Who has had problem with FRAM personally

[The Critic]

I had a Fram Ultra that made a slight rattling noise at times on a Honda Fit.

For some reason, the previous Honda OE filter (honeywell-produced) exhibited no noise at all.

 

[KCJeep]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I had a Fram Ultra that made a slight rattling noise at times on a Honda Fit.

For some reason, the previous Honda OE filter (honeywell-produced) exhibited no noise at all.


Interesting. I had some occassional start up rattle with an Extended Guard also (precessor to the Ultra) but a Tough Guard I recently installed has been quiet as a mouse despite the fact it's been even colder. The Honda OE is a Tough Guard from what I understand. I can not see any construction difference between the two filters that I could attribute the difference to, but I have noted others have commented on good start up characteristics with Tough Guards as well. I'm stumped. But I'll keep testing and enjoying the quiet starts in the meantime.

 

[afoulk]

I'm surprised at the start up rattle issues everyone has had with the Fram's. When I had my 08 Jeep Wrangler, the 3.8's in them were known to be very picky with ADBV's, Mobil 1 filters were almost guaranteed to cause a rattle at start up among others. I even had issues with Purolator Pure One filters on mine causing it. In the end, most owners, including myself found that the Mopar, Motorcraft, and Fram filters were some of the only onces that never caused an issue with the start up rattle. I've also used Fram filters on my scion without any problems, but its filter is mounted vertically, so I guess the ADBV doesn't really come into play that much with my particular application.
Also, the Mack truck dealer I work for is a dealer for Fram filters, and we very rarely ever see an issue with them on the heavy duty side. We use them in our shop vehicles as well ( all OCOD's) and havn't had an issue with them either. I have witnessed one failure, it was a canister style Fram fuel filter on an Isuzu NPR truck. I was called out to the customers location to change it because the canister had actually split at the seam where the base plate attaches and was spewing fuel. Other than that, I havn't witnessed any issues with them. I am by no means saying they are a great, quality filter, especially for the price, just giving you guys my experience with them. I will say this, I prefer to use their tough guard filters over the OCOD's on my own stuff. I believe their efficiency rating is even better than the Purolator Pureones. I think the Pureones state that they are 99.9% efficient, while the tough guard states 99%, but I believe the Fram is tested at a smaller micron rating than the Purolator. I could be wrong though

 

[Astro14]

How about this: used to run Fram all the time...and never had a problem...no weird noises, no ticks, no problems whatsoever...

Cars in question: 1970 Ford with a 302 V-8. 1977 Olds with a 350 Olds (not Chevy) V-8. 1985 Pontiac with a 305 (Chevy) V-8. 1990 Toyota with a 3.0 V-6 (still have that one...wish I had kept the others).

Some cars might react badly to the plain OCOD...mine never did...I never had a problem...

 

[tc2004]

I never had an oil filter related engine failure in 27 years of using Fram oil filters. Like one other poster stated, in this thread, I have been using Fram filters since I was 16 years old. My Dad (retired AF mechanic) has also used Fram in all his vehicles including several Kubota tractors...all with no issues.

Now if the discussion is about whether the Fram is a good value or not I can get that discussion. The "OCOD" does not refelct my experience or anyone else I know. After 27 years of driving(changing oil) and approx. 700K miles, I found out I was using an *inferior* oil filter...

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Originally Posted By: tc2004
I never had an oil filter related engine failure in 27 years of using Fram oil filters. Like one other poster stated, in this thread, I have been using Fram filters since I was 16 years old. My Dad (retired AF mechanic) has also used Fram in all his vehicles including several Kubota tractors...all with no issues.

Now if the discussion is about whether the Fram is a good value or not I can get that discussion. The "OCOD" does not refelct my experience or anyone else I know. After 27 years of driving(changing oil) and approx. 700K miles, I found out I was using an *inferior* oil filter...


Did KevGuy put you up to posting this?

 

[tc2004]

Of course, because nobody runs Fram oil filters without catatrophic engine failure due to the OCOD...nobody.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I was at my cousins house yesterday. He is a boat captain on the Mississippi. He started out as a deck hand 30 years ago, and worked his way through the ranks, as an engineer also. (Hi-Tec word for boat mechanic)
We were talking about oil and oil filters. He said the reason he uses FRAM is because John Force and Don Garlits use them.

 

[spartus]

I've had a FRAM filter give up the ghost back in 1998 on my 1985 GMC Jimmy with 2.8l V6. I had changed the oil and filter in the fall in prep for winter. In the spring about 6 months and 2500 miles later when starting up the Jimmy, the engine started making a loud ticking sound, and the Check engine light turned on. Looked under vehicle and saw oil leaking all over the place.. The filter had split on the side, and was paper thin. When I put a filter wrench on the filter to remove it, the filter smashed in. I had to run a screwdriver through the filter and use that to remove it.

I've never used a Fram filter since.

 

[hisilver]

My dad had the same happen with the orange can on his 01 Camry several years ago. First startup after the oil change the can split and made one heck of a mess. I've used em plenty before that and never had a problem although I've never dissected one.

 

[weebl]

Used the OCOD years ago before I knew better. On a Mazda 323, I found that I had noise at start up and a delay of a second or two before the oil light would go off on the dash. No other filter brand did that on that car, and the car saw a few Frams, so it wasn't just one isolated case. When I figured out it was the Fram, I stopped using them on that car.

 

[ziggy]

Years ago, early to mid 90's i had a 85 isuzu hatchabck i miark. around 95, when i was 20, i started doing my own oilchanges. I used fram extra guards, and on 2 oil changes a year, ide my oil light would light up! Of course, back then, i didnt knwo what was goin on, just that wasnt good. so ide put valvoline oil treatment in and the light would go off.
Moving forward, 2000-2006. I had used frams again on and off, about 3 times over the past 7 years on a 95 plymouth neon. in ALL cases, immediatly after doing a professional oil change myself, the oil ligth would come on! Ide change it too a fram extend guard, ac delco, supertech, ect any other brands, never an issue. I learned, its was jsut with the fram extra guards, on 2 different cars, immediatly turning the key after an oil change, the oil pressure light came on. I had also replaced the oil pressure switch as well behind oil block, for the record. wont buy another fram extra guard ever again. the extend guards never had an issue with though.

 

[Pro3qtr]

our test:

78 Chevy Blazer
350 engine
run the engine to 100K, rebuilt the engine. Found lots of dirt in the bearings. filter where bypassing and not cleaning the oil at all.
oil was QS 10w30 changed ever 3K
Truck never had sludge, driven freeway only

Second engine had same damage

third engine had P1 filters paid by me (dad swears by Fram, do to cheap price)

no dirt showing in the bearings at the same 100K tear down


we parted the truck out at 400K mile point, so have no clue what tear down 4 showed. LOL

Nice being mechanics and can AFFORD a complete rebuild every 100K



So could not see running a fram ever again WITHOUT some lab test showing it not working.


Filters are stupid cheap, rebuilding a engine is not. Most don't have dang clue what is involved to do this. I do it for a living...................

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Pro3qtr
our test:

78 Chevy Blazer
350 engine
run the engine to 100K, rebuilt the engine. Found lots of dirt in the bearings. filter where bypassing and not cleaning the oil at all.
oil was QS 10w30 changed ever 3K
Truck never had sludge, driven freeway only

Second engine had same damage


Filter by-pass valve is in the block on GM 350s. So, if the by-pass valve was malfunctioning, then bearings would be getting unfiltered oil no matter what oil filter was used.

I assume the by-pass valve was fixed during one of those over hauls?

 

[CORVAIRWILD]

Interesting thread... I used to run a small repair shop, and used the cheapest filter on the shelf... I closed the shop almost 20 years ago, and still have a large box of new filters, Fram, K Mart etc. Anypone interested?

Back on topic, I never saw ANY filter suffer ANY kind of failure, and living in Montreal, we saw plenty of very cold winters, below 0f. I must have changed hundreds of filters in 10 years.

I found this thread looking for advice for my current fleet of diesel Chevys, 6.2's and 6.5's. I usually buy Delco's or WIX or K&N, but I would like to buy a Luber Finer.

I also admit I'm a FRAM basher. I just tell people to buy a $10 filter, not a WW $3 item.

I called Blackstone Labs a few years ago looking for oil advice. Theirs was CHANGE THE OIL!!! Just CHANGE IT!

 

[Jarlaxle]

Actually, the $3 WM filter is fine! (It's a Purolator Classic.)