Fram Ultra holding capacity information here

[901Memphis]

I got a bit of technical information on the Ultras I wanted to share, I thought some of you may be interested in this.

These are the holding capacitys of the filters I most commonly use and are popular with many other applications.

Fram Ultra holding capacity by model

XG8A - 32 grams
XG3980 - 13-15 grams
XG3600 - 13-15 grams
XG7317 - 13 grams
XG3387A - 10 grams

 

[Colt45ws]

Wow, 32 grams for an 8A! So a XG2 is probably 15-17 grams I would guess.

 

[deanm11]

Some aren't well correlated to the filter size... the 3387/Buick filter is a good bit bigger than the 7317 which also is specd for my Subaru.

 

[slybunda]

thats not much more than regular filters. they advertised 32g as being the holding capacity for the entire line.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

My only concern with the Ultra are it's flow rate when getting deeper into 12K of use. Today's engines are designed well and stay relatively clean. So to me, it's flow over filtering when shopping for a filter. Fram Tough Guard is my current filter and my #1 priority was silicone ADBV when I purchased it.

I used to buy Wix, until they were bought-out by another company.

 

[larryinnewyork]

I use the Fram Ultra / I like them.

Internet search shows a Nickel (5 cents) weighs 5.0 grams
So, some of those Fram filters would hold 2-3 nickels worth of wear metal (before it would need to be changed).

With 12,000 miles on an Ultra filter, I would think you would have no where near the 'wear' equallying
3 Nickels unless your engine was self destructing.

I do not rebuild engines.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

Edit: Well know that I think of it, the Filter is also filtering waste from the combustion process.

 

[kschachn]

Yeah, it's not going to be "wear metals" unless your engine is shedding chunks - and 15 grams of metal is a lot.

Even if it is combustion "waste" such as carbon that's still a whole lot, considering it has made it into the oil and hasn't blown out the tail pipe which is the most favorable route.

I think that sort of holding capacity is pretty much a marketing tool except under very extreme circumstances.

 

[bullwinkle]

Last Ultra I cut open had 19,600 miles on it, there was very little sludge or carbon in it, the "fuzzy" edges of the pleats were still visible. It all depends on how clean your engine is-if it's already sludged up, you won't be able to go as far. Fortunately all my engines have been maintained well, so I haven't had any sludge monsters in recent history. In the past it was a different story, I once had a 302 in an F-100 pickup that was so sludged up it would fill the tops of the heads & valve covers with oil & start burning it on any trip of over 15 miles or so. That engine got replaced...

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
Yeah, it's not going to be "wear metals" unless your engine is shedding chunks - and 15 grams of metal is a lot.

Even if it is combustion "waste" such as carbon that's still a whole lot, considering it has made it into the oil and hasn't blown out the tail pipe which is the most favorable route.

I think that sort of holding capacity is pretty much a marketing tool except under very extreme circumstances.
Blowby & sludge buildup in the crankcase is where most of the carbon buildup in an oil filter comes from, as long as it makes it past the strainer. If you're seeing metal/sparkly bits in the filter, it's pretty much too late!

 

[kschachn]

Yeah, I'm sure that is correct. It is also true that for the most part the "wear metals" that most people talk about (the ones showing up in a UOA) aren't directly affected by the filter. Their particle size is too small to be trapped.

 

[goodtimes]

This is why cutting open oil filters is a good thing to do, 10 grams is not a lot. There is another thread with a Bosch loaded up badly in 4k. The 10k oil change and 15k filter change do not fit all and it seems people accept them like an easy button solution. I thought these filters held more?

 

[InhalingBullets]

10 grams is roughly equivalent to 2.5 sugar packets.

 

[volk06]

Hopefully we can get Motorking to chime in on this thread with more information.

 

[901Memphis]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Hopefully we can get Motorking to chime in on this thread with more information.


What information do you want?

 

[splinter]

Does this read like another "use with confidence" thread?

Seems they're relatively efficient at trapping debris and hold enough to work well until a regularly scheduled renewal.
BITOG and the FU have weaned me off of our erstwhile M1s.

 

[901Memphis]

Knowing the figures posted here keep in mind an economy filter in the XG8A size might only hold 7-12 grams. So for any given oil filter the Ultra is probably at least double or triple the holding capacity.

Some of the higher tier filters hold more but they will also be marketed for extended mileage like the Bosch Distance which can hold up to 29 grams with a thick blended media.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: volk06
Hopefully we can get Motorking to chime in on this thread with more information.


What information do you want?


Capacity difference between the Ultra, TG and EG filters. How does those compare to other filter "equivalents"

 

[GRWOil]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: volk06
Hopefully we can get Motorking to chime in on this thread with more information.


What information do you want?


Capacity difference between the Ultra, TG and EG filters. How does those compare to other filter "equivalents"


If he's posting data, might as well post the entire product line. Every model of Extra guard, Tough guard, Ultra guard, Fram Pro, and Fram pro synthetic. . . I can dream, right?

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
My only concern with the Ultra are it's flow rate when getting deeper into 12K of use. Today's engines are designed well and stay relatively clean. So to me, it's flow over filtering when shopping for a filter. Fram Tough Guard is my current filter and my #1 priority was silicone ADBV when I purchased it.

I used to buy Wix, until they were bought-out by another company.


I would guess that the capacity is measured within the flow rate specification. But that would need to be confirmed by MK.

 

[Motorking]

Good morning BITOG'ers
While I have no plans to publish the capacity of every single FRAM filter part number or style, here is the deal.
1. Oil flow does not drop until the filter is nearly completely full. If your leaving it on that long, you are either using the wrong filter or too much time between OCI's, or your engine is a poorly maintained sludgebucket. You can monitor this if you have a high quality accurate analog oil pressure gauge. Check pressure when filter is new idling, make a note, check again monthly. When the warm engine idle oil pressure starts to drop, the filter is full or close to it.
2. Most all decently maintained modern fuel injected engines with a properly functioning pcv put LESS THAN 1 gram per thousand miles of dirt in the filter.
3. In the PH8a size, the standard orange can of delight holds 11-12 grams, the only reason this filter cannot go 10k miles is the nitrile rubber ADBV (silicone coming in 2017 and EG will be rated to OE recommended change intervals!) The TG8a holds 16-17 grams,The XG8a holds 29-32 (these are averages based on testing). All of these filters are overkill for the change interval on the box regardless of the can size.
The XG with minor improvements will be updated with advertising to 24k between changes (coming late 2017).
None of this means anything without doing the following- Using the best quality oil THAT MEETS OE specifications, checking and adding oil as needed during the life cycle of the OCI. As always, I welcome your questions but is best to contact my work email directly for the fastest response.