Thread: Fram oil filters - crap or not??

All of them.

heres my take on the whole issue. personally i think a lot of it is what brand some people prefer. and then its also what brand others have taken apart and prefer. i may receive some hate fro this but i buy frams for the coating stuff on them cuz i find it easier to get the filter off and then idont need any tools to take it off.

from the sounds of everything, i think i may try a wix next time i change my oil. ive never had any problem with my frams, but if everyone is saying that wix is better, ill give it a shot.

Originally Posted by Deezul_AwT

I think a lot of it is people saying something is crap, so you believe it.

There are reasons for people saying that Fram is crap, though, I mentioned them in an earlier post. Cardboard end caps where most use metal, a nitrile Anti-Drainback Valve where most use silicone, and a cheap metal canister.

Originally Posted by SlowNA06

Were all the Fram lines garbage? Or just a certain one?

The Extra Guards are garbage. The others aren't so bad. The Tough Guard uses a better ADBV and canister, but still uses the cardboard endcaps. The Xtended Guard switches to the metal endcaps, and there's nothing wrong with this filter at all.

Originally Posted by SlowNA06

At WalMart, they sell Fram and AC Delco at about the same price. I don't see anything wrong with using a factory filter.

That’s because they are the same filter. I just have to say that in the past when GM actually made the AC Delco filters they were good. Now they are farmed out and IIRC they use the exact same Encore design as FRAM now. Hence AC Delco’s are just as bad as FRAM today. Someone correct me if I’m mistaken. Seriously.

I have had FRAMs that the anti-drain back totally failed; I don’t trust their quality anymore. My personal favorite filter, for my money, is the PureONE.

Originally Posted by cerick08GP

Now they are farmed out and IIRC they use the exact same Encore design as FRAM now. Hence AC Delco’s are just as bad as FRAM today. Someone correct me if I’m mistaken.

As I mentioned earlier, the Delcos now use an E-Core (not Encore) design, made by Champion. Fram makes their own, and they are NOT E-Cores. E-Cores use fiber endcaps (better than cardboard, but still not metal). On the down side, they use a nylon center tube instead of metal.

Originally Posted by 97prixgt

ive got a fram everything is fine but i also change my oil every 3k just to be safe

Meh...just wait.

I use Mobil1 everything...hopefully their quality isn't crap. I don't cut open to inspect my filters though.

Originally Posted by Scimmia

As I mentioned earlier, the Delcos now use an E-Core (not Encore) design, made by Champion. Fram makes their own, and they are NOT E-Cores. E-Cores use fiber endcaps (better than cardboard, but still not metal). On the down side, they use a nylon center tube instead of metal.

Just some corroborating evidence:

http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pdf/09TSS-062.pdf

ACDelco is implementing a design change on the PF46, PF47, PF52 and PF61 ACDelco Oil Filters...Additional features include a slightly smaller can, fully
covered baseplate, non metallic end caps and high strength nylon core.

This is why I don't recommend ACDelco filters anymore, but they're still better than the Extra Guard.

Originally Posted by Lvgrandprix2003

This discussion is like comparing Ford to Chevy, or Dodge. Fram, purolator, Wix, all manufacture the same product with different designs. Been using ALL kinds of different filters on my cars for the past 16 years, had no issues. Change your oil and oil filter every 3K and you will be just fine.

ok this is what i was trying to say, to be it all seems to be what brand people like. thanks



i may not know everything automotive but i know a little bit/enough to get me by, but whats the big deal about the canister? are some of you like having it hold up your engine or something? because i personnaly cant see how the canister quality matters. can someone please explain?

like depending on what it is i could probly understand but i currently dont get it. enlighten me please

Originally Posted by iroc2

because i personnaly cant see how the canister quality matters. can someone please explain?

I'll qualify this by saying I've never seen it myself, but there are numerous stories around of people bursting the canister on the oil filter.

Originally Posted by SuperSport

Fram is garbage. This is also well known in the Jeep comunity I belong to as well.

As for my GP, I use a AC Delco. But you could also use either a WIX, Purolator, etc. Anything but Fram.

I guess i will start with you. I am the technical manager at Fram. Have you cut open a AC Delco filter lately? They now use a "felt" end cap and a plastic center tube. Do you have any idea what the filter efficiency or capacity is of any of the filters you are either bashing or recommending? The cheapest Fram filter has better efficiency and capacity than the current AC delco filtyer. Do you even undertsand why WIX has made an industry of cutting open their filters and ours and whining away about metal vs fiber end caps? Its because they do not want to talk about filtration! If having a fiber end cap was a poor way to make a filter, how do you explain that Honda OE, subaru OE, Bently OE (on a 345,000 dollar car) all are using fiber end caps? AC Delco and Champ labs are now using a felt end cap. Even better, many including toyota have eliminated end caps of any kind from their filters and use only glue to seal the ends of the media. What is important is efficiency and capacity along with flow rates. We make five different kinds of filters from the 94% efficient Fram extra guard at the lowest price point to the 98% efficient two ply synthetic glass media, silicone valved and garenteed for 10k oil changes extended guard at the high end. I just recieved a letter from a Scott Lipford in marlette, michigan showing me pictures of his 2002 Sonoma with 440,000 miles on it, still running perfect and using the least expensive Fram filters. My sisters GXP GP has 179k miles on it and she gets her oil changed at wallyworld using the cheapest oil and least expensive Fram filter every 4k, how do you explain that? Please take the time to learn something about oil and oil filters instead of just regurgitating internet tribal knowledge.

What happened here, someone from the company posts and everyone backs down? Come on!

motorking, you said you were starting with SuperSport, I'm anxious for you to continue.