Fram TG 3600, 12.3k mi C&P

[paulri]

It went for 12, 300 miles, across three oil changes on my 05 Sienna. For a filter that is rated for 15K, I'm expecting more. Not only are the pleats lacking along the seam, but on both of the places where the bent pleat connects with the endcap, there are small tears.

Silicone ADBV was nice & supple, as expected. I took pics of both of the endcaps, but my main concern was pleat spacing, as you can see here it was lacking at the most crucial point (the seam).

I'm done with Fram. I have one more TG in my garage, its doing for 5K or slightly longer. The one on my Highlander is coming off in the next few days. If I want to use filters for beyond 10K, I'll stick with the M1 209A line for my two cars with engines specced for the x3614; or else I'll go back to Toyota's OEM for 10K, or simply the Fram EG for no more than 5K. But right now, I'll be running M1 filters from here on out, for FCIs longer than 10K.

Date code reads November 10, 2023.

And Stude53, because I know you'll ask, I didn't do an oil change (that will be in the next week or so). A M1-209A (the counterpart to Fram's x3600 line) went on in place of this TG.

 

[panthermike]

I'm with you; no more Fram's on our cars with their current quality level. Plus, they are typically not even that cheap in price. At my WM, the Toyota filter is less than the TG. Way better options now, good call on the M1.

 

[Zee09]

Hard toss over the left shoulder into the bushes.....

 

[paulri]

There was one more pic that didn't make it; it was one of the angles I took with pleats packed together tightly, all straight. But I already had two pics of straight pleats posted, so I'll leave that alone. But apart from the seam, the pleats were all packed just like you see them in the 4th & 5th pics.

 

[thastinger]

These things are now premium priced junk filters.

 

[THORROMIG]

Nice detailed pictures, horrible spacing on the pleats. Have (2) TG7317s in stash yet. Once they are gone PGs and EcoGard Synthetic will be used.

 

[paulri]

I hear ya. I have one TG currently on a vehicle that will be taken off as soon as time permits, it also has been on over 10K miles. The one in my garage will still be used, but for something like 5K miles. At this point I don't trust the 15K-mile-rated TG any longer than that.

Nice detailed pictures, horrible spacing on the pleats. Have (2) TG7317s in stash yet. Once they are gone PGs and EcoGard Synthetic will be used.

 

[THORROMIG]

I hear ya. I have one TG currently on a vehicle that will be taken off as soon as time permits, it also has been on over 10K miles. The one in my garage will still be used, but for something like 5K miles. At this point I don't trust the 15K-mile-rated TG any longer than that.

In fact, I just set up a return with Amazon for the TG7317s. Bought them at the beginning of July. DO NOT like the looks.

 

[haggler]

Don't think TG is worth it over EG and a shorter interval. For 10k+ interval, seems like XG or higher would be better, or another choice. Still, this was probably more efficient than OEM over a 10k interval.

 

[paulri]

Yeah I was fine with using TGs for beyond 10K, until I saw someone post a TG that looked just like mine, a few weeks ago. Then I got nervous. As I should have been....

 

[paulri]

I would agree with you. I bought the TGs, not because of their increased efficiency, but for a longer FCI. At this point, I know TG isn't their top line, but a 15K rated filter should perform better than this, over 12K miles. So I'm not going to go up to their top line. I'm moving out. Strange, I still remember my dad taking me to an auto parts store as a kid, and reaching for those orange cans. I'm done.

As far as efficiency goes, I'd also agree with you, but that is only because OEM is like 50% at 20 microns. That's kind of like saying you are better looking than Quasimodo. The M1 filters combine moderately high efficiency (not as high as Frams, to be sure) with pleats that don't give out, so that's what I'll use if I decide to go beyond 10K on my filters.

Don't think TG is worth it over EG and a shorter interval. For 10k+ interval, seems like XG or higher would be better, or another choice. Still, this was probably more efficient than OEM over a 10k interval.

 

[DannyM]

.

 

[Glenda W.]

Thanks for the c&p. I’d look elsewhere.

 

[nwjones18]

I understand it says 15k on the box, but you had to know it was going to look like this from all the other post on Fram TG/EG on here right? It looks exactly like I'd expect for that sort of mileage. Those Frams are ok for 1 normal OCI. I only ran the Ultra's for one OCI which are a MUCH nicer filter that would have held up to your usage. As others have noted there are plenty of better filters for the money compared to Fram.

 

[KCJeep]

Looks great, I think I'll go buy a case.

 

[paulri]

No, actually, up through the time I put these on my cars, I was seeing some very good x3600s posted here. It has more pleats than the OEM specced filter, the x3614, so I thought I'd be safe.

I understand it says 15k on the box, but you had to know it was going to look like this from all the other post on Fram TG/EG on here right? It looks exactly like I'd expect for that sort of mileage. Those Frams are ok for 1 normal OCI. I only ran the Ultra's for one OCI which are a MUCH nicer filter that would have held up to your usage. As others have noted there are plenty of better filters for the money compared to Fram.

 

[Elkins45]

Looks like the TG3600 I cut open recently. Never again for me.

 

[Zee09]

Looks great, I think I'll go buy a case.

You already have several cases and you fully endorsed this crap here...
What a fraud

 

[KCJeep]

You already have several cases and you fully endorsed this crap here...
What a fraud

Don't you have something you need to be doing... Wendy's maybe?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Another case of bad pleat spacing from poor manufacturing. Regardless of the brand, wide pleats like that are going to pose a risk of media bending and tearing at the ends where the pleat meets the end cap - seen that for over a decade here. This filter was built the 314th day of 2023, so not that recently. Hey, at least there was a good seal between the leaf spring and end cap.