The New Fram Ultra......

[Obi Wan Noobi]

I'll probably switch to another fully synthetic media filter, like AMSOIL. As I mentioned previously, Fleetguard does make a few passenger car sizes with their synthetic media, but I doubt they make one that fits the 6.4L (though I haven't checked admittedly). I bought a case of the Donaldson ones years back when I owned two Windsors, they were great filters.

If this is a permanent change, I wonder why FRAM has not updated their website. Unless a private equity firm took over FRAM, this isn't a smart move. It's only a matter of time before the Internet buzzes about this change.

As to your comment about the new filtration media: I suppose their synthetic media on its own is about as good as the one in the PurolatorBOSS, so they added a layer cellulose to it to improve it. I seriously doubt that it is as good as spun micro-glass. Isn't spun micro-glass similar to insulation?

 

[ZeeOSix]

If this is a permanent change, I wonder why FRAM has not updated their website.

Same reason the customer support group didn't know about the change - too much intetnal stove piping and lack of effective management and apparently manpower. When Fram was bought up by Trico, they replaced most of the long term Fram employees, so they probably also lost a lot of knowledge base. I've seen similar happen with a company I've worked for, and it doesn't make customers happy or trustfull when things are technically inaccurate and chaotic.

They did update the filter box however.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Here's something to ponder. The only reason the Ultra was designed with metal end caps was because of the thick metal screen backing. Metal end caps ensured enough potting material area to effectively secure the media and metal screen to the end caps. Also, the fiber gasket around the center tube on the dome side end cap for the leaf spring seal is there to ensure no leakage would lower the efficiency which a typical metal-on-metal seal could allow.

So now that there is no metal screen backing, what do you think the next re-design cost cutting move will be. One guess.

 

[demarpaint]

This thread gets more interesting by the day. I'm waiting patiently for the new and used filter dissections coming in a few months. In about a year, hopefully sooner we'll know if they were improved or not. I'm not counting Fram out, yet.

 

[kjbock]

If this is a permanent change, I wonder why FRAM has not updated their website. Unless a private equity firm took over FRAM, this isn't a smart move. It's only a matter of time before the Internet buzzes about this change.

As to your comment about the new filtration media: I suppose their synthetic media on its own is about as good as the one in the PurolatorBOSS, so they added a layer cellulose to it to improve it. I seriously doubt that it is as good as spun micro-glass. Isn't spun micro-glass similar to insulation?

Isn't the internet already buzzing about it? jk

I would imagine this is a permanent change (unless sales tank, which I don't see happening).

Based on some of the comments, it looks like they can produce the XG on the same lines as their other filters (i.e. TG), so they closed down manufacturing lines and consolidated the production of their oil filters (in the USA at least). The cost penalty to reverse this move would be very large and not easily "un-done".

The one thing I wish they would improve is the thickness of the steel can (like the Mobil 1 filter). It is way too easy to bend/deform their Ultras.

 

[jkasch]

Maybe there’s an Ultra Platinum Plus with wire backing and a thicker can in the works.

 

[demarpaint]

Maybe there’s an Ultra Platinum Plus with wire backing and a thicker can in the works.

Stay tuned.

 

[Bettez88]

Here's something to ponder. The only reason the Ultra was designed with metal end caps was because of the thick metal screen backing. Metal end caps ensured enough potting material area to effectively secure the media and metal screen to the end caps. Also, the fiber gasket around the center tube on the dome side end cap for the leaf spring seal is there to ensure no leakage would lower the efficiency which a typical metal-on-metal seal could allow.

So now that there is no metal screen backing, what do you think the next re-design cost cutting move will be. One guess.

Even if they somehow went to fiber end caps, what’s the problem? Has anyone here ever really had an issue with their fiber end caps failing? What about the millions of Oem Honda and Subaru, bentley filters out there? The fiber end cap bs has to stop. People hate on things they don’t understand I guess

 

[64bawagon]

Remember when Henry Ford started mass producing that new product and all the horse traders and stable owners said it would never work ?

As I said before, the beauty of the stash is that I have time to allow everyone else to be a Beta tester.

 

[drtyler]

Even if they somehow went to fiber end caps, what’s the problem? Has anyone here ever really had an issue with their fiber end caps failing? What about the millions of Oem Honda and Subaru, bentley filters out there? The fiber end cap bs has to stop. People hate on things they don’t understand I guess

You should have been around here when the E-cores started circulating.

 

[Blagoje]

Even if they somehow went to fiber end caps, what’s the problem? Has anyone here ever really had an issue with their fiber end caps failing? What about the millions of Oem Honda and Subaru, bentley filters out there? The fiber end cap bs has to stop. People hate on things they don’t understand I guess

I vaguely remember some talk about Fram doing away with the Tough Guard line in recent years so perhaps they will end up making some mutant hybrid of the Ultra and TG that will replace both? Just roll with the Extra Guard and the mutant hybrid as the high end offering.

 

[Bitter]

Well dang, I finally find a really good filter and it's gone. At least I'm on the good oil again unless Mobil has some plans we don't know about.

 

[ZeeOSix]

---

Even if they somehow went to fiber end caps, what’s the problem? Has anyone here ever really had an issue with their fiber end caps failing? What about the millions of Oem Honda and Subaru, bentley filters out there? The fiber end cap bs has to stop. People hate on things they don’t understand I guess

I'm not hating on non-metal end caps. What I'm saying is the line between the TG and XG would basically be non-existant if that happened. A move like that would however probably kill the Ultra because everyone would just buy a TG instead. Some people are already saying that with just the XG media change. Getting rid of the metal end caps would certainly cause a lot of people to jump ship too. A lot of people say the Ultra is the only Fram they would/do use because of the metal end caps.

Guess Fram could get rid of metal end caps and then only have the EG and the XG without metal end caps - and then drop the EG altogether. Not room for two filters that close together in configuration.

 

[Job]

Yeah, that's it ... there are no managers at Fram anymore - it's just a chaotic operation where nobody knows what's going on and nobody interfaces with anyone else in the company. You must think whoever is on their break is yelled at to answer the dusty phone in corner of the factory or man the chat desk. Up to your typical tolling self again I see.

I doubt if there are call operation managers, which was your claim. Who said there are no managers at Fram? Not me. You have to realize a call center person is probably 100k each out the door. Fram isn’t General Motors. My wife who passed away worked at a call center for a few years, nice stories there. So you want me to report you for calling me names because that is how you think you “win“? Or are you so immune you can just say anything you please? You would report it 100%. I guess you would claim you said tolling not trolling. I Guess in your mind no one dare contest what you say, because I‘ll tell ya you never ever can be wrong.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I doubt if there are call operation managers, which was your claim. Who said there are no managers at Fram? Not me. You have to realize a call center person is probably 100k each out the door. Fram isn’t General Motors. My wife who passed away worked at a call center for a few years, nice stories there. So you want me to report you for calling me names because that is how you think you “win“? Or are you so immune you can just say anything you please? You would report it 100%. I guess you would claim you said tolling not trolling. I Guess in your mind no one dare contest what you say, because I‘ll tell ya you never ever can be wrong.

You are trolling ... again ^^^.

Go ahead and report me as saying so.

 

[Averroes]

Just realized I have a 6607 with no wire mesh (Fram Ultra obviously) hahahaha! Cars been good so far. Put 2000 km on it since May. Using M1 ESP 5w30, car in question is a 370z.

 

[Job]

Reaching really far now with obtuse trolling ...

View attachment 67308

Didnt see that one, funny picture, +1. Is that supposed to be you? But actually what I said is a possibility, especially since they paid for a new engine.

 

[Job]

You are trolling ... again ^^^.

Go ahead and report me as saying so.

I am not reporting anyone, over what, oil filters? I’ll tell ya, that was the shortest Ultra parade on record since the recent lab testing. If Fram engineering is to be believed, which I think it is, the new Ultra is quite a bit more lab “efficient” than the old one. Get the parade organized already.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Didnt see that one, funny picture, +1. Is that supposed to be you? But actually what I said is a possibility, especially since they paid for a new engine.

No and no ... it's obvious who the big reacher is. Other companies pay-out warranty claims too, and they don't decide to spend 1000 times in man-power and new manufacturing equipment to change a filter design then they paid for in one warranty claim, lol.

 

[OVERKILL]

You have to realize a call center person is probably 100k each out the door. Fram isn’t General Motors. My wife who passed away worked at a call center for a few years, nice stories there.

Boy, that seems high! I remember when MINIX, who used to run the Rogers call centre here was hiring and they were $12/hr. Now, minimum wage has gone up since then but that's a $25,000/year job, literally 1/4 of the figure you cited.

I just looked up call centre jobs. Bi-lingual one pays $15.70/hr, one for an ISP pays $33,000-$37,000/year.