317 for example) I'd stick with the larger filter, not the smaller one.
There are important differences between brands, and there is also a pretty good reason the manufacturer specified the particular features in a filter that they did. I buy the cheapest filter I can that meets the oem specs, never just the cheapest I can find.
I don't think anybody except the obsessive hang around here very long. Consider how many cars and trucks last until the body falls off with regular visits to Iffy Lube, I really wonder how much of what we do is worth it. If you are not having start up noise or other issues with lower priced filters, I see little reason to pay more than the price of an OEM or an ST. As for Fram, I see no reason to pay as much or more for what looks inferior inside. Once again, show me some real, verifiable, numbers, and I will switch to Fram. Skip posting a link to the Jeep study. What I want to see is a study proving it is better than AC, Purolator, STP, or ST.
Your right, when it comes to price-they are not the cheapist. As far as build quaility-they are the "standard of the industry" there is nothing-absolutly NOTHING!built with less quality than a FRAM! yes they meet the requirements as they claim so as they can be sold as oil filters-MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS!! I have yet to find any other brand of filter(after cutting open well over 30 so far this time around in life-had cut many others years ago) that is of less or even equal cheap quality too a FRAM! Everybody else has been BETTER, no matter how cheap they were in cost or quaility! For whatever I saw, that in my opinion I did not like and may have considered to be cheap junk in design or price, just looking at a FRAM would change that opinion too "well, it's still not as bad as a FRAM" Inlet holes-size, amount of paper, cardborad ends, bypass valves, drainback valves, centertube makeup etc.,etc.,etc.,nothing out there is made of less quaility-and on top of it all, they usually cost more than most!
In a way you're probably right. Name the brand and you'll find fans of that make on this board, probably even for lowly Frams. That said, here's three examples of why filter choice DOES matter:
1. Older Frams could sometimes perforate where the inner pleat folds meet the inner tube's inlet holes, even ejecting bits of paper into the oil.
2. Some valvetrains will chatter like crazy at start-up, while simply changing filter brands (and therefore anti-drainback valves) will instantly quiet such noise.
3. The Bosch #3312 and Wix #51568 both fit Hondas and similar mounts, with the same middle price range for both. But the filters have 81 sq in and 243 sq in of media, respectively. That difference isn't significant -- it's downright huge.
[ March 09, 2004, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: TC ]
1. Older Frams could sometimes perforate where the inner pleat folds meet the inner tube's inlet holes, even ejecting bits of paper into the oil.
2. Some valvetrains will chatter like crazy at start-up, while simply changing filter brands (and therefore anti-drainback valves) will instantly quiet such noise.
3. The Bosch #3312 and Wix #51568 both fit Hondas and similar mounts, with the same middle price range for both. But the filters have 81 sq in and 243 sq in of media, respectively. That difference isn't significant -- it's downright huge.
[ March 09, 2004, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: TC ]
Recently a Mazda6i owner had his engine destroyed by a filter failure...or at least, thats what the dealer is calling it. The casing holding the filter cracked, and it basically exploded, dumping quarts of oil all over the place. Only took a few seconds for the engine to seize.
http://www.mazda6club.com/forums/read.php?TID=16207&page=1
So there...now you've heard of at least one case where a filter caused a failure. Of course this is a cartiage based, mazda filter...
http://www.mazda6club.com/forums/read.php?TID=16207&page=1
So there...now you've heard of at least one case where a filter caused a failure. Of course this is a cartiage based, mazda filter...
I agree, and there isn't one brand that is always best. Some report a advantage for one brand in a specific app, but another brand has the advantage in a different application. I found filter area to be very close in different brands for my filter, except for Fram. Also bypass valves are different for different applications.
-T
-T
After my "standard of the industry" rant about FRAM, one design feature came to mind that they have everyone beat on and I feel I have to give them their due it and thats their "sure grip" idea!! they deffinetly one up'ed and beat every other filter manufactor on that idea!!!!! Sure makes em look GOOD!!
SORRY FRAM! I thought you had the market cornered with the "sure grip" idea. And from the sounds of it, I should of know you would have gone only "halfway" with even this idea being the other company covers the WHOLE filter!!!!!
Brand matters to me. I like the grip on the Fram but I don't use it. I don't like the beer cans like Purolator and STP. I don't like the ones that make my motors noisy like Motorcraft and Bosch.
WIX, NAPA gold, Carquest premium. Period
WIX, NAPA gold, Carquest premium. Period
- Status