That's unfortunate...or maybe bypass filtration?

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Originally Posted By: linksep
Originally Posted By: WellOiled
There are many variables that enter into this type of usage.

1. Engine cleanliness when the filter was first installed.

2. Engine state of tune / how much soot per mile is this engine making.

3. PCV valve condition and function.

When the filter fills to capacity, then bad things like this can happen.
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1. Engine is extremely clean, the last 8 or so oil changes have been with Quaker State Ultimate Durability or Pennzoil Platinum, never over 10K. Before that the car has lived almost its entire life with Syntec or M1 on 5K OCI\FCI. Top Tier gas 95% of the time. Also I had the valve cover off a couple dozen miles ago and it was CLEAN.

2. State of tune is excellent. New plugs and O2 sensor about 9 months ago just because.

3. 2.2L EcoTec uses a fixed orifice breather, I doubt it is plugged because the car uses next to no oil (maybe a quart in 10K miles).
A QUART in 10K is "next to no" oil?
 
As comparison, I just finished a 32month ~14k 2 oci run with an Ultra XG3614 spin on, on a Tacoma. Though I haven't posted dissection pics yet, 'in my observation' it looks like it could go another 5k miles no problem.

That said, 'in my observation of anecdotes posted on this board', I don't put the Ultra 'cartridges' (or other Fram cartridges) in the same class as the Ultra spin on. I'm less than enamored with the former. Just me.
 
Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis
That filter should have taken those miles easily. He drove 120 miles a day on the highway. Doesn't get easier than that. In the 70's filters were used for two OCI's up to 15,000 miles all the time. That filter is either made of poop or it was subjected to conditions it was not designed for.
+1
 
Undoubtedly a defective filter - either the media or possibly the bypass valve. I'm leaning towards a run of bad media that somehow got through QC. Just a WAG. Regardless, failure mode, and this is clearly a "failure," should be fail-safe for health and safety items. IOW, the worst that should happen is it eventually clogs.
 
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis
That filter should have taken those miles easily. He drove 120 miles a day on the highway. Doesn't get easier than that. In the 70's filters were used for two OCI's up to 15,000 miles all the time. That filter is either made of poop or it was subjected to conditions it was not designed for.
+1


+2

Let's try again with Napa Gold
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis

Old car manuals can be found here..http://www.oldirononline.com/

On page 5.2 of the 1977 Chevelle's owner's manual you will find a 7,500 mile oil change interval and page 5.3 says to change the filter every second oil change.

This thread may be of interest. The same filter run for 20,000 miles. Pics of filter loaded with carbon. No holes in media.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4089449/Re:_Reuse_fram_XG_for_1_more_O#Post4089449

and https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3994431/1


This may explain the many flat camshafts that GM owners were plagued with back then. The ones I saw (not mine) I chalked it up to poor maintenance but now I wonder...


Originally Posted By: Sayjac
That said, 'in my observation of anecdotes posted on this board', I don't put the Ultra 'cartridges' (or other Fram cartridges) in the same class as the Ultra spin on. I'm less than enamored with the former. Just me.


At least the spin-on filters cannot be fondled and fingered like the cartridges. When I was in Walmart measuring some Ultra cartridges with an ID problem, one of their mechanics walked by and asked what I was doing. We got to talking about filters and at some point in the conversation, while he was looking at one of the questionable Ultras, he started prying the pleats apart to show me how much better/thicker the synthetic media was. Well that's all it took for the "ham fisted" mechanic to compromise the media. Fram should print a caution on the box that says "handle filter by end caps only"
 
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Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Looks like you have a bypass problem.

+1 I think a bypass problem is high on the list. I am also thinking the media is high on the list too.
 
Originally Posted By: funflyer

Originally Posted By: Sayjac
That said, 'in my observation of anecdotes posted on this board', I don't put the Ultra 'cartridges' (or other Fram cartridges) in the same class as the Ultra spin on. I'm less than enamored with the former. Just me.

At least the spin-on filters cannot be fondled and fingered like the cartridges. When I was in Walmart measuring some Ultra cartridges with an ID problem, one of their mechanics walked by and asked what I was doing. We got to talking about filters and at some point in the conversation, while he was looking at one of the questionable Ultras, he started prying the pleats apart to show me how much better/thicker the synthetic media was. Well that's all it took for the "ham fisted" mechanic to compromise the media. Fram should print a caution on the box that says "handle filter by end caps only"

I thought and am under the impression that all Ultra boxes including cartridges are sealed, not to be opened and would show if they had been tampered with prior to purchase? Not sure of the point unless you're implying that's the cause of the OP's anecdote.

That aside, iirc your noted examination showed that many of the Fram cartridges were not made to the spec of the oem and had fitment issues.

Yet another example of the Ultra cartridge not being to the same standard as the Ultra spin on. Seen too many Ultra cartridge issues posted here, and with the many other viable quality choices, Ultra cartridges not one 'for me'.
 
Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis

Old car manuals can be found here..http://www.oldirononline.com/

On page 5.2 of the 1977 Chevelle's owner's manual you will find a 7,500 mile oil change interval and page 5.3 says to change the filter every second oil change.

This thread may be of interest. The same filter run for 20,000 miles. Pics of filter loaded with carbon. No holes in media.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4089449/Re:_Reuse_fram_XG_for_1_more_O#Post4089449

and https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3994431/1


Thanks I appreciate that. All the MOPARS our family owned back then had 3000/6000 OCI with filter change....and Ford was similar so that was my experience.

Interesting though - maybe they just don't make 'em like they used to; or maybe in the days prior to today's "buy buy buy" culture, GM did the research and found that filters could last longer!

Hmmm...add to that, Jiffy Lube was started in 1979 with their "every 3000 mile" commercials.....
 
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FRAM **seems** to have issues at times with their cartridge line. This is the 4th or 5th example I have seen posted here with an issue. The spin-on filters do not seem to have as many issues. From some of the past examples, the length of the filter appeared to be too long for the application, though that does not seem to be the case here. Like others have suggested, I would reduce the FCI to below what the manufacturer states (<15K).
 
The bypass suggestion is a good one. Since it is part of the cap its possible its not working. It might be prudent to go ahead and replace the cap.
I don't think 20k miles was too long, since we just saw a filter do 42k miles a couple of posts down.
I would still send it to Fram. Its possible they might be able to tell for sure or at least count it towards their failure rate and possibly consider making changes to the filter.
 
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Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis
I sent a filter to Fram that had holes in it.

They said they couldn't test it because it had holes in it.

Welll. That sucks.
 
Originally Posted By: WellOiled
They could at least test the media separately and tell if the media was plugged or not.


Even if it was plugged, the media should still be able to take whatever delta-p the bypass valve is set at. I agree the OP should also look at his bypass valve to make sure it's not sticky, etc.
 
^^^ Yes, there is much more likely a problem with the bypass and not the filter to have such a big ripping force to tear the media like that. When I have cut open Ultra's in the past the media is very stout and I can't see normal operations tearing it apart like that.
 
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis
That filter should have taken those miles easily. He drove 120 miles a day on the highway. Doesn't get easier than that. In the 70's filters were used for two OCI's up to 15,000 miles all the time. That filter is either made of poop or it was subjected to conditions it was not designed for.
+1


+whatever; curious how the filter "knows" how many miles it has been; He would have had better results if he did 15K miles around town, constantly shifting gears.....?

I see Fram has used the "up to" escape clause
 
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: WellOiled
They could at least test the media separately and tell if the media was plugged or not.


Even if it was plugged, the media should still be able to take whatever delta-p the bypass valve is set at. I agree the OP should also look at his bypass valve to make sure it's not sticky, etc.

I agree. That is what the bypass is for.

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
^^^ Yes, there is much more likely a problem with the bypass and not the filter to have such a big ripping force to tear the media like that. When I have cut open Ultra's in the past the media is very stout and I can't see normal operations tearing it apart like that.

I agree. A bad bypass could destroy otherwise good media.

Interesting case.
 
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