Defective Tough Guard TG10060 removed C&P

[Bighorn2500]

I have moved to OEM on my Hyundai and Super Tech on everything else.

My sister-in-law years ago had a Chrysler Sebring engine replaced under warranty due to a OEM Mopar filter having the canister seam let go leaking oil out. Car was towed into the dealership where the oil was changed a few days before. Took about a week but a new engine was put in her lease vehicle. She did receive free oil changes in the lease package, no one argued it on the dealership side either.

Anything can have quality issues I guess. To me it’s how the manufacturer responds to the issue, that’s what will influence my future buying power.

 

[twX]

And we know the orange can design itself isn’t terrible; the media actually performs at least as good as the price point… since the orange can guts are nearly identical to the Subaru OEM, bypass notwithstanding, and there are plenty of people who only have their cars dealer serviced and see well over 200k with these along for the ride.

The filters that FRAM makes for Subaru have around 50% more media area than the orange cans do, so they're a lot better in that regard.

I think I've seen three different posts on this forum in the last couple of years showing rust issues with the FRAMs that have the grippy coating, including the Ultra. It might not be common, but it's not extremely rare, and it's the worst possible type of filter failure since it can result in a loss of oil pressure.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

it's the worst possible type of filter failure since it can result in a loss of oil pressure.

Completely agree that it would be, but in my three plus decades of changing filters and spending waaaaay too much time on the internet, I’ve never personally seen one. Do you have any pics so that I may partake?

 

[thastinger]

Man oh man... the ol FL820S is finding its way back into the hearts of BITOG goers

 

[Bighorn2500]

Man oh man... the ol FL820S is finding its way back into the hearts of BITOG goers

But seriously, you can’t tear what’s not there

I’d still pass on the FL-820S.

 

[thastinger]

But seriously, you can’t tear what’s not there

I’d still pass on the FL-820S.

I'm gonna hold my ground, have 600K miles on those between 4 Fords that use it. Have a Ford 2.3 in a Mazda but it uses a canister filter, which is nice because you get to inspect it before you even buy it. Then we have the 5.6 Nissan motor that takes the exact filter that my Yamaha 4 wheeler and Kawasaki jet skies take

 

[SC Maintenance]

No seam crimp = 3% cost savings.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Then we have the 5.6 Nissan motor that takes the exact filter that my Yamaha 4 wheeler and Kawasaki jet skies take

Yep, Nissan has exactly 2 oil filter size. One is like 1/2 inch shorter than the other. Used on everything from the global 1.0 liter to the 5.6 V8. Short OCI is your friend.

 

[twX]

Completely agree that it would be, but in my three plus decades of changing filters and spending waaaaay too much time on the internet, I’ve never personally seen one. Do you have any pics so that I may partake?

FRAM Ultra
FRAM Toughguard
FRAM Titanium

I couldn't find any examples from before late 2021, so it seems to be a recent issue. The obvious solution is to own a Subaru with a top-mounted filter.

 

[dnewton3]

While that is absolutely a horrific filter, it's also the only one we've ever seen here on BITOG that bad. It's an anomaly to be THAT bad.
It's sad to say, but nothing like this is shocking any more.
I'll just chock it up to the race to the bottom; no filter brand is immune from poor quality these days.
If one were to quit using a brand of filter because of the failures posted on BITOG, there'd be no brands left to use. At one time or another in recent findings, pretty much all brands have had some ugly showings. If you swear off any brand with mistakes, you have nothing left.



There was a day when I thought filter cans were better (aka easier) than cartridge filters. "Who'd ever want to mess with a cartridge filter?" I thought to myself.
These days, I'm a fan of cartridge filters. I can see the filter before it's ever installed; inspect the media pleats, the glue adhesion, the center tube ...
Wish all mine were cartridges now.

 

[Gyro Gearloose]

Looks like it has reached the point that if your really care about your engine you are going to need to buy a filter cutter and do a pathology report on each filter taken off.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Looks like it has reached the point that if your really care about your engine you are going to need to buy a filter cutter and do a pathology report on each filter taken off.

Well, unfortunately that only tells you after the fact.

Bring on the see through lexan oil filter!

 

[ZeeOSix]

Upon cutting open some filter media was missing allowing unfiltered oil through four holes and tube seam it looks like.

If you didn't find any loose filter inside the can, then I'd have to think that this filter was made defective with that gap in the media. There is not way that much broken off media could go through the bypass valve.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Bring on the see through lexan oil filter!

Or get some X-ray vision glasses from an ad in the back of comic books.

 

[hrv]

If you didn't find any loose filter inside the can, then I'd have to think that this filter was made defective with that gap in the media. There is not way that much broken off media could go through the bypass valve.

or something else was done....
If you didn't find any loose filter inside the can, then I'd have to think that this filter was made defective with that gap in the media. There is not way that much broken off media could go through the bypass valve.

 

[bullwinkle]

The filters that FRAM makes for Subaru have around 50% more media area than the orange cans do, so they're a lot better in that regard.

I think I've seen three different posts on this forum in the last couple of years showing rust issues with the FRAMs that have the grippy coating, including the Ultra. It might not be common, but it's not extremely rare, and it's the worst possible type of filter failure since it can result in a loss of oil pressure.

I've had at least 2-ANYTHING happens to the Sure Grip, it flakes off and the thin, unpainted steel underneath starts rusting. Part of my issue is low, out front filters on the Toyotas, where anything can bounce up & hit them with an (un)lucky shot. Then the rust begins... Amazingly the (originally CHEAPER) fully painted Fram Pro Synthetic filters don't have this issue-the FPS4967 on the Corolla has been on there around 3 years/OCIs & hasn't started rusting yet; it'll get another in the spring.

 

[bullwinkle]

Or get some X-ray vision glasses from an ad in the back of comic books.

If the filter has holes (or Ecore), large areas of missing media could be visible down the center tube. Louvers make seeing anything a LOT harder.

 

[bullwinkle]

Man oh man... the ol FL820S is finding its way back into the hearts of BITOG goers

Nahhh-they're not the greatest either! I'm still disgusted MC got rid of the base end bypass!

 

[Lubener]

Nahhh-they're not the greatest either! I'm still disgusted MC got rid of the base end bypass!

I noticed that recently on FL1A's. That was a main reason I used them.

 

[SC Maintenance]

If the filter has holes (or Ecore), large areas of missing media could be visible down the center tube. Louvers make seeing anything a LOT harder.

I had not thought of that.

However I wonder in the case of the OP the seam was actually glued not crimped, and it came apart once in use?

I took a look at some of my filters. I have a Hengst that the holes in the metal tube are all off-set. So you would also have some chance of seeing a gap assuming it existed when you put it on.