Mobile1 Champion labs now just another FRAM OCOD

[Warwagon]

Mobil1 Champion labs is just another FRAM OCOD because The FRAM Group is backing the now near worthless warranty on the filter. After cutting open a filter I found a pleat failure or defect allowing oil to bypass the filter.

The Fram Group doesn't appear interested in evaluating the filter for quality control, wants to quote me policy about denying any claims first and foremost, breach of warranty as The Fram Group does not even mention replacing their filter, and will let me send their defective filter in on my own dime.

I think I'll keep it as evidence.

I should be seeing some concern from The Fram Group about quality and checking out why I have a failure/defect. I am not. So unless I have an engine lockup there is no way to tell if the filter failed in this case except to cut it open and look.

I expect more From Mobil 1 and a 'top of the price line filter'!

"Go pound sand" replies from The Fram Group when contacted:

"You are welcome to send this in, however it is our policy to deny such claims because it is stated that the filter must be unaltered and intact to be given the opportunity to evaluate the product as a whole."

"I included the informational form for you to submit to initiate a claim in the previous email. We are not saying that we will not look at the filter, however we wanted you to understand Fram Filtrations policy on evaluating a filter. You are more than welcome to initiate a claim and send the filter in, it will ultimately be the labs determination on disposition of the filter. I have again attached the informational form to submit a claim."

"In order for us to perform a proper evaluation, the product you submit must not be altered. Therefore, the product you send us must not be cut open, modified or altered in any way. If your evidence has been altered or damaged to where we cannot evaluate it, your claim will be denied."

Mobil 1 oil filter failure or defect. Picture are available here due to the this site's host images elsewhere setup/policy.

 

[SatinSilver]

The correct spelling is Mobil 1. Mobile is in Alabama.

 

[UNC151]

Not honoring a claim on a dissected filter is fairly standard practice for all of the filter makers--I do not think that FRAM/Champion Labs is unique in that regard. I am almost positive that Purolator and WIX do the same.

 

[Run]

Thanks for sharing your experience. That kind of failure would put a sour taste in my mouth for a long time. It looks like it failed straight from the factory.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

"In order for us to perform a proper evaluation, the product you submit must not be altered. Therefore, the product you send us must not be cut open, modified or altered in any way. If your evidence has been altered or damaged to where we cannot evaluate it, your claim will be denied."


Pretty reasonable from a business perspective.

I'm sure not one of their millions of customers would saw open a filter, damage it, and file a claim in hopes of getting a new engine. Not saying that is you, i'm saying they have to draw a line to prevent abuse.

 

[sir1900]

Your filter pleats may have been like that even before installation.

In most cases, one cannot see any failure in the filter without cutting it open for inspection, so by you cutting it open, that is FRAM's (and everyone else's) out for denying any warranty claim. Not saying that is right for them to do that, but they will find anyway they can to deny warranty.As far as I am concerned, filter manufacturer's filter warranties are not worth the paper it's written on.

 

[goodtimes]

The filter is a Mobil warrantied product, not a Fram oil filter. It is a Mobil 1 oil filter, unless it says Fram on it. Send them, Mobil 1 oil filters, a pic of your kept "evidence" and see what they say. Fram makes it for them now of course. Who knows who made yours. Looks like a machine goofed, or ???? You do seem to quickly go to the Fram Extra Guard attack, which has nothing to do with a Mobil 1 oil filter.

 

[goodtimes]

Actually I went to the Mobil 1 website and they do say contact Champ labs for warranty claims. Oops, sorry. Normally whatever name is on a product, that's who you take it back to.
The only thing someone will get is what they can prove, which is the way it should be. Otherwise people would be slitting oil filters and wanting new engines for worn out ones.

 

[kschachn]

I'd never honor a warranty claim on a cut-open filter, Mobile or Mobil or otherwise.

Just like when my dad who was in the liquor industry for many years, would see lawsuits for bottles of liquor that had a fly in them or shard of glass. Naturally none were still sealed, all had been opened of course.

Now in your situation you would never had known it was separated had you not opened it but...

 

[Roadkingnc]

I have cut open a few mobil 1 filters and they have all had wire backed filter media, maybe they changed it???

 

[Warwagon]

I think I clearly proved the filter was defective or failed. The only way to do so is cutting it open short of $X ray$.

So denying a claim or showing zero interest in the failed/defective filter is just poor customer service and IMO lack of quality control. Same goes for the failing tearolator, purolator filters that wouldn't be noticed unless people inspect their filters after use.

"I'd never honor a warranty claim on a cut-open filter" - That just shrugging off responsibility for quality and fixing a defect in design, materials, or assembly. I can get this poor attitude cheaper from China and this mindset is literally putting people out of work as I vote with my money. Why pay more for the same lack of customer service? I sincerely would rather see the company take an interest, evaluate the filter, and then decide if they need to deny any claims. After all who said my engine failed? Unfiltered oil certainly didn't help it.

Last "glass" found in Cambell's soup we sent in years ago: Letter that said they reviewed it with the plant manager, explained that all bulbs were screened, and sent some coupons for their product. Aka they did care about this. Currently Toothpaste off all things is under a recall for wood chips found in the product. So I suggest your comment is further off base of what customers demand. Yes, evaluate it then you can say if if it legit or not.

After all the $3-$14 filter is responsible for say a $5000 engine and further debris from the filter itself can ruin an engine. This is NOT a bottom of the barrel cheap filter, but, I am not getting a good filter. Rather I am getting the same "we deny" as a cheap OCOD.

Note: Spelling correction noted

 

[Ram01]

Ridiculous with Mobil 1 filter with the about of money they charge. How are k&n filters ???

 

[901Memphis]

Originally Posted By: Ram01
Ridiculous with Mobil 1 filter with the about of money they charge. How are k&n filters ???


Even cheaper than Mobil 1 these days.

 

[dishdude]

I'm not familiar enough with Mobil 1 filters to know if that seam should be glued or crimped. I am guessing the factory missed that part of the process? Or was that seam on the other side of the element?

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: Ram01
Ridiculous with Mobil 1 filter with the about of money they charge. How are k&n filters ???
Made in Korea & Mexico, lower quality, same (over)price(d). I've always thought Mobil 1 filters were pricey for what you get-only syn blend media, much like a Bosch Distance Plus, really inferior to an Ultra, Fleetguard Stratapore, or Royal Purple.

 

[WankelRotorHead]

Clearly a defective filter, but Champion Labs also make the highly rated Amsoil and Royal Purple filters so saying that the Mobil 1 filter is "just another Fram OCOD" because Champion Labs is owned by the same parent company as Fram is sensationalism at the very least.

Besides the obvious construction differences, the OCOD doesn't have a reputation of torn pleats...

 

[BigD1]

My last oil change, which was a little over two weeks ago, I installed a Mobil 1 filter. If my car was sitting for like over night, then the next morning the engine had a bad case of start up rattle. Put a Wix on, and the problem was solved. It had a Fram TG prior to the oil change, and it worked fine too.

I think we just got a bad apple. I just took the loss, and will not buy any more.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Warwagon
Mobil1 Champion labs is just another FRAM OCOD because The FRAM Group is backing the now near worthless warranty on the filter. After cutting open a filter I found a pleat failure or defect allowing oil to bypass the filter.

The Fram Group doesn't appear interested in evaluating the filter for quality control, wants to quote me policy about denying any claims first and foremost, breach of warranty as The Fram Group does not even mention replacing their filter, and will let me send their defective filter in on my own dime.

I think I'll keep it as evidence.

I should be seeing some concern from The Fram Group about quality and checking out why I have a failure/defect. I am not. So unless I have an engine lockup there is no way to tell if the filter failed in this case except to cut it open and look.

I expect more From Mobil 1 and a 'top of the price line filter'!

"Go pound sand" replies from The Fram Group when contacted:

"You are welcome to send this in, however it is our policy to deny such claims because it is stated that the filter must be unaltered and intact to be given the opportunity to evaluate the product as a whole."

"I included the informational form for you to submit to initiate a claim in the previous email. We are not saying that we will not look at the filter, however we wanted you to understand Fram Filtrations policy on evaluating a filter. You are more than welcome to initiate a claim and send the filter in, it will ultimately be the labs determination on disposition of the filter. I have again attached the informational form to submit a claim."

"In order for us to perform a proper evaluation, the product you submit must not be altered. Therefore, the product you send us must not be cut open, modified or altered in any way. If your evidence has been altered or damaged to where we cannot evaluate it, your claim will be denied."

Mobil 1 oil filter failure or defect. Picture are available here due to the this site's host images elsewhere setup/policy.


I need to clean my glasses, I keep seeing FRAM when I'm sure this must be a Puro rant from the usual suspects.

 

[MikeHigg]

What was the symptom on you car that the filter had failed, if any?

 

[bullwinkle]

You might try PM-ing or emailing Motorking-he is a Fram rep, he may not be able to do anything, but at least he might be able to point you in the right direction. The split media, to me, is a MUCH worse failure than the little frayed pleats in a Purolator-basically anything can roll right through the filter, dirt, carbon, anything-might as well have no filter at all.