Hey,I have a 78 Pinto and it has been a great car,I am serious,it has been a great car.

 

Oppy,

I agree with you completely! I think this FRAM bashing is a bunch of people jumping on a bandwagon. I've used Fram filters for years as well, with NO problems. It reminds me of the "synthetic vs. conventional oil" study done by (I believe) Consumer Reports a few years ago with the New York City cabs - all in identical (as close to it as possible) circumstances - the test results revealed negligible difference in engine wear between the use of synthetic vs conventional motor oils (in a very harsh operating environment).

Oil filter selection, just like oil selection, boils down to personal preference based on personal experience. But I'm sure glad to be able to hear/learn from others' experiences through these Forums.

As you stated..."a properly maintained vehicle will die a natural death long before the difference in oil filters plays a role."

If that's wrong...then I guess my vehicles (like yours) will die a premature death, due to the FRAM filter usage.

One would think, with all the negative press they're getting, Fram filters would've ceased to fly off the WalMart shelves a long time ago, and would have stopped being manufactured, but apparently, there are a great number of people who:

1. Are too ignorant to know better.
2. Don't give a rat's ... about which oil filter they use.
3. Don't buy into the whole "sky is falling" FRAM bashing.
4. Haven't experienced engine failure as result of using Frams.

One thing this thread (and others in this forum) has convinced me to do is to give NAPA filters a try, or switch back to Motorcraft filters (maybe they are superior). I'm not against trying something else, I just never had any problems with FRAM, so I've continued to used them over the years.

All the engineering/technical discussion/research that goes on in these forums just about gives me a headache. It's enlightening, but at the same time makes me wonder how some of the posters have enough time to do all the research. Maybe this stuff is related to what they do for a living, so it ties right into their schedules.

I've never cut open an oil filter in my life...why the heck should I? If I'm that worried about my oil filter, maybe I should change. Besides, what can it really tell you about the filtering job. I couldn't look at the filter element and tell you anything other than "it's dirty". I guess, in my case, ignorance is bliss.

I take much pride in doing all the maintenance on my vehicles that I can, given my tool/equipment assortment, Haynes/Chiltons manuals, and any other resources (friends) I can muster, but cutting open oil filters, performing UOA's (is that the right acronym?) and all that is just a bit farther than I need to go. I've changed timing belts/water pumps in Ford Festivas, Honda Civic Del Sols and CRX's, rebuilt a 4-bbl quadra-junk one time with a friend helping. I've replaced U-joints, timing chain/gear sets, headers, fuel pumps, axles, radiators, wheel bearings, helped install a set of gears in a friend's 5.0 Mustang. replaced rear main seal on my 83 Ranger 4x4 a couple times, replaced brake calipers, wheel cylinders, rotors, shoes/pads, etc....but I've never rebuilt an engine or tranny. So my mechanical experience is not that extensive, compared to many of the posters here I'm sure.

I do seek knowledge all the time about vehicle maintenance and this FTE site is AWESOME for gaining that knowledge. I've learned so much here and will continue to reap the benefits of other posters' experiences...that, to me, is the GREATEST benefit of FTE.

I keep my vehicles as clean as possible (inside and out), change the oil and tranny fluids at regular intervals, check the other fluids and top off as needed, keep an eye on normal wear items (brake shoes/pads, belts, hoses, tires, bulbs), and leave it at that. I may run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through the tank every now and then (if I think about it).

Guess I'll buy some Motorcraft filters next trip to WalMart and be a little more attentive for that dry-start noise from now on.

My apologies for being long-winded.

Regards,
Scott

 

Well, that makes two of us!

 

It's ok. You two guys can still stay here!

I think what most people are saying about FRAM is that for the same price you can buy a filter that is designed and manufactured better and is maybe a little cheaper. In my town I can go to the local dealership and buy a MotorCraft oil filter (FL1A) for $4.10 plus tax. The local place that sells FRAM would sell me the same filter for around $5. So why would I use FRAM when the MotorCraft is cheaper and designed better. I would probably even pay $7 for a MotorCraft (but don't have to). Just my 2 cents. <img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/im/02.gif' border=0></a>

-Matt

 

You're right Matt. If there was a less expensive filter available where I buy them (Farm & Fleet usually), I'd go with it. But I get the regular automotive Frams for <$3 all day and the fleet version for my PSD for about eight bucks. If I could get MCs for around that price I'd buy 'em. I don't buy the "better" argument - IMO, they are just as good as any other inexpensive filter, no better, no worse.

 

Frams are on sale at AutoZone. Anything in stock $2.99.

Picked up 4 - PH3786's for the PSD.

Love that $8/ea discount.