I emailed FRAM and asked them why. Here's the answer I received. By the way, at the end where it says 'thank you for choosing Fram filters', I actually haven't chosen them, but may consider the X2.
Thank you for the e-mail regarding the construction of Fram oil filters. We welcome the opportunity to be of service.
Fram uses a cardboard material in the construction of it's oil filters. Fram filters meet the requirements of the
original equipment filter designed for a specific engine. Our filter applications follow the recommendations of the
vehicle manufacturer for form, fit, and function. Fram filters follow internally targeted design guidelines to meet the
functional requirements of a given filter. Fram filters are tested against SAE standards to ensure uniform product
quality and performance. Material construction will vary between filter manufacturers. We will not debate opinions,
statements, or studies made by individuals expressed in articles or on websites. We believe Fram filters have a proven
record for providing reliability, superior quality, and engine protection over the service life of the filter. We
welcome the opportunity to enlighten you on the subject of cardboard used in Fram end disk construction.
A common misunderstanding among our customers concerns the end disks in the oil filter. These disks hold the glue which
keeps the pleated media formed into a rigid circular tube. The glue-to-media interface is also one of the sealing
surfaces keeping dirty and filtered oil from mixing. One common myth is that only metal end disks can adequately seal
and have enough strength in the hot oil environment. For this reason, Fram filters are criticized for having cardboard
end disks. The issue is, the material doing the sealing is the adhesive, regardless of the material of the end disk.
What matters is the strength of the adhesive, its proper curing, the thoroughness with which it can be applied to the
disk, and its adhesion to the disk. By using cardboard end disks, Fram filter engineers are able to specify adhesives
with excellent strength and sealing properties, and strong adhesion to the disk (intuitively, it is easy to make a
strong glue bond with cardboard). Moreover, just as paper media itself is able to withstand the hot oil environment, so
too is the end disk designed of fibers engineered to be strong and inert in hot oil. The thickness and strength of the
adhesive also stiffens the end disk considerably.
How do Fram engineers test these end disks to know that they hold up on the job? Not only do they perform hot oil
circulation tests on the filter element, but they also regularly cut open used filters to examine how well they have
withstood the rigors of actual use on a vehicle. For over 38 years, Fram end disks have stood up to hot oil and their
adhesives have sealed off the dirty oil.
We believe that FRAM filters are clearly the best filters available. Fram is committed to standing behind and endorsing
it's products and filter recommendations listed in the current Fram application catalogs. As part of this commitment, if
you should ever have reason to suspect or question the quality of a Fram filter, we encourage you to contact the Fram
Product Evaluation Team toll free at 1-877-250-8361 for further assistance.
Thank you for choosing Fram filters.
Cordially,
Scott Jacobs
Catalog/Technical Service Representative
Catalog/Technical Service Department
Thank you for the e-mail regarding the construction of Fram oil filters. We welcome the opportunity to be of service.
Fram uses a cardboard material in the construction of it's oil filters. Fram filters meet the requirements of the
original equipment filter designed for a specific engine. Our filter applications follow the recommendations of the
vehicle manufacturer for form, fit, and function. Fram filters follow internally targeted design guidelines to meet the
functional requirements of a given filter. Fram filters are tested against SAE standards to ensure uniform product
quality and performance. Material construction will vary between filter manufacturers. We will not debate opinions,
statements, or studies made by individuals expressed in articles or on websites. We believe Fram filters have a proven
record for providing reliability, superior quality, and engine protection over the service life of the filter. We
welcome the opportunity to enlighten you on the subject of cardboard used in Fram end disk construction.
A common misunderstanding among our customers concerns the end disks in the oil filter. These disks hold the glue which
keeps the pleated media formed into a rigid circular tube. The glue-to-media interface is also one of the sealing
surfaces keeping dirty and filtered oil from mixing. One common myth is that only metal end disks can adequately seal
and have enough strength in the hot oil environment. For this reason, Fram filters are criticized for having cardboard
end disks. The issue is, the material doing the sealing is the adhesive, regardless of the material of the end disk.
What matters is the strength of the adhesive, its proper curing, the thoroughness with which it can be applied to the
disk, and its adhesion to the disk. By using cardboard end disks, Fram filter engineers are able to specify adhesives
with excellent strength and sealing properties, and strong adhesion to the disk (intuitively, it is easy to make a
strong glue bond with cardboard). Moreover, just as paper media itself is able to withstand the hot oil environment, so
too is the end disk designed of fibers engineered to be strong and inert in hot oil. The thickness and strength of the
adhesive also stiffens the end disk considerably.
How do Fram engineers test these end disks to know that they hold up on the job? Not only do they perform hot oil
circulation tests on the filter element, but they also regularly cut open used filters to examine how well they have
withstood the rigors of actual use on a vehicle. For over 38 years, Fram end disks have stood up to hot oil and their
adhesives have sealed off the dirty oil.
We believe that FRAM filters are clearly the best filters available. Fram is committed to standing behind and endorsing
it's products and filter recommendations listed in the current Fram application catalogs. As part of this commitment, if
you should ever have reason to suspect or question the quality of a Fram filter, we encourage you to contact the Fram
Product Evaluation Team toll free at 1-877-250-8361 for further assistance.
Thank you for choosing Fram filters.
Cordially,
Scott Jacobs
Catalog/Technical Service Representative
Catalog/Technical Service Department
