I belong to many automotive oriented boards and all of them to some degree trash Fram oil filters. We are talking a broad swath of specialists that include many engine builders. I don't have a dog in this fight but was wondering why the seeming dichotomy? BTW- I usually use WIX as that seems to be the consensus for widely available moderate cost filters on other boards. I have used Fram infrequently in the past when I was pressed for time and Walmart is open 24/7.
Why the Fram love on this board?
- Thread starter sloinker
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How many members on the other board cut used filters open and inspect the construction of the filters?
On BITOG you can be assured that many filters have been inspected and reviewed for their effectiveness.
Plenty of members love the Orange can Frams.
Many members here love the Fram Ultra (myself included). I switched to the Ultra based on the feedback posted here on 100s of posts and pictures demonstrating the construction of a very good filter. I've also been convinced to run a good quality filter for more than one oil change.
Some people don't have a comfort level doing that. If it's a good filter and your engine is well maintained and not neglected with sludge etc, it's a no brainer IMO.
I've used many Wix, Napa gold, Napa Silver, Purolators, Mopar and Fram orange cans previously. I've opened some of them up and they were all acceptable. Use what you are comfortable with.
On BITOG you can be assured that many filters have been inspected and reviewed for their effectiveness.
Plenty of members love the Orange can Frams.
Many members here love the Fram Ultra (myself included). I switched to the Ultra based on the feedback posted here on 100s of posts and pictures demonstrating the construction of a very good filter. I've also been convinced to run a good quality filter for more than one oil change.
Some people don't have a comfort level doing that. If it's a good filter and your engine is well maintained and not neglected with sludge etc, it's a no brainer IMO.
I've used many Wix, Napa gold, Napa Silver, Purolators, Mopar and Fram orange cans previously. I've opened some of them up and they were all acceptable. Use what you are comfortable with.
This should be good
I have used FRAM Tough Guard, FRAM ULTRA, Auto Extra made by wix and wix without issue. There is nothing wrong with FRAM
BITOG knows more about oil and filters than other boards, it is a website devoted to engine oil.
There is a Fram employee on this board and no other manufacturers have reached out. It is similar to the love for Astro tools on The Garage Journal. When a company actually engages with their customers and listens to them, the customers will obviously choose their product.
A lot of that knowledge from other boards is probably out dated BITOG knowledge from when Fram sucked and Tear-o-lator was the bomb diggity on these boards. I'm going to assume that generic filter advice on model specific boards will be OEM or K&N.
The Fram Ultra is the best filter you can get and even the OCOD has a silicone ADBV, how many other manufacturers can boast that? Fram is similar to Seiko where there is value up and down the line up and it is hard to go wrong at any price point.
There is a Fram employee on this board and no other manufacturers have reached out. It is similar to the love for Astro tools on The Garage Journal. When a company actually engages with their customers and listens to them, the customers will obviously choose their product.
A lot of that knowledge from other boards is probably out dated BITOG knowledge from when Fram sucked and Tear-o-lator was the bomb diggity on these boards. I'm going to assume that generic filter advice on model specific boards will be OEM or K&N.
The Fram Ultra is the best filter you can get and even the OCOD has a silicone ADBV, how many other manufacturers can boast that? Fram is similar to Seiko where there is value up and down the line up and it is hard to go wrong at any price point.
Zee09
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In the market for a new ride I was horrified (lol) that the car forums mostly have no clue on oil or filters
It was so bad and the info so distorted I dared not to even comment.
When you cut a filter open both used and unused you get an education real fast.
Plus this forum is hardcore- you don't dabble in the stuff, you live it.
It was so bad and the info so distorted I dared not to even comment.
When you cut a filter open both used and unused you get an education real fast.
Plus this forum is hardcore- you don't dabble in the stuff, you live it.
Zee09
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Originally Posted by 53' Stude
This should be good
I have used FRAM Tough Guard, FRAM ULTRA, Auto Extra made by wix and wix without issue. There is nothing wrong with FRAM
I bet you never cut open a filter so why should he listen to you???
This should be good
I have used FRAM Tough Guard, FRAM ULTRA, Auto Extra made by wix and wix without issue. There is nothing wrong with FRAM
I bet you never cut open a filter so why should he listen to you???
That's funny right there Zee09
Three reasons that I can think of.
1. There is a FRAM staffer that is a regular here.
2. Some good specs on their better filters.
3. Purolator's last generation had a run of media separation problems. I was one who noticed this when I cut open a Honda filter with my Longacre.
There are many threads on the filter separation issues, I'm not going to hash them here.
Having said all that, I use Baldwin filters now.
1. There is a FRAM staffer that is a regular here.
2. Some good specs on their better filters.
3. Purolator's last generation had a run of media separation problems. I was one who noticed this when I cut open a Honda filter with my Longacre.
There are many threads on the filter separation issues, I'm not going to hash them here.
Having said all that, I use Baldwin filters now.
Originally Posted by hallstevenson
What's the saying, "Opinions are like *******. Everybody has one." ?
Anytime I read, "I heard..." or "I read..." or "My uncle's neighbor's backyard mechanic told me...", it's immediately thrown out.
Exactly! The old wives tales never die
What's the saying, "Opinions are like *******. Everybody has one." ?
Anytime I read, "I heard..." or "I read..." or "My uncle's neighbor's backyard mechanic told me...", it's immediately thrown out.
Exactly! The old wives tales never die
FRAM. Pay me now.....or pay me later.
My dad has used orange can Frams with the cheapest oil he can find and drives all of his vehicles to the scrapyard with hundreds of thousands of miles without lubrication failure. Me on the other hand use premium synthetic filters rated for the long haul along with a premium synthetic oil. I just can't bring myself to use a Fram.
IIRC the prejudice seems to revolve around filters being vacuumed flat on some racing applications and cardboard valve innards instead of Rubber on the standard filters. Probably way out of date now but prejudices die hard and I suspect Purolator will be paying the price for a long time. I will have to get on youtube and watch the latest cut open comparisons now.
This board tells it like it is. If a company makes a good product like the FRAM Ultra, it gets the credit it's due. If the same company makes the OCOD, it gets the trashing it deserves.
Originally Posted by sloinker
IIRC the prejudice seems to revolve around filters being vacuumed flat on some racing applications ...
Sounds like a situation where someone disabled the in-block bypass valve, and put a high flow/high pressure oil pump on the engine. That could implode about any filter, so in applications like that a heavy duty racing filter should be use.
Originally Posted by sloinker
... and cardboard valve innards instead of Rubber on the standard filters.
What? ... obviously the guys on other auto chat boards don't know much about oil filters. Those guys are probably still trying to figure out how to grease their muffler bearings.
I get some good laughs reading the other car chat boards I hangout on when oil and filters are discussed.
IIRC the prejudice seems to revolve around filters being vacuumed flat on some racing applications ...
Sounds like a situation where someone disabled the in-block bypass valve, and put a high flow/high pressure oil pump on the engine. That could implode about any filter, so in applications like that a heavy duty racing filter should be use.
Originally Posted by sloinker
... and cardboard valve innards instead of Rubber on the standard filters.
What? ... obviously the guys on other auto chat boards don't know much about oil filters. Those guys are probably still trying to figure out how to grease their muffler bearings.
I get some good laughs reading the other car chat boards I hangout on when oil and filters are discussed.
Nothing wrong with FRAM. At least the OCOD doesn't tear even when overloaded, unlike the Purolator that does with 7500 on a clean Ford 4.6.
![[Linked Image]](http://colt45.ws/misc/sludged_fram.jpg "[Linked Image]")
I use Ultra exclusively unless cost is an issue, however running an Ultra for two or more oil changes helps amortize the inital cost.
Fram makes filters for Racing applications. No excuse for flattening filters on race engines with standard filters.
I did see where quite awhile ago, someone blew out a ACDelco Ecore on a built SBC I think? It was something GM with the oil filter bypass in the block. The engine builder had disabled the bypass for god only knows what reason. Not a good one, whatever it was. Of course running really thick oil and they took it out for a drive. Got on the throttle before it was warmed up. I think the debris from the filter damaged the motor IIRC.
So a case of wrong filter for the application, and likely the bypass should have been left alone. But at the very least a racing filter should have been used.
I use Ultra exclusively unless cost is an issue, however running an Ultra for two or more oil changes helps amortize the inital cost.
Fram makes filters for Racing applications. No excuse for flattening filters on race engines with standard filters.
I did see where quite awhile ago, someone blew out a ACDelco Ecore on a built SBC I think? It was something GM with the oil filter bypass in the block. The engine builder had disabled the bypass for god only knows what reason. Not a good one, whatever it was. Of course running really thick oil and they took it out for a drive. Got on the throttle before it was warmed up. I think the debris from the filter damaged the motor IIRC.
So a case of wrong filter for the application, and likely the bypass should have been left alone. But at the very least a racing filter should have been used.
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Thats because most people just go by what they hear. "Orange Can of Death" etc. Probably the same crowd that says Pennzoil will sludge up your engine. Fact, Fram makes excellent filters and their Fram Ultra oil filter is top notch, probably the highest quality oil filter you can purchase otc.
Because Fram is one of the best filters money can buy at the moment and there's lots of proof on these forums that there's nothing to worry about. The fiber end caps are actually more effective than metal for cellulose media filters being that it flexes rather than let the media fail.
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