Yes , it’s shaping up to be unfortunate when you cheapen the Ultra oil filter then develop the Endurance oil filter with better flow chatecteristucs while keeping the same high filtration as the Ultra but now the Endurance has what appears to be a design flaw . Done properly , Fram could have marketed the original Ultra as being superior to bring top dollar while still being profitable . What appears to have happened is Fram owners went with a philosophy to drive out costs - along with the quality that made your oil filters stand out from the crowd .
Fram Endurance Flashlight Test in canister
- Thread starter Glenda W.
- Start date
It sure looks that way, sadly. I don't have the patience to be honest, they screw up, I move on. Screwing up quality products seems to be the norm lately. If they correct the issue I might give them a second chance, maybe.
One of the first flashlight tests posted 10/2023 on youtube by WhipCityWrencher (WCW) was done on an Amsoil EA15K13, and it showed light from the seal area, upstream/dirty oil bypass area. Admit at that time I was somewhat skeptical. Since then, I've found the same results with a post use MP7317 c&p and new FE7317 with c&p HERE. Many other light tests have now followed with same the results. Can't recall an RP tested, but imo it's not unreasonable to assume that Champ Labs and Fram with similar bypass piece design will show the same results.
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garageman402
$100 Site Donor 2024
I’ve got pics. Sorry I haven’t been following this as religiously as I had been. The can is in Texas, I’m currently back in CA. Took these pics before I left. This is an XG10575.
garageman402
$100 Site Donor 2024
The light you see is the plastic relief valve. I took the flash pics for reference. There is no light between the media end cap & the leaf spring.
Things have gotten inconsistent. We just had an OG Ultra c&p that was made in 2024(which was good!). It’s really rolling the dice on what your going to get. Pics bellow are from @BAJA_05. These were off the Walmart shelf. A new low for Fram…
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Looks like powder residue. Check top for bullet hole. Some here will understand this.
- Joined
- May 31, 2024
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The box should be checked for a manifesto.
garageman402
$100 Site Donor 2024
Looks like someone pulled the old switcharoo. Returned used filter for a refund.
garageman402
$100 Site Donor 2024
It’s more a reflection on the retailer. Whoever took this pic should have told an associate. I had a similar issue with Walmart. I ordered online & picked up in store, they bring it out to the parking lot. I ordered an FE, they brought me an unboxed orange can with an FE Walmart price sticker on it. I went to the back door, got the dept. manager, she refunded. I went into the store to get the FE and found two more mislabeled orange cans on the FE shelf. I brought this to her attention (I went back & got her). On another occasion I opened an FE box in Walmart & there was a Walmart filter inside. Someone obviously switched & paid for a $3 Walmart filter & got an FE. Always check the box.
This type of thievery makes the product look bad. I read a story about a couple selling some kind of baby diaper changing machine on Amazon, some a**wipe returned one with poop in it & Amazon resold it!!! The bad review from the recipient of the poopy machine broke them. Sales dropped to zero. Amazon would not remove the bad (false) review. These people were devastated.
garageman402
$100 Site Donor 2024
The hole would be seen in the first pic.
Nope. He pulled three filters and all were defective.
Yeah not oily. Almost like carbon black powder. Odd.
Even the threads are covered but not the ADBV. Very strange…
I typically use either Fram Ultra $8 or Fram Extra Guard $3.50.
After seeing the research you've done, and seeing previous posts that confirmed the Fram Extra Guard and Tough Guard are also affected by this leakage of unfiltered oil through the filter, what strategic filter would be a good replacement that has similar price and efficiency, but without any defects.
My current choice is any Premium Guard XL made filter(superior quality). Carquest Premium at AAP or Microgard Select at Oreillys are the easiest ones to find for me. Pentius PLXL filters have also caught my eye and I plan on doing some detailed posts and comparisons soon. These are 99%@20 and 99%@25 microns.
The Tokyo Roki made in Japan filters look great if you have a Subaru or Mazda. I’m not sure on the efficiency though.
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Even the Indonesian made Tokyo Roki’s are quality builds, there have been a few C&P’s of them. Appear to be on par with PG-based filters. I have one on my Outback currently, no complaints.
Good to know!!
I was trying to estimate what this leakage of unfiltered oil might have on a Fram Ultra's marketed efficiency of 99% efficiency @ > 20 microns.
@Glenda W. If you had to estimate that based on the size of the gap you eye witnessed, what would be your estimate on the filters efficiency with this defect @ 20 microns.
Thanks
@Glenda W. If you had to estimate that based on the size of the gap you eye witnessed, what would be your estimate on the filters efficiency with this defect @ 20 microns.
Thanks
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