The New Fram Ultra......

[JC1]

I had nothing better to do today. So I sent this, let's see what the response is.View attachment 67029

Thanks for sending that. If you get a reasonable response that would be interesting. Unfortunately many times the consumer gets the shaft. We can vote with our dollars and step away from the Fram line. Now I'm considering the Wix XP, I hope they don't copy Fram and remove the wire backing on their filter.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Thanks for sending that. If you get a reasonable response that would be interesting. Unfortunately many times the consumer gets the shaft. We can vote with our dollars and step away from the Fram line. Now I'm considering the Wix XP, I hope they don't copy Fram and remove the wire backing on their filter.

Why the XP? ... just because it has a wire backing? What about efficiency and flow vs delta-p performance?

IMO, if the new Ultra media can essentially perform like the old media, and not physically deform, tear, etc with extreme use then it will still be a top tier filter. I'd still like to know the flow vs delta-p change though. Another thing to watch is the bypass valve setting. If the bypass setting remains the same then that's an indication that the media flow performance hasn't changed much.

 

[JC1]

Yes I usually run the filters for extended intervals and I think that wire adds to the Durability. Maybe I'm wrong. I know Ultra was better for filtration compared to XP.

My engines are pretty clean. Maybe it's time to go back to shorter OCI and changing the filter at every OCI. I'm guessing it will take 2-3 years to feel the warm and fuzzys again with the Fram Ultra. I'm good for 2 more years on the Caravan with my current filter stash.

 

[Averroes]

Thanks for sending that. If you get a reasonable response that would be interesting. Unfortunately many times the consumer gets the shaft. We can vote with our dollars and step away from the Fram line. Now I'm considering the Wix XP, I hope they don't copy Fram and remove the wire backing on their filter.

It was my pleasure, I thought to myself we are all a bit “upset” but how many will actually send a email?

I will post the response here when I get one.

 

[Blagoje]

Was at Orschelns last night for a new mower tire. Their Fram ultras are 9.99+, depending on which one.

I just got back from my local Meijer store and they still several Ultras in the Rank Group boxes as well as the newer Trico boxes that annotate the fact that they have a metal screen. $9.99 per for most smaler filters like the XG7317.

 

[blufeb95]

It's the accounting department's job to screw customers and not listen to

I just got back from my local Meijer store and they still several Ultras in the Rank Group boxes as well as the newer Trico boxes that annotate the fact that they have a metal screen. $9.99 per for most smaler filters like the XG7317.

My Meijer doesn't sell many Ultra's, I found some old Extended Gaurd's still on the shelf when I was looking at them a few weeks ago.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I'm gonna hit Wally's tomorrow and see if I can find some old models of the XG7317. Might not find any since I think the Walmarts here move filters pretty fast.

 

[Dogman]

I get a kick out of “Bobs” response @ 0936 : “ And I am wondering why you are concerned”!
Does “Bob” realize that people contact support because of a concern?

Bob is their no nonsense enforcer. Issues? Send em to bob”

 

[IndyFan]

Thanks for sending that. If you get a reasonable response that would be interesting. Unfortunately many times the consumer gets the shaft. We can vote with our dollars and step away from the Fram line. Now I'm considering the Wix XP, I hope they don't copy Fram and remove the wire backing on their filter.

Like I said, some will protest and go use another filter that has less filtering efficiency. That'll show 'em.

 

[JC1]

I'm gonna hit Wally's tomorrow and see if I can find some old models of the XG7317. Might not find any since I think the Walmarts here move filters pretty fast.

I was at my Walmart yesterday and noticed the new boxes. I think they had the old version for my Caravan, but I wasn't gonna pay 19.95 (Canadian $) before taxes.

I guess next time I'm in the US, I'll just got to Walmart and get the supertech filters for both my rides.

 

[bbhero]

If the filter media was the same... And they just replaced the metal backing with that synthetic blend backing.... That would make sense and I would be perfectly ok with that.

Instead... It looks like they just put Fram tough guard filter material in a gold can and added the new synthetic blend backing to that. And they get to say.... Ohh and customer morons it magically has more pleats.

Look it's a Fram Ultra can but now with tough guard insides.... And we get to sell it for the premium price point. Yay !!! Win win they say.

 

[DuckRyder]

This is what I got:

Good Morning Robert. We have changed from the single ply synthetic filter media with the wire mesh to a dual ply. The wire mesh was simply there for structural support, without it, the ultra synthetic filters wouldn't have lasted as long. The new dual layer media is stronger and provided finer filtration.

 

[Sayjac]

This is what I got

Good Morning Robert. We have changed from the single ply synthetic filter media with the wire mesh to a dual ply. The wire mesh was simply there for structural support, without it, the ultra synthetic filters wouldn't have lasted as long. The new dual layer media is stronger and provided finer filtration.

And yet, directly from their website on the previous Ultra click on (#3)Media tab "2-ply synthetic, metal-screen-reinforced media provides 99%+ filtration efficiency.*" Then...........

"Traps and holds more than double the dirt of typical retail brand oil filters. **
Rigid metal-screen support offers outstanding pressure resistance and flow spacing."

https://www.fram.com/products/consumer-products/oil-filters/fram-ultra-syntheticsup-sup-oil-filter/

It 'seems' First Brands attempting to rewrite history by disparaging the previous Ultra to make the current "appear" superior. smh.

 

[shibby6600]

Has anyone opened a different filter type than the 7317? I skimmed through the 8 pages of posts, but curious is this is a blanket change across all XG filters or just some of the "lower end" filters that are on smaller engines. I'd be interested in knowing if they also changed them on diesel engines (e.g. XG9100).

 

[Davejam]

This seems much ado about nothing at this point.
They supposedly improved filtration efficiency when it was already the darling.

 

[Bettez88]

 

[Krieg]

The tech needs to shave. ^^^^ Mr. Linko veracity is now in question. Referencing post 152 above. If historical data is not factual well, nothing from Firstbrands group is. Marketing is what it is.....

 

[kjbock]

That is pretty much wrong. I worked in manufacturing my entire life - and despite your implication that people in accounting are somehow responsible for design changes - there are a variety of job types for "accountants". In fact a lot of times, material costs and in particular actual labor costs are not actually watched or controlled by accountants. I would ask them for numbers and well..............they didn't know precisely. Other people and departments do that - well they did their best to extract it from the ERP

Do companies make changes to take costs out of products? Of course. But blaming accountants is laughable as the others point out.

Very true. Something like this change was the work of engineers. Engineers learn ways to cut costs and maintain performance of a product, which is what Fram was trying to do here. Accountants just put numbers in columns and do simple subtraction/addition. A lot of speculation going on that this is an inferior product, and maybe it is, but this degradation may be something the customer may never see. The previous "design requirements" may have been for the filter to last 40,000 miles (easy way to always ensure the 20,000 mile guarantee is met). This new design may be for 30,000 mile life, but still meet the 20,000 mile guarantee, filtering efficiency and cut the cost to produce.

 

[Job]

Proves anyone might be answering the phone or an email, and give out wrong information. Two ply was advertised up down and sideways for a long time on the full synthetic Ultra with screen. It was too cheap at $9 compared to others. Maybe WM said no to any wholesale price increase, so Fram went to a new filter content. Since the Titanium is more expensive, without perks, maybe it will stay the old style, and you get the turbocharged flow action too.
The Ultra is still the only two ply Fram filter, so $9 is not bad for the top offering.

 

[Imp4]

Very true. Something like this change was the work of engineers. Engineers learn ways to cut costs and maintain performance of a product, which is what Fram was trying to do here. Accountants just put numbers in columns and do simple subtraction/addition. A lot of speculation going on that this is an inferior product, and maybe it is, but this degradation may be something the customer may never see. The previous "design requirements" may have been for the filter to last 40,000 miles (easy way to always ensure the 20,000 mile guarantee is met). This new design may be for 30,000 mile life, but still meet the 20,000 mile guarantee, filtering efficiency and cut the cost to produce.

This post is rife with assumptions, projections, and conjecture.
Nothing about what you have said can be depended on to be accurate, factual, or reliable.
The only thing you can say is that you don't know.