let me start by saying I've been a lurker on this forum for over a year and this is my first post!
Well, I, like the majority of members here, am generally against Fram oil filters due to their sub par construction and premium price. However, we all know the XG series is a compeltely different animal from the rest of the Fram line. Metal endcaps, synthetic media, and the ability to hold a LOT of contaminants,all the things we want to see in a premium filter.
But has anyone noticed that their quality control is still practically nonexistant?
I'm driving a Jeep Cherokee (XJ), and since the filter is horizontally mounted, the drainback valve MUST seal for me. Here's how I test them. I blow into the threaded center section of the baseplate. If air comes back out, either through the drainback valve, or through the baseplate to filter casing seam, I return it to the shelf. If NO air comes out (like blowing through a hose with a plug in the other end) I deem it acceptable and purchase it.
I was at my local walmart the other day, and they had roughly 12 XG8A oil filters on the shelf. I'm sure it infuriates the staff at Wally, but I tore open every XG8A and started testing drainback valves. To my dismay, only TWO of the DOZEN on the shelf actually sealed up properly. Some leaked a little air, some were so bad that it seemed as if there was no drainback valve at all! most leaked through the drainback valve, but a few leaked TERRIBLY at the seam for the baseplate to filter casing.
Wouldn't you think if you were going to offer a premium filter, at a premium price, you'd at least make sure your QC department did their job? I certainly won't stop using the XG series (Running M1 5w40TDT w/XG8A at 10k mi intervals), but be sure to test your drainback valve BEFORE you buy a filter if your filter isn't vertically mounted
~Erik
Well, I, like the majority of members here, am generally against Fram oil filters due to their sub par construction and premium price. However, we all know the XG series is a compeltely different animal from the rest of the Fram line. Metal endcaps, synthetic media, and the ability to hold a LOT of contaminants,all the things we want to see in a premium filter.
But has anyone noticed that their quality control is still practically nonexistant?
I'm driving a Jeep Cherokee (XJ), and since the filter is horizontally mounted, the drainback valve MUST seal for me. Here's how I test them. I blow into the threaded center section of the baseplate. If air comes back out, either through the drainback valve, or through the baseplate to filter casing seam, I return it to the shelf. If NO air comes out (like blowing through a hose with a plug in the other end) I deem it acceptable and purchase it.
I was at my local walmart the other day, and they had roughly 12 XG8A oil filters on the shelf. I'm sure it infuriates the staff at Wally, but I tore open every XG8A and started testing drainback valves. To my dismay, only TWO of the DOZEN on the shelf actually sealed up properly. Some leaked a little air, some were so bad that it seemed as if there was no drainback valve at all! most leaked through the drainback valve, but a few leaked TERRIBLY at the seam for the baseplate to filter casing.
Wouldn't you think if you were going to offer a premium filter, at a premium price, you'd at least make sure your QC department did their job? I certainly won't stop using the XG series (Running M1 5w40TDT w/XG8A at 10k mi intervals), but be sure to test your drainback valve BEFORE you buy a filter if your filter isn't vertically mounted
~Erik
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