I tested three FS3600, three FE3600, four XG3600, and because of the disappointing results, added a Carquest Premium 85516.
I went into this testing expecting Fram to perform very well, fully planning to use them in my vehicles. Based on the results of these tests and Fram's failure to respond to my messages for weeks now, I will not be using Fram products anymore. I will run the 3rd XG3600 for a brief time for an engine flush and then cut it open for more testing, but the others are going to be returned and I'll be using the Carquest until something better comes up.
First test was to attach a vacuum to the outlets of the filters with a debris catching filter in between (I tried both cotton and cellulose). I wasn't expecting as much as there was from the Fram's, otherwise I would have used a better filter (maybe media from an air filter). I did not find anything from the Carquest. The following pictures are all from the Fram filters.
My takeaway from this, (besides maybe not getting Fram and maybe looking more into alternatives to fiberglass/microglass media), is to take a few seconds and vacuum out any new filter before installing. Very little effort, and there is clearly benefit at least in the case of these filters.
The next test was pressure differential, mostly to identify leaks. This was again done with a vacuum. I believe there are two things that can be gained, if we assume that leakage paths are a greater cause for differences in pressure differential than construction variance within a model:
Filters are marked red for filter 1, green for 2, blue for 3, and yellow for 4.
FE3600:
Filter 1: 23178AF - 2023, 178th day
Filter 2: 23022AF - 2023, 022nd day (longer louvers than 1 and 3)
Filter 3: 23178AF - 2023, 178th day
XG3600:
Filter 1: A40462 - 2024, 046th day
Filter 2: A40462 - 2024, 046th day
Filter 3: A41413 - 2024, 141st day
Filter 4: A40462 - 2024, 046th day
FS3600:
Filter 1: A30202 - 2023, 020nd day (holes in metal core, no wire backing)
Filter 2: A40673 - 2024, 067th day (louvers, wire backing)
Filter 3: A40673 - 2024, 067th day (louvers, wire backing)
The Carquest was tested at a later date, so at least part of the lower pressure differential is because of that.
Next up was testing of the ADBVs. I used an air compressor at low pressure to pressuring the outlets of each valve and checked for tests.
I was surprised to see that most leaking was from the joints between the cans and the face plates.
XG1 - Very bad leaking from the ADBV, to the point where I couldn't test for rim leaks
XG2 - Bad rim leak
XG3 - Bad rim leak
XG4 - Medium rim leak
FS1 - Minor rim leak
FS2 - Bad rim leak
FS3 - Bad rim leak
FE1 - Fully seals
FE2 - Tiny rim leak
FE3 - Minor ADBV leak
Carquest - Fully seals
I also tested ADBV leaking with about 25 ml of oil in each can, stored upside down for a while. The results lined up pretty well with the air testing, although all of the FS and FE3 leaked more in this test than what their air pressure tests would indicate.
Finally, I tested bypass valve leaking by putting a small amount of oil into the outlet of each filter. The oil quickly disappeared from the valve seat area on every filter, but I'm not sure if this is entirely due to leaking, or if maybe wicking up the filter media played a part. I will have to test more once I cut one open.
I went into this testing expecting Fram to perform very well, fully planning to use them in my vehicles. Based on the results of these tests and Fram's failure to respond to my messages for weeks now, I will not be using Fram products anymore. I will run the 3rd XG3600 for a brief time for an engine flush and then cut it open for more testing, but the others are going to be returned and I'll be using the Carquest until something better comes up.
First test was to attach a vacuum to the outlets of the filters with a debris catching filter in between (I tried both cotton and cellulose). I wasn't expecting as much as there was from the Fram's, otherwise I would have used a better filter (maybe media from an air filter). I did not find anything from the Carquest. The following pictures are all from the Fram filters.
My takeaway from this, (besides maybe not getting Fram and maybe looking more into alternatives to fiberglass/microglass media), is to take a few seconds and vacuum out any new filter before installing. Very little effort, and there is clearly benefit at least in the case of these filters.
The next test was pressure differential, mostly to identify leaks. This was again done with a vacuum. I believe there are two things that can be gained, if we assume that leakage paths are a greater cause for differences in pressure differential than construction variance within a model:
- An oil filter that is less restrictive to air will likely be less restrictive to oil. In the absence of particle size and efficiency information (which takes priority in my opinion), and if we assume no leaks (at least, no leaks for the lower pressure differential filter), a filter with a lower pressure differential is likely better than a filter of a DIFFERENT MODEL with a higher pressure differential in the context of flow restriction. It must be a comparison between different models though, because of the second point:
- With two oil filters of the same construction, a lower pressure differential on one filter likely indicates greater total leakage paths. In the case of the Frams, that seems likely to be primarily from the bypass valves, but this can also be due to tears in the filter media.
Filters are marked red for filter 1, green for 2, blue for 3, and yellow for 4.
FE3600:
Filter 1: 23178AF - 2023, 178th day
Filter 2: 23022AF - 2023, 022nd day (longer louvers than 1 and 3)
Filter 3: 23178AF - 2023, 178th day
XG3600:
Filter 1: A40462 - 2024, 046th day
Filter 2: A40462 - 2024, 046th day
Filter 3: A41413 - 2024, 141st day
Filter 4: A40462 - 2024, 046th day
FS3600:
Filter 1: A30202 - 2023, 020nd day (holes in metal core, no wire backing)
Filter 2: A40673 - 2024, 067th day (louvers, wire backing)
Filter 3: A40673 - 2024, 067th day (louvers, wire backing)
The Carquest was tested at a later date, so at least part of the lower pressure differential is because of that.
Next up was testing of the ADBVs. I used an air compressor at low pressure to pressuring the outlets of each valve and checked for tests.
I was surprised to see that most leaking was from the joints between the cans and the face plates.
XG1 - Very bad leaking from the ADBV, to the point where I couldn't test for rim leaks
XG2 - Bad rim leak
XG3 - Bad rim leak
XG4 - Medium rim leak
FS1 - Minor rim leak
FS2 - Bad rim leak
FS3 - Bad rim leak
FE1 - Fully seals
FE2 - Tiny rim leak
FE3 - Minor ADBV leak
Carquest - Fully seals
I also tested ADBV leaking with about 25 ml of oil in each can, stored upside down for a while. The results lined up pretty well with the air testing, although all of the FS and FE3 leaked more in this test than what their air pressure tests would indicate.
Finally, I tested bypass valve leaking by putting a small amount of oil into the outlet of each filter. The oil quickly disappeared from the valve seat area on every filter, but I'm not sure if this is entirely due to leaking, or if maybe wicking up the filter media played a part. I will have to test more once I cut one open.