In 2005, the Fram and Motorcraft filters looked identical. Now, they have different markings on them. Are they still equivalent filters? I change my oil every 3K miles and today I changed the oil and filter. On the last oil change, I used a Fram filter and I was in for a neat surprise when I removed the cap from the oil filter housing on my engine. The plastic top of the oil filter had separated from the paper element. How long had it been that way? I don't know but I am sure glad I changed the oil when I did. Has anyone else had problems with the Fram filters?

 

Those are the ones I use. They work fine. It's probably just a fluke.

 

I been using fram filters in my truck never had a problem with the cap
coming apart..

 

I've seen some filters where someone switched boxes. I had to take it back.

Always look for the patent #'s, and felt on the bottom. The cap on the filters are not removable.

I'm sure someone switched the boxes.

I check the filters inside the box every time now!

 

On our diesel engines, clean fuel and clean oil is extremely important to engine longevity. Oil and fuel filters are not a place I want to save money at the expense of quality.

 

I wouldn't be purchasing fram filters anymore. Even if it is "Just a fluke", its is a fluke that could have cost him an engine!

 

It was the correct filter and it was only 1 piece when I installed it. If you look closely at the black cap, you can see the number CH9549 on it. The very ends ( just a couple of thousandths ) of the paper element are still "glued to the underside of the cap. It appears to me that the paper element failed.

 

As long as it had the patent numbers on it and the felt on the bottom, I dont care whose name is on the filter box. All these filters are made by Racor, if it has the patent numbers on the top of the filter and the felt on the bottom, its that simple.

Unless someone is putting the patent numbers and felt on some piece of junk, but that would be a much bigger problem that we would have heard of by now.

 

Are the patent numbers a guarantee that they are repackaged Racors? I am asking because I don't know that for certain. Many companies pay for the right to produce under patents of others. Then they take production to 3rd world manufacturing sites where quality assurance and control can suffer.

Also - we may or may not have heard of quality control problems. How would we really know? If they come apart - yes (I guess we have now heard of one case anyway). If the pleated element comes slightly unglued, or lower quality filter media or sealing material is used - most of us would never notice.

I am certainly no patent attorney, but I have seen many things done in industry to circumvent patent law. I would enjoy hearing more on this because I just can't bring myself to save a few bucks on filters yet.

 

Bismic,
I thought the 6.0L Frams were made in either the U.S. and/or Germany. I myself am not going to worry about using frams, these parts are all made by computerised machines now, the patented specs matter more than the name on the box IMO.

 

Good points Duffman. I wonder if the Frams have a "made in" statement on them?

 

I live in Utah and there is a frame filter manufacture here. I know that they make filters that others put there name on, I don't know witch ones but they do. I don't know if the fram filters for our rigs are made here or not.
Just chiming in.

 

This latest CH9549 filter is "Made in USA". Compare a FRAM to a Motorcraft. When I did this 3K miles ago, they had different markings on them.

 

The same thing could have happened with any brand filter... like I said it's just a fluke! Yes it could have cost him an engine, I'm glad it didn't.

 

I uploaded a side by side comparison in my gallery.