Which do you prefer? Holes? Louvers? Be prepared for your mind to be blown..... A Third Option!

[Rand]

Fram FS2 Titanium. With wire backed syn media.
I bought 4
2 had barely open louvers (1 row)
2 had decently open louvers (1 row)
3 had clean threads
1 had greasy threads with booger chips in it.

Paging @ZeeOSix This interest you?

Edit: adding Closeup of the metal chip from threads. It was decently sized. I gave the interior a through look over in sunlight I think its ok.. but enough to make you nervous. Also added full photo for scale. The FS2 is the extra large oversize filter comparable to XG2

 

[MParr]

E-Core

 

[skyactiv]

I think Royal Purple should use triangle holes which would make them the most diverse oil filter.

 

[Furious]

I prefer holes over louvers, but if the louvers are actually open I guess in reality I don't really care. Luckily most options for my vehicle including the FRAM Ultra 3387A I am going to try next oil change uses holes.

 

[OVERKILL]

Pairing holes with louvers? The space time continuum is now broken!

 

[SatinSilver]

@Sayjac, would be good to hear from on this.

 

[Hyundai Respecter]

I prefer holes.

 

[Freischneider]

E-Core

My man!

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

My man!

Wish they made a metal cage like an e-core, with say 10-ga wire in a 1/4” square pattern, paired with metal end caps and a screened coil-spring-loaded bypass.

 

[flash7210]

Pulled these off my shelf

Holes

Louvers

Plastic cage

I also have a FL-400S but it was impossible to get a clear picture of its louvers

 

[mphilleo]

My newest filter is a Micogard Select. One of the things I like best about it are the holes. You don't have to wonder about them - they're either open or they aren't.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Large round holes seem like they'd be the most reliable for good flowability.

 

[cman]

I prefer the louvers as I feel it offers a more even spread of to the oil flow, although I do like the holes so I can more easily see the media underneath. But either holes or louvers is OK by my standards.

The style I do not care for, is the nylon cage. I understand plastic is made from oil products, but I just don't like the idea of hot oil or old age deteriorating the plastic case and the filter possibly losing support. Unlikely, but I still prefer the a metal core, combined with metal screen backing on the synthetic media as well.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Sometimes I wonder if the brand new filters could actually cause more damage from hidden debris that could run through your engine. That is a fairly large piece of metal.

 

[ZeeOSix]

2 had barely open louvers (1 row)

How were the other rows - got a photo? The very top or bottom rows may not be as fully formed due to being at the end of the center tube.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Large round holes seem like they'd be the most reliable for good flowability.

Center tubes and base plates (if designed right, with total area same or more than filter mount hole) don't really add much delta-p at the same flow from the PD pump - unless they are louvers that are barely ooen.

 

[ZeeOSix]

What's the 3rd option you noted in the thread title?

 

[SC Maintenance]

I just got a Fram Ultra Synthetic that has louvers now - but they were at least well open and were much, much larger louvers than the Wix filters I also have.

Fram XG7317 with louvers

Newest Fram XG purchase - date code early 2023 - now with louvers. The louvers seem to be well formed / fully open. Still USA made Last pic is from an older date code with holes - for comparison.

bobistheoilguy.com

 

[ZeeOSix]

Wish they made a metal cage like an e-core, with say 10-ga wire in a 1/4” square pattern, paired with metal end caps and a screened coil-spring-loaded bypass.

I posted (year+ ago maybe) of an exploded view of a filter that showed a metal wire center tube, like an eCore, but metal. Can't recall what brand it was.

 

[ZeeOSix]

If you are refering to what looks like louvers next to the seam of the center tube, those are not actual "louvers" (the "3rd option"). Those are a result of forming the center tube (verified by Jay/Motorking when he worked at Fram), and have always been in Fram filters with holes in the center tube. Not something new.