FRAM Ultra model differences...

[WhizkidTN]

So I purchased from AmazonPrime the FRAM Ultra XG9688 and XG6607 for two of my cars future OCI and noticed some bigger than expected differences between the construction of each of them.

Biggest difference is that for the XG6607, the oil base plate holes are MUCH larger on than on the bigger XG9688 filter.

Both have irregular round hole spacing in the central metal core tube (which seems odd to me anyway).

Imgur album images are here -
XG9688: http://imgur.com/a/VaSVK
XG6607: http://imgur.com/a/ICERy

Any ideas on why this is so?? IMHO, I really like the larger holes of the XG6607 filter.

 

[901Memphis]

Probably just differences in what they require as far as flow. They know the oem specs so they go from there when designing an aftermarket filter. The inlet hole size usually doesn't matter because of the restriction of the outlet hole combined with the small restriction of the media means you'll never be restricted at the inlet holes

 

[blupupher]

12 smaller holes = 10 bigger holes?

What is the diameter of the filters?

edit: they look pretty close. What is weird is on the Wix site the 51365 (XG6607) also has bigger holes than the 51334 (XG9688), but they have the same number of holes on a Wix.
Wix also shows the gasket diameters to be the same (but not the Fram site).

 

[GRWOil]

The XG3593A is very very similar to the XG9688. It's the exact same except it's .3 inches longer, so you get quite a bit more media. I would recommend it if you are out of warranty. I messaged Jay at Fram, he gave me the answer that I expected. If something happens and it's under warranty Fram won't help you out if you use a filter that isn't listed for your application. BUT, you can get these XG3593A for pretty cheep here: $4.36 per filter!

 

[goodtimes]

It is strange the smaller filters have bigger holes and more than the larger. It has been asked before here. The answer was silence. A guess from me would be the mechanical bending needed to form the baseplate, more holes would make the small but equally thick base plate easier to bend into shape. There is a Fram person here sometimes.

 

[Vern_in_IL]

Originally Posted By: goodtimes
It is strange the smaller filters have bigger holes and more than the larger. It has been asked before here. The answer was silence. A guess from me would be the mechanical bending needed to form the baseplate, more holes would make the small but equally thick base plate easier to bend into shape. There is a Fram person here sometimes.


Maybe there is a velocity that the oil needs to be at while passing through the media? So a restriction at the base plate will create a desired effect in the filter. Lots of variables here.

 

[CT8]

Probably the difference is how the filter mounts to the filter mounting nipple.

 

[Matagonka]

Flow requirement, engine size.