FRAM TG3600 Cut Open

[HX520W]

This filter is off of a previously neglected 1997 Saturn SL1 SOHC. The filter was in use for 7 months and 3,000 miles using Delo XLE 10w30. Oil consumption is down to one qt per 1500 miles instead of one qt every 900 miles, and the oil filter is staying pretty clean now. I think I'll switch to annual oil changes from now on.

 

[FlyNavyP3]

Looks good! Glad to hear the oil consumption is down as well!

 

[THafeez]

WOW looks like it could have gone longer. What oil/filter combo did you use in the previous OCI?

 

[HX520W]

Originally Posted By: THafeez
What oil/filter combo did you use in the previous OCI?


I used the exact same combination last oil change. I've been using either Rotella T5 or Delo XLE with TG3600 filters for the last four oil changes.

 

[KCJeep]

Very nice, thanks for the cut and post.

 

[ChrisGuerrero]

Nice work, @HX520W. - The Shell Rotella Team

 

[Arved]

That filter media looks pretty darn clean! I would definitely consider going a full year/5K miles.

 

[Ohle_Manezzini]

In this neglecred 97 car. It gotn't clean up.

 

[MinamiKotaro]

Looks like Fram is sticking more media in their filters, finally.

 

[goodtimes]

We cut them open with pictures and they know it. No more hide it in the can. All companies. The center tube still is wide compared to some others. Narrower center tube means deeper pleats and vice versa. The bur on the center tube hole to the right in the last picture looks like a little sun hat visor. Have a nice day.

 

[HX520W]

Thanks everyone.

I'm really pleased with how clean the engine has become with regular oil changes over the last 16,000 miles. When I first started servicing the car, the filters were packed with what I believe to be carbon and the lifters clattered on startup. Now, you can hardly hear the lifters and as I mentioned before, oil consumption is down.

Here's an example of what used to be in the filters.

Also, to my surprise, the oil continues to wash off the varnish where the filter screws on.

Before

After

 

[NVRENUFF]

Oil consumption problems on those old Saturns is due to the lack of drain back holes on the pistons at the scraper rings. It was an engineering oversight on an otherwise great engine. I've had a couple of them and switching to thicker film oil, Rotella 15w40, helped me drop to @ .5qt every 3,000 miles. I pulled the valve cover about every 10-12k just to see how the cam looked. Each time it slowly became cleaner and cleaner.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: NVRENUFF
Oil consumption problems on those old Saturns is due to the lack of drain back holes on the pistons at the scraper rings. It was an engineering oversight on an otherwise great engine. I've had a couple of them and switching to thicker film oil, Rotella 15w40, helped me drop to @ .5qt every 3,000 miles. I pulled the valve cover about every 10-12k just to see how the cam looked. Each time it slowly became cleaner and cleaner.


That, and the piston rings were low tension. I've pulled pistons where the drain back portions were open, yet the car consumed much oil. The oil control rings had little " springiness " .