I opened up a Fram (Pennzoil), a Toyota/Denso, and a Mann. The Mann was the best quality, many pleats of filter media, resiliant seat on the bypass valve, very flexible antidrainback valve, and just robust construction; German-ish, you might say.
The Denso was as I expected, again a soft, resiliant antidrainback valve. The filter is very much like the one shown here with the red rubber parts http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000336
The Fram was interesting. The way they make each piece do two or three jobs just to save pennies.... The whole filter was lighter, the case was easier to cut (thinner), the spring steel piece in the bottom does three jobs--presses the assembly including the antidrainback valve against the cap, holds that plastic bypass valve which we know doesn't seal all that well, and centers the filter element. The filter element has the usual cardboard end caps, but the top end cap is interesting. It is cut into an octagon while the lower endcap is round. Why? The very small cutouts are the passages for oil which enters the filter to reach the filter element while the points of the end cap center the element (and the outlet hole in the element centers the antidrainback valve). The antidrainback valve was thin, and getting stiff and hard on this used filter.
No Frams for me.
Ken
The Denso was as I expected, again a soft, resiliant antidrainback valve. The filter is very much like the one shown here with the red rubber parts http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000336
The Fram was interesting. The way they make each piece do two or three jobs just to save pennies.... The whole filter was lighter, the case was easier to cut (thinner), the spring steel piece in the bottom does three jobs--presses the assembly including the antidrainback valve against the cap, holds that plastic bypass valve which we know doesn't seal all that well, and centers the filter element. The filter element has the usual cardboard end caps, but the top end cap is interesting. It is cut into an octagon while the lower endcap is round. Why? The very small cutouts are the passages for oil which enters the filter to reach the filter element while the points of the end cap center the element (and the outlet hole in the element centers the antidrainback valve). The antidrainback valve was thin, and getting stiff and hard on this used filter.
No Frams for me.
Ken
