Fram can be good

[wavinwayne]

Today, I changed the oil in my wife's Mercedes ML350. I ran a Fram cartridge filter with MC 15w40 for 11k miles. I expected the filter to look "stressed" or at least show some sign(s) of exhaustion. To my surprise, the Fram looked as good as new. The filter media was not warped/deformed/compromised at all.

I realize that Fram contracts their cartridge filter manufacturing out to various companies (mine was Korean), so mine was not "really" a Fram. Still, it was a reminder that not everything in the orange box is cheap/bad.

FWIW, the Fram was replaced with a Wix.

 

[Johnny]

After looking at some of the pictures posted within the last week with car going 25K on dino and maybe even 4-years without a filter change, I thought those old fiberboard end capped FRAMS looked pretty darn good. Sad thing about all this is several years ago, someone with nothing better to do started cutting open filters and judging them by what they looked liked inside, have no idea how they worked. Would I run a regular old spin orange FRAM for 10K-15K, heck no, but would have no problems at all running it 5-7.5K.

The internet

 

[ryan2022]

From what Ive seen, the Fram catridge filters are a different beast all together.

My wifes Mazda takes a cartridge, and I use only Fram on it.

With a 6 month oil change, the Frams come out looking better than the OEM. Theyre VERY solid.

 

[sw99]

Less than half the components of a regular oil filter and double the price. What a crock...

That has always drove me nuts, but what do you do? Nothing...

I noticed the same thing with the cartridge filter for the Highlander. Over 10k on the oil and the filter came out looking great! The Fram CH9972 I bought at WM was around $6.50. I just tried one of the NAPA Pro-Selects and it was $4.09 and they both looked identical (Korean as well).

 

[labman]

Last I looked, the CH9018 for my Ecotec was $8 at WM AAP has a PF457 or L 15436 made in America for under $5. My Pronto Jobber has Chinese ones for under $4. No orange box for me.

 

[Robenstein]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
After looking at some of the pictures posted within the last week with car going 25K on dino and maybe even 4-years without a filter change, I thought those old fiberboard end capped FRAMS looked pretty darn good. Sad thing about all this is several years ago, someone with nothing better to do started cutting open filters and judging them by what they looked liked inside, have no idea how they worked. Would I run a regular old spin orange FRAM for 10K-15K, heck no, but would have no problems at all running it 5-7.5K.

The internet

I found a Fram PH3980 in my garage the other day NIB. I took it out and when you shook it you could hear the media was not sealed tight and was moving around in the can. I dug out my nifty new cutter and cut it open and was very very unimpressed with it. The cardboard endcaps I simply do not care for, but what struck me was that I do not see how this filter would not send dirty oil back into the engine since it was not sealed up tight. The media filled the length of the can better than the Delco or Supertech Champ made filters but there were less than half the pleats in the media so it looks like it had about 1/2 the media filter area. Also the metal core is much more flimsy than the Full brand filter I cut open recently. I can see the weak links in these that have caused them to fail on people.

For what they sell these standard orange cans for, they have got to be making a killing. They sure are not putting much into them. The profit margin has got to be unreal.

 

[Steve S]

So many people post opinions that think they know.

 

[Robenstein]

Its a free country and a forum for honest discussion. Posting observations is what this place is all about. I observed a product that gives little bang for the buck. Buying a Fram Orange Can for 4 bucks at Wal Mart is like paying paying 10k dollars for a Yugo. You paid to much for what you got. It might work, but you paid too much, and someone made a lot of cash for very little effort.

 

[crazyoildude]

I personally stopped using fram a while back due to start up noise..

 

[crazyoildude]

I think they are the nicest looking filter on the outside i like the orange look...

 

[ZGRider]

Fram can be good.......for old tractors, lawnmowers, boat anchors, scrap iron, howitzer shells, IEDs, and ballast.

 

[Silver02ex]

I've use Fram most of my car's life (mostly quick lube places) and it always has worked well. I was very impress with the Xtended Guard that i pulled off my car after being on there for 6,000 miles.

 

[daves87rs]

Fram is never brothered me.

Besides the price point, I can't see what all the whining is about....

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
Quote:
but what struck me was that I do not see how this filter would not send dirty oil back into the engine since it was not sealed up tight.




This is almost a quote from the first filter study by the family kzine (?). The study was informative in a few ways, but this concept of dirty oil going back to the engine just really struck me in an odd way. He too (whomever he was) repeatedly point out that nitrile ADBV's would "allow dirty oil to return to the sump" ...which is exactly where it came from ..in pretty much the identical condition that it was in. He made it sound like something bad. Not that it will allow your filter to completely empty. Not that it will result in start up rattle, but that oil that would be indistinguishable from one pass to the next went back where it came ..in, at WORST, the EXACT same condition that it was in.

This otherwise motivated individual has created his own mechanical urban legend.

He could make the act of petting a dog seem "wrong".

"This dog seeks attention. The owner is forced to place his hand on the dog's head, causing pet dander to adhere to it".

Now in your case you appear to have a defective filter ..but I don't see any issue with the returning of oil to the sump, assuming it's slowed and inhibited to some degree, as being anything at all to see as something bad.

 

[sangyup81]

The only thing that bothers me about FRAM is the Extra Guard spin ons (the Orange Can)

The Korean Cartridges might be superior to most other Cartridges and their Extended Guard is an excellent product. The Tough Guard I would trust as well.

No reason to hate on a company merely because of 1 product.

 

[Herz]

I would use the Xtendedguard without a second thought.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Unlike many others I have no worries about the Extra Guard, and have used them for many years without a problem. I would not use the double guard which I never seen mentioned on here. I read it has the same media as the Extra Guard but is treated with ptfe and is about 4 times the price.

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
Still, it was a reminder that not everything in the orange box is cheap/bad.
True what's in the orange box isn't always cheap/bad, box being the operative word.

I have no problem using Fram air filters in the orange box. They are relatively well made, and at a reasonable price point.

Now as for what's inside the orange can, that's a horse of a different color. The extra guard orange can is a cheaply made overpriced filter. They may well get the job done, but why would I pay for an orange can, when I can get a better constructed filter(s) for the same or less money? I wouldn't. But, if oil filter construction to the least common denominator, at any price point, is what you seek, the orange can will certainly fill the bill.

At a newer Wally I was at this week, the orange can average price was up to ~$4.50, thanks but no thanks. There are many better constructed filters for less money.

And, I'm thankful someone started cutting open filters and exposing their interior construction. The original internet minimopar filter study showed anyone interested, exactly what they were getting (and not getting) in terms of oil filter construction, for their money. Also, if not for the internet, there wouldn't be BITOG to discuss it.

So, it's good to read/hear that the Fram cartridge filters are up to par, construction wise, with other cartridge filters. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any correlation to the construction of the orange can.

 

[labman]

Well nobody can accuse their CH line of cartridge filters of being cheap. I find all on them a rip off for what you get. Still, I can get an AC or Purolator at AAP for much less.

 

[GMBoy]

While I have never liked Frams, I can make these comments from recent experiences:

1. The cartridge filters really do look nice, but are expensive. I actually used one and the quality was very good.

2. I think the silver can ones (forget which one since every model ends with "guard" seem ok since they have metal endcaps.

Does this mean I will use Frams? Well, maybe if it can be proven that the better ones (not cheapie orange cans) are good. I'd love this because now I buy my oil at Walmart then have to drive to Autozone to get my filters! I'd love to buy filters too at walmart. I've used ST's from there but they are harder to find lately since Frams are loaded up on the shelves now.