Oops guess I messed up

[Mech]

Well I just came to this site after someone posted a link on off-road.com and I must say you guys know your oil. I just changed my oil yesterday and used a fram filter since you guys love them(sarcasm). Its not going to damage my engine or anything is it? I drive a 95 Tacoma 4x4 with a 3.0 v6. I am also running 10w40 castrol syntec(the stuff in the black bottle).
What are your thoughts?

 

[Drew99GT]

I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Bob posted an oil analysis where his Escort had lower wear numbers from using a fram over a mobil 1! Probably from flow restriction through the mobil 1. Just go with something other than fram next time.

 

[Ray H]

I don't use Frams, but millions of drivers do. Despite all the negative comments about Frams on this site, I'm not aware of there being any general tendency toward engine failures that can be directly traced to the use of Fram oil filters. Maybe they really are inferior to many other brands. But that doesn't mean they aren't "good enough". (Besides, there are even those who feel full-flow oil filters are a useless appendage, anyway, what with modern high detergency Group II dino, and Group III and Group IV synthetic motor oils.) Me? I take the middle ground and change my dino oil and filter every three-thousand miles. I use good ol' WallyWorld $1.97 SuperTech (Champion) oil filters.

 

[Patman]

You'll be fine for this interval.

I have a theory on why so many people use Fram but yet you don't hear more about them causing failures. It's because most do it yourself oil changers that use Fram are probably die hard 3k changers. These filters stay together for 3k, although I don't think they are good enough to go longer. So they work ok for 3k, causing no harm, but don't try and push them beyond that, or you'll be risking a problem.

As long as Fram uses cardboard they'll never be a customer of mine.

 

[Steve S]

As told to me years ago."don't worry, even I make mistakes"

 

[Pablo]

I think Fram is OK on certain cars. Cars that demand a very good abv (anti-backflow valve)will have the most troubles with "dry starts" and in my humble Volvo experience - iron block Volvo's with side mount Fram do not mix well.

I certainly wouldn't use a Fram for extended intervals, but it should catch the big chunks (primary purpose). Don't sweat it.

[ March 10, 2003, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: Pablo ]

 

[BOBISTHEOILGUY]

So far, I have used fram on two complete oil changes, one went to 7200 miles before I replaced it. From what I could see and hear, about 7,200 miles was as far as it seem to go before I started to hear upper noise on startup, So IMO, fram should have no problem serving you 5,000 miles.

Like toyota's, my filter is also a side mount and does have an antidrain back valve, and I've not experienced any trouble so far. I have removed all filters, cut them open and examined, so far, no deterioration on those "cardboard" endcaps, and filter seems to be in good order.

After this last test I run with the 5w30 mineral oil, I will be trying the bosch filter, but hopefully before then, we'll have the filter jig setup and beable to see how flow is between these types of filters and from this, I'll be making my next choice as to what I'm going to use. If fram has the best flow, I'll end up with that, but I really don't think they will be the best, but they sure are not the worst IMO. I will agree, that fram has had some bad publicity with the anti drain back issues, but so far, I've been fine from the experiences that I have seen so far.

[ March 10, 2003, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: BOBISTHEOILGUY ]