Fram filters question

[Tremo]

Hello all, I'm a noobie here, so please have mercy.

I have been reading the forum here and have looked at some of the filter tests here and elsewhere, so I know that Frams are not so great. My question is, is there much difference between the different models they make? There's ExtraGuard, ToughGuard, X2 ExtendedGuard and DoubleGuard models.

The local Wally's carries them all, and the EGs are clearly cheapos. However, the TGs sell for in the $5 range, and the X2 models sell for close to $10. The question, is do the TGs and X2 models compare to other filters in those price ranges? I know that in the $10 region, I can get M1 and K&N filters. I've been running an oversize K&N 3002 in my LB9 Camaro, or the equivalent oversize M1 or Napa Gold. My wife drives a 94 Escort wagon and I just bought an Super Tech filter for that at Wally's World. I've been running Mobil 1 5w30 in the Camaro, and I'm going to switch the Escort over to M1 on the next change.

Comments please, thanks.

 

[TC]

The short answers:

1. Fram filters are actually made by Honeywell, not Satan, as some have suspected. And regardless of what your mother told you, the color orange is not necessarily "evil."

2. Time spent surveying Fram boxes that say anything other than "X2" is time you'll never recover that could have been better spent drinking beer.

3. The "X2" appears to be a first-rate filter with it's unique synthetic media, but it's still got the plastic bypass valve that spooks some people. For $10 there are other premium brands which don't have tarnished reputations or suspect components (although Champion's new bypass valve has an "aluminum siding" stigma that's got people scratching their heads).

4. If price is a big consideration, the Purolator PureOne, Napa Gold, and Bosch Premium offer "premium" synthetic blended media for about six bucks, a lot less than the X2.

5. As for the lesser Frams, one can get steel end caps in lieu of cardboard for the same price, so I'd suggest....uhhh...hummmmmm....I'm feeling a bit of that "Time better spent drinking beer" thing comin' on...

 

[Propflux01]

quote:

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Originally posted by TC:
(although Champion's new bypass valve has an "aluminum siding" stigma that's got people scratching their heads).

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first i have heard this, whats the story?

 

[unDummy]

Don't expect too many people here to like Fram.

I think that the $2-$3 proline/stp/st brands are better than the orange can.

Avoid the teflon filled filter. Whats the point?

I'd use wix/bosch/ac/motorcraft/OEM over the toughguard any day.

And, KN/Mobil1 would be a better bet than the X2.

Toss Amsoil/Hastings/Baldwin… in somewhere with the previous two sentences.

Or, use the Fram filters.

 

[Tremo]

Thanks guys, that's basically what I suspected, I just wanted verification. No Frams for my cars.

The problem is that all the local discount joints that sell stuff cheap mainly carry Frams, other than Wally's, where they have a small selection of STs. To get anything other than Fram, I have to make a special trip to a parts house, like a Napa joint, to get a NG filter. Oh well....

I take that back, the local Kragen carries K&N.

 

[TC]

TimH: Here's two threads that talk about Champion's new bypass valve, supposedly to be used throughout their line.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000483#000008

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000463#000007

Tremo: If you have ready access to the Napa Gold filters (repackaged Wix's), go for it. Not only are they great filters, personally they're my filter of choice. And I second all of UnDummy's comments and filter recommendations.

[ October 15, 2003, 05:50 PM: Message edited by: TC ]

 

[Propflux01]

Thanx TC, That helped the understanding!!

 

[Mystic]

Tremo, I have nothing against FRAM and in fact I used to use FRAM oil filters all the time. I then had a couple of FRAM oil filters fail on two different cars that I owned in the past. The (I think they call it FRAM X2 ExtendedGuard) oil filter may be a very good oil filter-at least it has metal endcaps. But there are still questions about the anti-drainback valves and bypass valves. It costs about ten dollars and for that price you can buy a K&N or a Mobil 1. Personally, I would go with the K&N or the Mobil 1 if I was buying a ten dollar oil filter.

When it comes to cheaper FRAM oil filters, you can go to a Wal-Mart and buy an oil filter that as far as I have been able to determine is excellent in quality-the SuperTech. It costs about two dollars. It is probably cheaper then any FRAM you can buy, or at least as cheap as the cheapest FRAM.