Fram Ultra XG3976A end not fluted!

[Ducati996]

I just purchased my first Fram oil filter in over 20 years. I was finally lured into purchasing a Fram Ultra filter for my Dodge Cummins due to the construction, overwhelming praise and price.
I changed the oil tonight and was disappointed that the filter end is not fluted for the filter wrench.
The location of the filter on a 2006 Dodge Cummins is not easily accessed with a strap wrench.
I hope others speak up so Fram gets their act together on this minor but important detail.

 

[gregk24]

You cant screw it on by hand?

 

[Rand]

who uses a wrench to tighten?

 

[NMBurb02]

He's thinking ahead to removal time.

 

[901Memphis]

That's because it's a huge strange filter.

 

[BruceM]

Same thing goes on the Powerstroke version of the filter. I have room to get a strap wrench in there to give it a half turn to tighten. Its been my experience that 7.3L's like to shake their oil filter loose a bit.

having flutes or whatever they are called on the bottom would be AWESOME. Course I use an oil filter vise grip to remove the filter.

 

[bvance554]

Don't screw it on so tight. Its a very rare occasion that i need to break out an oil filter wrench.

 

[bullwinkle]

I have one too, it's not fluted either, I would use my nylon strap wrench (has a piece of 3/8" box tubing attached to it) to remove it.

 

[951Indy]

Oil filter pliers are the way to go. I only hand tighten my Cummins filter, but always have to use the pliers to take them off.

On one hand, an oil filter socket works well from the bottom, but I'd rather pull the filter up from the top. With the pliers, I'm up there anyway.

 

[mobilaltima]

i have an '06 cummins, its not hard at all to get a strap wrench in there. strap wrench, 3/8 to 1/2 adapter with about 15" of extensions and it comes right off. I always tighten by hand and always use Fleetguard filters with stratapore media.

 

[Ducati996]

Originally Posted By: mobilaltima
i have an '06 cummins, its not hard at all to get a strap wrench in there. strap wrench, 3/8 to 1/2 adapter with about 15" of extensions and it comes right off. I always tighten by hand and always use Fleetguard filters with stratapore media.


I was thrown a curve being this is the first time I used a non-fluted filter.
I have a strap wrench as you describe but didn’t think of it as I was obsessed & PO’d.
I have all the filter socket wrenches so using a ratchet, extension & socket is the easiest way for me
Fram had a terrible reputation (deserved) and has finally stepped up and designed a great filter that I think is second to none now if they could put the icing on the cake!

Ducati996

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: Ducati996

Fram had a terrible reputation (deserved) and has finally stepped up and designed a great filter that I think is second to none now if they could put the icing on the cake!

Ducati996


Easy now.... think "baby steps"... it is Fram, after all. Don't rush them.

 

[y_p_w]

This is pretty common with filters for these engines. This is just an example:

A 3-leg wrench with cam action will take anything off. It'll basically bite into the filter like a police dog.

 

[CarbonSteel]

I used the long filters in the early 90s on my 5.7L Chevy trucks and if memory serves none of them had fluted ends--it simply required more torque on my part to remove them with a strap wrench. In a tight location, the more places to grab the filter the better so Fram et. al. should design the filter shell for ease of maintenance. I do like the "multi" flutes on the end of MC filters because it is like having a fine tooth filter wrench "ratchet" that allows many places to grab the filter.