Fram Endurance Flashlight Test in canister

[CseBug]

Seems you are right, the protrusions that hold the valve spring assembly will not create a seat on the vertical portion so the ripples, and non-flat surface affect the seal.

Had a spare one that I had planned on using but obviously with this thread I don’t feel so confident anymore so just cut it open to see for consistencies sake.
And I agree the bypass valve stamping looks terrible, way thinner on the sides than the OPs.
And just reaffirming, pressing down on the spring will not seal the gap.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Also no ears or protrusions on the bottom end cap, and there is no holding of the adbv from shifting, like with a hard knock. The spring is not that forceful making the problem worse.

When the filter is in the assembled state, everything is clamped together from the leaf spring's compression force. The ADBV isn't going to shift around in that condition.

 

[CharlieBauer]

So I just tested two XG2 both manufactured Plant A June 25th 2024 Shift 1.

Using a funnel, I poured M1 0w40 down the center hole.

Within minutes, both drained through and therefore FAILED.

I have another one arriving in a week. Let's see if it is a different date code. If so, I will test it. In the meantime, I will contact Fram.

Seriously though, shouldn't Fram be doing such a test as part of QA?

Shouldn't anyone doing ISO testing be doing such a test both before and after a filter is tested? It is such a simple check on filter integrity.

Just tested two XG2's both manufactured on August 19 2022. For reference, I have seen a Jan 2023 XG2 cut open and it did not have the seal but like mine had pink media and holes not louvres.

15 minutes after pouring a small amount of oil, it was holding in both. Will check both periodically to see if they both continue to hold.

One of the two filters has 2 inlet holes not punched out cleanly. I was able to pick out a small fragment of metal from one of them. Pictures below:

 

[ZeeOSix]

Those punched out base inlet holes pretty ragged too. Shouldn't matter much, but shows how manufacturing quality is getting worse as time goes on.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Those punched out base inlet holes pretty ragged too. Shouldn't matter much, but shows how manufacturing quality is getting worse as time goes on.

The piece broke off quite easily.

If left there and filter is used, is there a chance of it getting past ADBV and then into engine during bypass event?

 

[Hatsuwr]

The piece broke off quite easily.

If left there and filter is used, is there a chance of it getting past ADBV and then into engine during bypass event?

I think it's unlikely to happen, but there absolutely is a chance. Regardless of likelihood, the potential shouldn't exist at all. Sad to see what's happened to a once great filter.

 

[CharlieBauer]

I think it's unlikely to happen, but there absolutely is a chance. Regardless of likelihood, the potential shouldn't exist at all. Sad to see what's happened to a once great filter.

Two filters, same build date, same shift.

Now to wait and see if they both hold oil at the leaf spring over the same duration.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Just tested two XG2's both manufactured on August 19 2022. For reference, I have seen a Jan 2023 XG2 cut open and it did not have the seal but like mine had pink media and holes not louvres.

15 minutes after pouring a small amount of oil, it was holding in both. Will check both periodically to see if they both continue to hold.

1 hour later, most of the oil has gone through one of them and the other one has completely gone through.

Nowhere near as fast as the August 2024 manufactured ones.

edit: These may not be leakers. I put less oil in them and one of them had less than the other. The oil that went down may be filling the space between the bypass valve "cup" and the housing in the metal end cap that the bypass valve is inserted into. I tipped them and some oil came back onto the inside surface of the bypass valve. So they have not drained past the leaf spring.

I will give these some time to drain through and then tip them again to see if the oil is in fact sealed in by the leaf spring. In the meantime, I have tipped the Aug 2024 ones I tested over a week ago that have been sitting base side up and no oil came back

 

[ZeeOSix]

The piece broke off quite easily.

If left there and filter is used, is there a chance of it getting past ADBV and then into engine during bypass event?

Remote chance that it would go through the bypass valve, but not impossible. If it got caught deep down between the pleats, it would most likely stay there for the whole time.

 

[Glenda W.]

Just tested two XG2's both manufactured on August 19 2022. For reference, I have seen a Jan 2023 XG2 cut open and it did not have the seal but like mine had pink media and holes not louvres.

15 minutes after pouring a small amount of oil, it was holding in both. Will check both periodically to see if they both continue to hold.

One of the two filters has 2 inlet holes not punched out cleanly. I was able to pick out a small fragment of metal from one of them. Pictures below:

View attachment 243411View attachment 243412View attachment 243413

Thanks for the contributions!! My gut says we’re dealing with such variation in quality you just don’t know if your getting a full blown leaker, partial leaker, or a sealed filter. Add to that the other quality control issues we’re finding and I just can’t support Fram or Champ Labs.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Thanks for the contributions!! My gut says we’re dealing with such variation in quality you just don’t know if your getting a full blown leaker, partial leaker, or a sealed filter. Add to that the other quality control issues we’re finding and I just can’t support Fram or Champ Labs.

There is variability in quality and the rate of leaking in a filter made on the same day in the same shift.

I'd also say that based on date code, the problem has gotten worse and is really bad on recent dates. Maybe that is why the XG2's are on sale.

 

[We're Metals]

38 pages, whats the take away from this thread?

 

[ZeeOSix]

38 pages, whats the take away from this thread?

Gaps leak dirty oil when flow is going through the filter. It could be 10-16% (specifically for the leak gap example dissected by @Glenda W. in this thread) depending on how it's modeled and calculated.

 

[Joenpb]

I'd pass on leaf spring bypass valve oil filters. We've seen some poor manufacturing & quality control, and that may make its way through all manufacturers & models over time.

 

[mitsuman47]

Gaps leak dirty oil when flow is going through the filter. It could be 10-16% (specifically for the leak gap example dissected by @Glenda W. in this thread) depending on how it's modeled and calculated.

I don’t really math or engineer. lol But, based on those 10-16% assumptions, would this effectively make the Fram Endurance an 83-89% filter at 20 microns?

 

[CharlieBauer]

I don’t really math or engineer. lol But, based on those 10-16% assumptions, would this effectively make the Fram Endurance an 83-89% filter at 20 microns?

Yes.

 

[We're Metals]

Gaps leak dirty oil when flow is going through the filter. It could be 10-16% (specifically for the leak gap example dissected by @Glenda W. in this thread) depending on how it's modeled and calculated.

Thank you! So this affects the the Ultra and Endurance? or all Fram?

 

[hrv]

38 pages, whats the take away from this thread?

Nothing....but it is fun reading..maybe we can hit 50 pages....I remember 8 pages on a post about crush washers...

 

[ZeeOSix]

Thank you! So this affects the the Ultra and Endurance? or all Fram?

Seems all Fram and Champ Lab made filters with the ratty stamped leaf springs that have a metal-to-metal "seal" design could be leakers. Those leaf spring were never that ratty before. Manufacturing process and QA has degraded.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Nothing....but it is fun reading..maybe we can hit 50 pages....I remember 8 pages on a post about crush washers...

Tears in the media are cool too.