here is the fram filter thread. there is 3 of us alone in here.
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-362908-New%20Fram%20Air%20Filter%20Design%20%28ca8039%29" >New Fram Air Filter Design (ca8039)</a>

 

I realize that everone has their own personal preferences. When it comes to electrical breakers for my house, I use only Square D. Even though Honeywell, GE, et cetera, will work, I use Square D. Professional electricians agree with me.

Likewise, I'm sure that everone has their own preferences on oil filters. I do not own stock in Fram, but have used them in several vehicles over the last 30 years. I have never lost an engine due to an oil filter failure. I will add a caveat, in that all my engines have been stockers. I had a 302 go 330,000 miles before it burned 3 ehaust valves (hard to blame that on Fram). My current 300/6 just turned 360,000 miles using Frams. No problems.

Are there better filters than Fram ? I'm sure there are. But they've worked for me.

I would be interested in hearing the specifics on engine failures due to oil filter problems. I'm sure they happen. I'm just curious if the oil filters failed due to high operating oil pressures.

Just wondering.

 

Although I am one of the Fram bashers....
I doubt if you will hear of any filters bursting, the gauge of the metal it's made of makes no difference unless you are planning on bashing it into something. The basic things to worry about are how well does it filter the oil (different brands do filter to different micron levels), and will the internal parts fail to do their job. If (like the air filter that started this thread) your oil filter comes apart it ceases to filter your oil and that's bad, if the anti drainback valve leaks off you get a dry start up and that's bad.

The problem is you probably won't know about these things going on, your engine still runs fine but in the mean time you are wearing out your engine at a faster rate.
If you are like many who do very frequent oil changes (2-3,000 mi) or trade trucks often you may never know the difference. If you are someone like me who runs alot of miles and keeps trucks up to 2-3-400,000 then you will probably see the difference.

Personally I look at oil and filters (air too) like insurance and for that reason I want the best. I hear alot of discussion on where to buy a filter at a cheaper price. I figure you buy the best ones and try to get a deal if you can but a couple bucks means little if you end up adding oil every xx miles for the last 100k miles of the engines life or worse loosing an engine.

The price between cheap oil and filters and good oil and filters ain't that much in the big picture.

 

Strider9,you have asked a question that no one seems to be able to show proof of.

You wanted to know if a Fram failed and caused damage.

We hear how a Fram blew up an engine from a friends friend but that isnt proof.

Frams fail as do ALL filters.

The question we need to ask is,Do Frams fail more often than others?

We dont have that answer.

I too have used Frams and had no problems that I know of.

Are there better filters?

Yes.

Are there worse?

Probably.

Are Frams the terrible filter that some say they are?

Probably not.

 

I used to be a rabid Fram filter user but not any more. That mopar filter study cured me. I use Napa Gold or K&N oil filters now. One more thing, the fuel pump on my other brand of truck developed a problem that only about $500 would cure. While they had it out they replaced the fuel filter. It was a Fram filter that I had installed about 6 months or 5000 miles before. It had a bad rattle. It turned out that the element inside had become disconnect and the filter was useless. The mechanic told me if I developed trouble with my injectors in the near future it would be because of this faulty fuel filter. I have a couple of Fram filters left in storage but I will not buy any more of them.

 

I've got no axe to grind with regard to filters. I've used Frams for more years than I care to count. I haven't lost an engine yet to an oil-related failure
(not that I haven't lost a few engines). I started using a Fram fuel filter on the inlet side of the fuel pump on my carbureted engines long ago and had far fewer problems with the itty-bitty fuel filters that normally try to protect the carb. I've used Fram fuel filters on both my wife's Bonneville 3.8L and my daughter's Aztek 3.4L (sidebar: love the GM 3.8L; despise the 60* V6 3.4L).
No problems.

Have other folks had problems with Frams ? Of this I have no doubt. Are there other filters better than Frams ? I'm sure there are. And when I get around to rebuilding the 65 390 engine in my 76F100 I'll probably take a close look at the Mopar study. But 360,000 miles with irregular oil changes with dino oil and Frams from Wally-World haven't stoped my 79F100 and it's 300/6 yet (although I have lost an argument with a tree when I forgot to set the e-brake and the truck idled off and ran across two diveways and plowed into a neighbors tree when I had to make an emergency 10-200 one afternoon. The tree won).