What happened to Fram Ultra?

[kr_bitog]

I have just been told by my mechanic that my Fram ultra filter is a rust bucket, and suggest not to use it. it is first time I experience such thing, and I checked the box, it looks ok, i got it from Amazon before, the only difference I find with other like Denso is Fram Ultra does not comes with plastic wrapping attached to the filter.

i wonder if the quality of the metal so bad or other observed the same issue?

 

[guitarandoil67]

Sat around for long at wherever you purchased it from

 

[DannyM]

I have just been told by my mechanic that my Fram ultra filter is a rust bucket, and suggest not to use it. it is first time I experience such thing, and I checked the box, it looks ok, i got it from Amazon before, the only difference I find with other like Denso is Fram Ultra does not comes with plastic wrapping attached to the filter.

i wonder if the quality of the metal so bad or other observed the same issue?

Can't you get your local manufacturer filters for very cheap ? Some of those are higher quality than the stuff from the USA.

 

[billt460]

Sat around for long at wherever you purchased it from

Exactly. Many of these things end up getting wet, or else stored in very damp, humid conditions, and they start to rust..... Just like any untreated mild steel would. This has nothing to do with Fram, or "cheap steel", and everything to do with handling and storage.

 

[Sayjac]

I'm going to say storage must have been in high humidity environment and for a while too. Got a date code for the filter? Not a current XG fan, but without more info not going to point a finger at FB/Fram for the rust.

 

[Glenda W.]

Shoot! Fram forgot to add this anti corrosion substance.

 

[Zee09]

I think it looks like the normal Fram quality...

 

[kr_bitog]

Can't you get your local manufacturer filters for very cheap ? Some of those are higher quality than the stuff from the USA.

yeah i am done with fram, i just found new denso aftermarket source. all along i never have filter that become rusty like that for last 30 years even when I keep it for 1-2 years

 

[Zee09]

You can blame Interactive Nate for his attack on any rust preventive left inside a filter...

 

[scoot]

You can blame Interactive Nate for his attack on any rust preventive left inside a filter...

LoL, Nate , YouTube Gold .

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

They thought they could replace it with a $4 more expensive filter and not many people swallowed the pile and moved on!

 

[kr_bitog]

I'm going to say storage must have been in high humidity environment and for a while too. Got a date code for the filter? Not a current XG fan, but without more info not going to point a finger at FB/Fram for the rust.

the datecode is A32912, storage is with dehumidifier running. the box seems shows 2023 date as attached. i have kept m1 and toyo roki for 3 years and looks fine without rust.

 

[MetalSlug]

Fram need go back to the ultra era.

 

[Sayjac]

the datecode is A32912, storage is with dehumidifier running. the box seems shows 2023 date as attached. i have kept m1 and toyo roki for 3 years and looks fine without rust.....

Made Oct 18 2023. Thinking more about this and taking your display location into account, 'I think reasonable' to assume topic filter may filter may have spent time on a container ship from the US. An unfriendly to metal environment. That 'could' explain the rust seen on the filter. Similar has been seen before only filter traveling west to east to US. As noted Fram does use some anti rust material/spray on filters, perhaps more needed for this one.

Seen many Fram filter anecdotes posted over the years and rust rarely if ever rust seen as an issue. Of course, I'm speculating, but it would explain much here. That's my take. Thanks for the follow up.

 

[twX]

This has nothing to do with Fram, or "cheap steel", and everything to do with handling and storage.

I'm not so sure about that. Here are some examples of Fram filters that rusted pretty quickly after they were put into service:

FRAM Ultra
FRAM Toughguard
FRAM Titanium

This seems to be more common with Fram than any other brand. Doing a quick search on this site, I've only found one other example of a filter rusting through (a WIX).

 

[Mainia]

You can blame Interactive Nate for his attack on any rust preventive left inside a filter...

Interactive Nate, the guy who uses a screwdriver to chip off carbon from a free standing junkyard cylinder head MASQUERADING as a head on a fully running car, he just poured and tested valve/intake cleaner in and just got done with his full tank test. Good old Nate the BSer.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Shoot! Fram forgot to add this anti corrosion substance.

View attachment 275581

Someone tired the ADBV burn test in the store, lol.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I'm not so sure about that. Here are some examples of Fram filters that rusted pretty quickly after they were put into service:

FRAM Ultra
FRAM Toughguard
FRAM Titanium

This seems to be more common with Fram than any other brand. Doing a quick search on this site, I've only found one other example of a filter rusting through (a WIX).

Have to keep in mind filters ran in heavy rust belt regions that salt the roads like crazy, so could happen to any brand in a case like that, especially if the filter was exposed to salted roads an entire winter season.

 

[Durdude]

Shoot! Fram forgot to add this anti corrosion substance.

View attachment 275581

What? This cant be real.

 

[TomYoung]

I would have used it