FRAM XG3614 | 12,409 Miles | 7 Months | Cut Open

[CarbonSteel]

FRAM Ultra XG3614 from a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8L V6. The oil in use was 5W-20 Pennzoil Platinum (old formula--non GTL). I think the photos speak for themselves and is the main reason (combined with performance and cost) that I will be using FRAM Ultra filters from this point forward on all of my vehicles. The ADBV was nice and soft, the bypass was firmly attached to the top of the filter (the fuzzies on the bypass valve are from the paper towels that I hurriedly used to dry it--the rain was on the way), and the end caps could not be removed by hand and I applied some serious pressure to them.

This filter replaced the Purlolator PL10241 that I removed last July that had 3 tears in it with 5K less miles--say whatever you like about FRAM, but I am sold on them. The fact that I do not have to worry in the slightest about tears is worth the $3.20 price difference (PL10241 = $6.99 and XG3614 = $10.19 @ AAP before any discounts).

Enjoy!

 

[gregk24]

Looks great! Welcome to the club.

 

[Bud_One]

It held up well , thanks for the cut and post.

 

[Nate1979]

Looks great. I too switched to the Ultra and have a filter with 4 tears.

 

[Stewie]

Thanks for the pics.

What type of driving did you do and weather?
Was there any rattle when removing the oil filter?
What did you use to open it?

 

[WankelRotorHead]

Perfect, that is the filters I will be running on my (new to me) Focus with EP synthetic.

Thanks for the info!

 

[SilverC6]

Good looking filter.

Looks like that PP is keeping your engine clean.

 

[Trav]

Looks like a good solid filter. I am using these now and feel confident they will hold up. Peace of mind is worth the extra $3 all day.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: Stewie
What type of driving did you do and weather?

70/30 (Highway versus City) and Louisiana/Texas weather (hot summers and moderate winters)

Originally Posted By: Stewie
Was there any rattle when removing the oil filter

No rattles (you mean like a loose bypass spring or something else?). The bypass valve was firmly attached to the top of the filter. The ADBV was fully functional; I held the filter upside down and allowed the oil to drain for about 3 minutes. When I cut the filter open there was still about 3/4 cup of oil inside it.

Originally Posted By: Stewie
What did you use to open it?

A filter cutter from Summit Racing

PS...you are welcome!

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Looks great. I too switched to the Ultra and have a filter with 4 tears.

For clarity, you mean the other filter had 4 tears or the Ultra had 4 tears?

 

[Stewie]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: Stewie
What type of driving did you do and weather?

70/30 (Highway versus City) and Louisiana/Texas weather (hot summers and moderate winters)

Originally Posted By: Stewie
Was there any rattle when removing the oil filter

No rattles (you mean like a loose bypass spring or something else?). The bypass valve was firmly attached to the top of the filter. The ADBV was fully functional; I held the filter upside down and allowed the oil to drain for about 3 minutes. When I cut the filter open there was still about 3/4 cup of oil inside it.

Originally Posted By: Stewie
What did you use to open it?

A filter cutter from Summit Racing

PS...you are welcome!


Thanks, for 2nd one I meant that if the adv & relief valve were good.

Pretty expensive for a oil filter cutter, I guess I'll have to use my multi cutter

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: Stewie
Pretty expensive for a oil filter cutter, I guess I'll have to use my multi cutter

I grabbed it when it was on sale and if memory serves I had a 10% off coupon as well. Seems like it was in the $30 range (including shipping) when I bought it and honestly, if you cut filters on a regular basis, you need something like this (I hear that muffler cutters from Harbor Freight work too). Makes it a snap.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Looks good, just like all the other spin-on Ultras cut and posted.

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Looks great. I too switched to the Ultra and have a filter with 4 tears.

For clarity, you mean the other filter had 4 tears or the Ultra had 4 tears?


Sorry, I misspoke. It was supposed to say that I switched to the Ultra after finding 4 tears in a Puro classic.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Looks great. I too switched to the Ultra and have a filter with 4 tears.

For clarity, you mean the other filter had 4 tears or the Ultra had 4 tears?
Sorry, I misspoke. It was supposed to say that I switched to the Ultra after finding 4 tears in a Puro classic.

 

[crazyoildude]

Compare those threads on the ultra to the motorcraft there is a very big difference, the frams are much better on average i am sold on the ultra as long as the oil flow is good and i will know in three weeks when i change my oil and use my first fram in many many years. I did notice the inlet holes are a lot smaller on the ultra.

 

[AKhan87]

yep, I use fram ultras on all my cars now, all of them have been recently rebuilt, so I'm leaving them all on for 20k miles without a doubt in my head.

why buy tearolator pureones when you can buy this for a few dollars more and then put on a lot more miles on them as well.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Compare those threads on the ultra to the motorcraft there is a very big difference, the frams are much better on average i am sold on the ultra as long as the oil flow is good and i will know in three weeks when i change my oil and use my first fram in many many years. I did notice the inlet holes are a lot smaller on the ultra.

I will be changing the oil in the Explorer tomorrow and it has a FL-500s on it. I will be replacing the FL-500s with a XG10575 so it will be a great time to compare. I know that you have mentioned this before, but to date, I have not seen this issue on MC filters.

 

[Stewie]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Compare those threads on the ultra to the motorcraft there is a very big difference, the frams are much better on average i am sold on the ultra as long as the oil flow is good and i will know in three weeks when i change my oil and use my first fram in many many years. I did notice the inlet holes are a lot smaller on the ultra.

I will be changing the oil in the Explorer tomorrow and it has a FL-500s on it. I will be replacing the FL-500s with a XG10575 so it will be a great time to compare. I know that you have mentioned this before, but to date, I have not seen this issue on MC filters.


Cut open

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: Stewie
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Compare those threads on the ultra to the motorcraft there is a very big difference, the frams are much better on average i am sold on the ultra as long as the oil flow is good and i will know in three weeks when i change my oil and use my first fram in many many years. I did notice the inlet holes are a lot smaller on the ultra.

I will be changing the oil in the Explorer tomorrow and it has a FL-500s on it. I will be replacing the FL-500s with a XG10575 so it will be a great time to compare. I know that you have mentioned this before, but to date, I have not seen this issue on MC filters.


Cut open

Cut the FL-500s open? Always--need to justify that cutter's existence somehow