Fram Oil Filters

My guess from all of this info is that the Fram filter media is probably fine, but the construction quality of the filter itself is questionable. JMO.

 

I think I can see that Fram orange can's are the end result of relentless cost cutting...but I don't see anything conclusive that the cost cutting has resulted in a product not suitable for it's intended purpose. There are trades made in every design and these simplistic cut apart analysis offer no clue as to why things are the way they are inside any of the cans opened. Just lay observations about things they have little technical understanding of.

Lastly, it's just common sense: Fram is far away the market leader (at least they were last time I read anything about it...could have changed) if it weren't suitable for it's intended use, there would be a lot more catastrophic failures and the lawyers would have long since had a field day at the court house with class action law suits (that get everyone who bought a Fram filter $1 and the lawyers millions. If you have a receipt to prove you bought it.)

That said, there a better filters than their orange cans and Fram knows it: that's why they make their silver cans and gold cans. Bash the orange can all you want...I and lots of others (far more than read these forums) will still use it 'cause we're happy with what it does and have been for more years, on more cars (and motorcycles...generators...ATV's...and most ANY engine requiring filteration) driven more miles than any other filter made. Just be careful not to paint all Fram filters the same orange color!

 

Good common sense post.

 

The facts are that the low end FRAM filter line is the cheapest construction cost filter to meet basic minimum specs. There is better filters for less cost.

FRAM is very good example of legacy marketing and the price of the filter vs. the cost to make it, reflect the higher price asked for them.

The problem that arise with the low end FRAM's is that they are not forgiving as other better constructed filters for when the owner extends oil change intervals or the engine already is on it's last leg with regard to a proper function and lubrication system.

FRAM or any other oil filter maker actually will back up any claim of a failed engine from a faulty oil filter and make reinstitution. The problem is that 99.9% of the public and a similar size of the maintenance professional community is that they do not know how to process a filter and make a proper claim with the filter manufacturer. FRAM and other filter makers have "kits" that can be sent for retrieval of the suspect bad filter for analysis that start the claim process. The problem is that most people the first time they think they have a bad filter, is to hack it open. This then invalidates any future claim to the filter maker for restitution. Using a non cataloged filter for your application will also be grounds for invalidating any future claim for restitution if a filter fails.

Facts are that filters rarely ever fail in and of themselves. Most times are due to extend oil change intervals beyond the intended design of the filter and vehicle recommendation. This is even true of motor oil itself. As mentioned previously, cheaper construction FRAMS are less forgiving in this regard.

Even the most die hard FRAM user can not deny there is better filters for less money to be had. Empirical evidence is overwhelming in the regard.

 

yeh. and just like that.... i wont be using fram again.

 

i have been running fram oil filters on my 88 hilux for 4 years. the truck has a cam, header, exhaust, and a msd and i had no problems what so ever.
idk why all of a sudden i see that fram filters are bad.

 

Love an oil filter??????

 

Bingo!!! It comes down to brand loyalty. No one is saying there will definitely bring impending doom if you use a Fram. In fact it's my personal opinion that an Air FIlter is 100 times more significant than any oil filter...Why don't lawn mowers have oil filters, and why do they make oil filter bypass kits? If a Fram works for you...by all means stick it on, but there are way better options price wise than your standard Fram, or any Fram for tha matter. The Fram Extneded Guard cost wise is the same as a Mobil 1, yet offers no significant advantage, in that case, why not use a filter like a NAPA gold or PureOne...both offer better fitratrion specs and have similiar components. I personnaly would rather my money spent on an oil filter to go to the quality of construction and components, not to pay for the marketing hype.

 

Push mowers usually do not have an oil filter, ridding mowers usually do. Push mowers are designed to burn oil, ridding mowers are designed to have the oil changed.

I say use the oil filter that makes you feel good inside. I use WIX and see no reason to change. They are made well by most people's beliefs and are around $ 5.00. So all that is good enough for me.

 

This is kind of off topic but my Toyota dealer recommend oil changes every 5000 miles...my dad always taught me to do them every 3000 miles. I'm more comfortable with 3000....which so you guys go by?

 

This kinda topic really makes me laugh.... The Fram-haters seem to think they have more education, more experience, and more knowledge about designing oil filters than the engineers do.

That's like someone coming off the street with no experience and jumping in and taking over YOUR job and doing it better than you did.

If you don't like 'em, then don't buy 'em. Every Fram-hater tries to convince everyone else no to use them. I have YET to see any links, information, or PROOF that Fram filters have ruined anyone's engines.

Besides..... for those people in the world who can only afford the less expensive filters - that's still better than not changing the filter/oil at all. It's better than nothing and if Fram was soooo bad, they wouldn't be on the market.

 

If you wanna know what I do...I go 10K between changes with Mobil1 synthetic. If I used mineral oil I'd do the 5K thing Toyota recommends.

I also use the large size filter...an EG3600.

But seriously...what difference does it make what others do? I do what makes me happy and I am happy knowing I've reduced my waste oil stream by 66% since I stopped 3K oil changes.

 

Here's the link to the guys who had an engine fail due to the oil filter. Both of them were running Fram Orange Can's. Take it for what it's worth. For one IMO it's next to impossible to prove the oil filter failed. I believe there's some vailidity to their claims the filter failed, so I use this as proof of incident to stay away from Fram.

Second I think the choice to stay away from Fram because there are better filter's for the price is no different why we choose to drive a Tacoma over say a Frontier, Dakota or Ranger. As owners we perceive Toyota to be a better product for the money. There's no imperical proof that 2nd Generation Tacoma's are more reliable than the current model Frontier, we base it off opinion and experience.

BTW, Dodge put out a TSB stating not to use Fram Orange cans because they Chrysler believed elements from the filter caused the 5.9L engines to fail. There must of been some truth in the matter as Fram redesigned the filter to remove the element causing the perceived failure in the Cummings motor. Again take it for what it's worth. I'm happy using Wix and Purolator as another option with no problems.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/73107-sounds-like-bad-pulley-wish-3.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/4705-blown-tacoma-motor.html

http://www.fram.com/pdf/CumminsBulletin.pdf

 

Read your own link dude! Dodge didn't say not to use Fram...only some hair brained service techs (who doubtless read to many Fram hater threads like these). Dodge only did the obvious thing and recommended using Cummins' own Fleetguard.

Fram was responsive to customer concerns and redesigned their filter EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE FILTER WAS EVER CONSIDERED AT FAULT!

This is a PRIME example of how bad information, myths and outright lies are perpetuated and spread through the internet! And further proof why your other links are suspect at best...and absolutely NOT to be trusted as valid for anything!

 

I didn't read all the threads but I searched and didn't see anything in regards to FRAM being the PROOF that caused any of the problems in the first two links. Everyone is speculating and blaming Fram.

As for the last link - as it says, no conclusive evidence was found the filters to be faulty.

But even so...you list 3 links here compared to millions & millions of Fram filters being sold & used every year and over the past XXXX years (I wish I had actual STATS, that'd be interesting to know). I'd say, they're track record isn't as bad as everything thinks.

 

Thanks guys for all the info, with me just seeing the paper end caps on the Fram Filters is enough information for me not to use them anymore. I dont care what name is stamped on the frront of the can, imho that I would like to use a filter that has the metal end caps.

I never really cared enough about oil in the past. However, I want to make this truck last, so a extra 3-4 bucks to get a filter with metal caps is worth it to me. I may stick with the bosch i just purchased.

Great Information on this thread, I never really knew or cared enough to know. I do now though.

 

PS...I didnt know that there are also oversized filters, are they better?

 

They are BIGGER, which means more filtering area and less likely to become saturated with contaminant. Since I'm running 10K OCI's, I didn't want to have to change filters in mid interval if I could avoid it...this lets me. The oil's good for 10k, it's the filter that becomes questionable.

 

Please re-read the TSB and look who the provider is. The document was put out by Fram, but they explicilty say Daimler Chrysler put a TSB out stating to use only the fleetguard filter. the basis of the TSB was on Chrysler mechanics who recommended not to use FRAM filters in the 5.9 Cummings motor. The next question you should ask yourself wass wwhy would Fram go to the expense to redesign the filter if there were no issues with it to begin with....think about it.....

 

Please read through the posts therfore you can put up a legimate debate. I've already stated that the basis of the topic is on preference; but from what was included in the post, I think there is strong enough evidence that Fram filters are not very good. Janster I've had these Fram debates with you time and time again, and know if you yourself experienced a faulty Fram you'd probably still blame it on something else. I guess it goes without saying, you can't rationalize with irrational people.