Bottom line take the filter of your choice apart and you will be able to tell a lot just by looking at it then you decide..
Your eyes tell the truth
Your eyes tell the truth
Fram Products
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Ive read on this forum alot of Fram bashing and now some Fram defending. Based on the posts presented here and some real world experiences, I have decided not to use Fram products at all in the future. Why some of the Fram defenders may ask ? How do you know their filters are junk ? Here are two examples: my John Deere 160 lawn tractor with 14 Horse Kawasaki, Fram filter anti-drainback failed and dirty oil from the filter would always leak back into the engine. Change to a SuperTech filter (or any other filter for that matter) and no problems with the drainback valve. The second example was a Fram fuel filter that rusted onto the fuel line after less than 40,000 miles and 3 years. I used antiseize on the threads and it still rusted on. I just got it off this past weekend with PB Blaster and some line wrenches. Every other brand of fuel filter I have used has shown some level of corrosion resistance and I never had a problem with that much rust on the fuel filter. I told a former professional mechanic friend at work abot my fuel filter problem and he said he wasnt surprised, every Fram product he has seen has been either overpriced or junk or both.
In the end it all comes down to personal preference. All the filters I have ever used Fram, Motorcraft, Mopar, AC, Purolator, and Champion filters seemed to perform about the same. Everyone will have their favorite.
I use their air filters on everything. And if their oil filters were less money I wouldn't hesitate to use them for a reasonable oci. Fram's design is used and approved by some OEMs like Honda and Subaru. That tells me they aren't the grenade people make them out to be.
I will say this again. I have yet to here of any proof that orange Frams are bad. What are the facts? Where is the documentation that steel end caps are better than paper? The area where the paper end caps seal against the media has very little force across it. I would be more concerned about the center support, on Frams it is still steel and on some others is now a plastic cage that can fail and leave debris in the oil passages. (this center tube is where all the differential pressure is felt.). As far as the filter media is concerned, comparing surface area of two "different" filter materials tells us nothing about how efficient the filter is or how long it will last. What is needed are facts. How efficient are the filters at removing particles and what is the flow and differential pressure across the media for the service lifetime? These are the questions to be asked and not this filter "looks" better than that one on the inside.
O but at least on this forum there are tons and tons of problems caused by a Fram Filter..... The only ptoblem is that they cant back any of it up with proof....
Originally Posted By: rszappa1
O but at least on this forum there are tons and tons of problems caused by a Fram Filter.....
I've never read of a problem caused by Fram.
Dealing only with oil filters, complaints consist of:
- disassembled they are appalling - cardboard, glue, and chintzy plastic. How that translates into performance is not known.
- after they are used and disassembled it is not at all uncommon to find holes in the media, loose parts, and unglued seams. Again, how that translates into perfotmance is not known.
Given they are the same price as better made filters many people feel more comfortable with something a bit more substantial.
O but at least on this forum there are tons and tons of problems caused by a Fram Filter.....
I've never read of a problem caused by Fram.
Dealing only with oil filters, complaints consist of:
- disassembled they are appalling - cardboard, glue, and chintzy plastic. How that translates into performance is not known.
- after they are used and disassembled it is not at all uncommon to find holes in the media, loose parts, and unglued seams. Again, how that translates into perfotmance is not known.
Given they are the same price as better made filters many people feel more comfortable with something a bit more substantial.
Even if I personally have no proof or first hand experience that the orange can is [censored], I can get Napa Gold filters (which seem better built the instant you pick it up) for less money, I really see no other reason to use anything else regardless.
I'd have to go out of my way to buy Fram, literally.
I'd have to go out of my way to buy Fram, literally.
But I want to see all of the oil related problems that the Fram has caused.... yet to find any....
Patman
Staff member
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Even if I personally have no proof or first hand experience that the orange can is [censored], I can get Napa Gold filters (which seem better built the instant you pick it up) for less money
How are you getting NAPA Golds up here for less than Fram? The Frams up here are $5 to $6 but the NAPA Golds are $12 to $14.
Even if I personally have no proof or first hand experience that the orange can is [censored], I can get Napa Gold filters (which seem better built the instant you pick it up) for less money
How are you getting NAPA Golds up here for less than Fram? The Frams up here are $5 to $6 but the NAPA Golds are $12 to $14.
I used the cheapest Fram oil filters on my new BMW 325 from the day it was new until I traded it off at 253,000 miles, and there were NO oil related issues with that engine! I've only used Motorcraft filters on the Mercury that replaced the BMW, but only because the dealer does all the servicing, as I've gotten to that stage of life that I'd rather pay someone else to get their hands dirty. I'm not anal about the oil and filters on my vehicles.
Originally Posted By: Beachboy
I used the cheapest Fram oil filters on my new BMW 325 from the day it was new until I traded it off at 253,000 miles, and there were NO oil related issues with that engine! I've only used Motorcraft filters on the Mercury that replaced the BMW, but only because the dealer does all the servicing, as I've gotten to that stage of life that I'd rather pay someone else to get their hands dirty. I'm not anal about the oil and filters on my vehicles.
If you don't mind me asking, what oil do you run in your current vehicles?
I used the cheapest Fram oil filters on my new BMW 325 from the day it was new until I traded it off at 253,000 miles, and there were NO oil related issues with that engine! I've only used Motorcraft filters on the Mercury that replaced the BMW, but only because the dealer does all the servicing, as I've gotten to that stage of life that I'd rather pay someone else to get their hands dirty. I'm not anal about the oil and filters on my vehicles.
If you don't mind me asking, what oil do you run in your current vehicles?
Even if I personally have no proof or first hand experience that the orange can is [censored], I can get Napa Gold filters (which seem better built the instant you pick it up) for less money, I really see no other reason to use anything else regardless.
I'd have to go out of my way to buy Fram, literally.
_________________________
1996 Saturn SL2 5MT
Current fill:
Formula Shell 10w30
Motomaster filter
SLCraig, Motomaster filters in Canadian Tire are made by Fram...
I'd have to go out of my way to buy Fram, literally.
_________________________
1996 Saturn SL2 5MT
Current fill:
Formula Shell 10w30
Motomaster filter
SLCraig, Motomaster filters in Canadian Tire are made by Fram...
Patman
Staff member
Originally Posted By: Ridds
SLCraig, Motomaster filters in Canadian Tire are made by Fram...
Not anymore, they changed suppliers about a year ago and are now made by BB filters from China. Although some CT stores still have some old stock of the Fram made ones.
See this thread for more details:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/ct-filters-new-versus-old-we-have-a-winner.108835/
SLCraig, Motomaster filters in Canadian Tire are made by Fram...
Not anymore, they changed suppliers about a year ago and are now made by BB filters from China. Although some CT stores still have some old stock of the Fram made ones.
See this thread for more details:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/ct-filters-new-versus-old-we-have-a-winner.108835/
Working for CT I can tell you that we still have a contract for Fram to make the Motomaster oil filters. Yes, BB also supplies filters but at my location we still get most of them from Fram.
I've used their SureDrain and I liked it.
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Even if I personally have no proof or first hand experience that the orange can is [censored], I can get Napa Gold filters (which seem better built the instant you pick it up) for less money, I really see no other reason to use anything else regardless.
I'd have to go out of my way to buy Fram, literally.
Frams for my car are $4.95 and Napa Golds are $11.95. Now Napa select filters are $5.95 but not the golds.
Even if I personally have no proof or first hand experience that the orange can is [censored], I can get Napa Gold filters (which seem better built the instant you pick it up) for less money, I really see no other reason to use anything else regardless.
I'd have to go out of my way to buy Fram, literally.
Frams for my car are $4.95 and Napa Golds are $11.95. Now Napa select filters are $5.95 but not the golds.
We use group 7 filters at the shop they are made by purolator i think we pay around $2.00 for them they are good filters we have been using them for years with no problems (filter related) on any of our many rebuilt engines we build.. We have used frams in the past when we get good deals on them and have had no problems with them either
I use the Fram Extended Guard and their air filters. If the Extra Guard is cheaper, I would use it. So far the ST at Wal-Mart ($2.88) has been working well
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
We use group 7 filters at the shop they are made by purolator i think we pay around $2.00 for them they are good filters we have been using them for years with no problems (filter related) on any of our many rebuilt engines we build.. We have used frams in the past when we get good deals on them and have had no problems with them either
Ever cut any open? I don't think Webfors saw a problem with AC until he cut some open.
We use group 7 filters at the shop they are made by purolator i think we pay around $2.00 for them they are good filters we have been using them for years with no problems (filter related) on any of our many rebuilt engines we build.. We have used frams in the past when we get good deals on them and have had no problems with them either
Ever cut any open? I don't think Webfors saw a problem with AC until he cut some open.
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