Fram Titanium FS3614 running change

[stg4jetta]

Hi all,

I recently purchased two Fram FS3614 filters from AAP. I was surprised after I opened them up that I got two different style filters. From searching this board I know that the newer models appear to be Champ Labs made and potentially not as good as the old style ones. An easy way to tell from the box is that the old one says "Made in USA". I am thinking of returning the Champ Labs one or exchanging it from an old style one if they have it. What would you do? Run it anyway? The new style filter is slightly shorter than the old one.

 

[SilentType]

Unpopular opinion here: you'll never wear out an engine based on which filter you use IMHO. Run one of them now and save the other for your next FCI. Sleep well.

 

[Mewbs]

If you'd like to contribute and cut open the one on the right with a filter cutter, I'm curious of the internals. FRAM isn't the same company as it was prior to 2019, it was bought out, gutted/cheapened and run into the ground with its books cooked by First Brands Group so its really hard to trust anything they make these days.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Unpopular opinion here: you'll never wear out an engine based on which filter you use IMHO. Run one of them now and save the other for your next FCI. Sleep well.

Depends on what your definition of “worn out” is. If it’s burning lots of oil, has a clattery valve train, the timing chain has stretched, or the chain guides have disintegrated, does that constitute worn out? High levels of particulates circulating in the oil can cause issues with all of those failure modes.

The difference between a crap filter and some of the best filters available is about the cost of a single cup of Starbucks, and that filter will likely spend several months to potentially multiple years on your engine, so why would one knowingly buy an inferior filter? Numerous instrumented tests have proven that cleaner oil always produces better wear results with all other variables remaining equal. Even at 5k oil changes, that means over the entire lifespan of car ownership from brand new, it would cost you approximately one month of skipping Starbucks and buying the best filter.

Bonus: you don’t even have to skip Starbucks 30 days consecutively to make this happen!

(Disclaimer: I am not endorsing Starbucks in any manner, nor was this a character assassination of those whose choice of Joe has the mermaid on the cup. It could just the same be Tim Horton’s, or Dunkin’, Scooter’s, etc etc.)

 

[ZeeOSix]

Box on the Champ Made Titanium says: "See product for country of origin". What's it say on the label of the Champ Labs made Titanium?

Does the Champs Lab filter have louvers or an eCore center tube?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Depends on what your definition of “worn out” is. If it’s burning lots of oil, has a clattery valve train, the timing chain has stretched, or the chain guides have disintegrated, does that constitute worn out? High levels of particulates circulating in the oil can cause issues with all of those failure modes.

Yeah, I look at it as keeping the engine mechanically healthier over the life of the engine. No oil cleanliness vs engine wear study has ever concluded that engines last just as long and are not worn any more with dirtier oil, lol. Every one of them conclude that cleaner oil results in less wear.

 

[stg4jetta]

I don't have a filter cutter. Any recommendations on where to purchase one? I will cut this one rather than return it if it can help provide any insight.

Here are additional photos: Looks like it's made in the USA and louvers.

 

[Wireman1987]

Hi all,

I recently purchased two Fram FS3614 filters from AAP. I was surprised after I opened them up that I got two different style filters. From searching this board I know that the newer models appear to be Champ Labs made and potentially not as good as the old style ones. An easy way to tell from the box is that the old one says "Made in USA". I am thinking of returning the Champ Labs one or exchanging it from an old style one if they have it. What would you do? Run it anyway? The new style filter is slightly shorter than the old one.

View attachment 312849

View attachment 312850

View attachment 312851

keep it and don't waste the filter cutting it up. Fram Titanium is an excellent filter if you want to see the inside just search on Youtube.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I don't have a filter cutter. Any recommendations on where to purchase one? I will cut this one rather than return it if it can help provide any insight.

Here are additional photos: Looks like it's made in the USA and louvers.

View attachment 312874

View attachment 312875

Amazon Cyber Monday deals. Make sure to get one with two cutters and 2 idler wheels.

I think the Proform one is a favorite, right @53' Stude?

I’d personally use it for at least 5k then cut it.

 

[53' Stude]

Amazon Cyber Monday deals. Make sure to get one with two cutters and 2 idler wheels.

I think the Proform one is a favorite, right @53' Stude?

I’d personally use it for at least 5k then cut it.

I like the Longacre myself

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I like the Longacre myself

That’s the one. Couldn’t remember. We all know you’ve definitely gotten your money’s worth out of it!

 

[Fair enough]

At about 2 o’clock on the newer right one it looks like the lip of the adbv can be seen. Where the 4 is stamped looks about opposed to that. They have been putting the adbv off center on this version. You don’t want to have a base plate hole not sealed. They make these with no centering method and then they pushed the holes as far out as possible to make matters worse. Those filters should be recalled.

 

[ZeeOSix]

For those wanting a filter cutter, there are dozens of cutters that are Lomgacre type design knock-offs at about 1/4 the cost on Amazon and eBay.

 

[Alex123]

I got one of the Fram Champ labs titanium’s as well. The one I purchased has a split ADBV I’ll cut and post it tomorrow if you want to just use yours.

 

[Urshurak776]

$16.99 and works great!

https://a.co/d/ghInrSH

 

[stg4jetta]

I got one of the Fram Champ labs titanium’s as well. The one I purchased has a split ADBV I’ll cut and post it tomorrow if you want to just use yours.

Just ordered my filter cutter so it'll take a few days for me to get it. Feel free to post it! I will probably cut this one anyway just out of curiosity.

 

[Fair enough]

I learned about the adbv off center problem from another member. Looking around the outer edge of the holes every one I saw there was a gap, all that are this new style made by ex champ labs factories. It’s seen without cutting open.

 

[ZeeOSix]

$16.99 and works great!

https://a.co/d/ghInrSH

Lots of people getting into filter cutting it seems, lol.

 

[stg4jetta]

Alright. Finally got my cutter after nearly two weeks!

This ADBV looks well-centered and free of tears.

However, the filter itself looks dirty? and there is excess black glue. Almost looks like it was assembled in a dirty facility. Holes inside the tube are mostly open.

 

[Mewbs]

Can you tear the media to see if its wired back and confirm its synthetic material?