Question about K&N Oil Filter VS Fram

[Xanth]

Hello all, new to the forum here. I joined up because of some specific questions I have, but can't find the info I want online.

I have an 88 Fiero Formula, 2.8 V6 with 109k miles. I recently started using Royal Purple and K&N filters as an experiment. This is my first oil change with RP, but I started using K&N with my last oil change along with Castrol GTX oil.

At this change I noticed an immediate difference between my used K&N filter and my previous used Fram filters.

• When I place the K&N on the ground open side up, the center does not fill with oil, though it is heavy with oil
• When I placed a Fram on the ground open side up, the center slowly fills with oil.

I originally supposed this was due to the anti-drainback valve sealing better, but someone suggested that the filter medium is just clogged. The filter was full of oil when I removed it, and oil pressure was always good, so the filter didn't seem clogged.

Can anyone enlighten me on this issue? Is it a bad thing the filter center doesn't slowly fill with oil?

Thanks for any input

Edit to add: The K&N filter and Castrol GTX was run for only 3k miles.

 

[bustednutz]

Pic 5 in the link below says it all.
the FRAM uses more of a screening device that doesn't open or close.
Therefore the oil filter when full is leveling itself out.

At least thats what I'm thinking.
Plus the FRAM is just garbage.

http://mymiata.paladinmicro.com/MiataOFilters.htm

 

[Xanth]

So its not necessarily a bad thing that the K&N filter does not fill up?

 

[dkryan]

Welcome, Xanth!

What does your K&N oil filter cost you for that Fiero?

 

[Spector]

AJUSA.com has a price of 9.95/filter, currently no shipping cost or sales tax if youy are looking to stock up.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: bustednutz
Pic 5 in the link below says it all.
the FRAM uses more of a screening device that doesn't open or close.
Therefore the oil filter when full is leveling itself out.

At least thats what I'm thinking.
Plus the FRAM is just garbage.

http://mymiata.paladinmicro.com/MiataOFilters.htm


There's still a spring loaded bypass valve under that screen...

The screen captures sticks and twigs that might otherwise go through the bypass valve!

 

[Xanth]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
Welcome, Xanth!

What does your K&N oil filter cost you for that Fiero?


The normal cost is around $11 I believe, #2001. I work for an auto-parts store though so the 5 quarts of RP and the filter only cost me $30. The actual cost of RP is only about $4 a quart, the markup on that stuff is nearly 100%

 

[Dyoel182]

Originally Posted By: Xanth
The actual cost of RP is only about $4 a quart, the markup on that stuff is nearly 100%


You mean the wholesale cost or the actual cost to make, bottle, label and transport?

 

[Xanth]

Wholesale cost, the store is only paying about $4 a quart and charges over $7 a quart.