OG Fram Ultra Flashlight Test WCW
- Thread starter GW.
- Start date
Thanks for posting this here. CO's chasing the almighty dollar. Fram really wanted to shake their old reputation, & this Ultra was the answer, but now we've come back around after changing hands several times since.
11 yr old passes the test
New ones can't
11 yr old passes the test
New ones can't
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The leaf spring on the OG Ultra seals in two places on the fiber gasket in the end cap. Notice there are no 'nubs' on the circumference of the leaf spring area that fits down into the seal ID - it's a tight fit there without the 'nubs'. That's because that surface interface is also a seal, so it seals there and on the top of the gasket. Whoever designed the OG Ultra knew any oil leakage there would decrease the efficiency.
Every OG Ultra will have a sealed leaf spring. In fact, the design of the OG Ultra will seal without pressure on the leaf spring because of the sealing area around the ID of the fiber gasket and the leaf spring like described in post 4. There have been plenty of filters with ruffled and warped leaf springs that still have a big air gap even with lots of pressure on the leaf spring because they are too stiff in compression in the sealing area to defect enough to seal. It's been shown in many threads over the last year or so. @Glenda W. even cut windows in a Fram FE and did a flashlight test without cutting open the filter first.
I did an in can test. Pressure will not make it seal. Not even in a vise.
Tested on a new Fram Endurance FE7317 purchased at Walmart.
The question was “Does the Fram Endrance still have a gap in the bypass spring while under pressure?”
The answer is yes on this one. Also has a gap outside of the canister as Whip City and Sayjac have already found. I also carefully put some drops of oil on the gap areas to check every 10 minutes. It only took seconds for the oil to leak through with gravity.
The question was “Does the Fram Endrance still have a gap in the bypass spring while under pressure?”
The answer is yes on this one. Also has a gap outside of the canister as Whip City and Sayjac have already found. I also carefully put some drops of oil on the gap areas to check every 10 minutes. It only took seconds for the oil to leak through with gravity.
No question Endurance has inferior bypass. I loaded up on remaining 10 year old “OG”s known as FPS Gold recently from Rock Auto. Having said this, I will eventually use my Endurance stock…since the wire backed 100% synthetic media is still superior to most filters available.
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Fram need to reconsider.
Or whoever buys Fram due to their financial problems.
I wonder if the Trico wiper blades will follow the path to oblivion?
My hope was one day going to walmart and pick up my oils and turn around and pick Fram Ultra. Is this too much to ask ? once you use to the fram grip, nothing else come closer 
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.I also do love the Fram end cap grip … No having to use tools or end cap ratchet metal cups kept in a bunch of different sizes ! I just installed an Endurance oil filter (#9688) I had in stock which I will run for two 3,800 mile OCI’s in a clean GDI engine and hope the leaky bypass potential issue doesn’t cause the engine to grenade itself .My hope was one day going to walmart and pick up my oils and turn around and pick Fram Ultra. Is this too much to ask ? once you use to the fram grip, nothing else come closer
Brave men
