Ok, what's the deal on Fram oil filters?
 

Lately i've been reading all over the internet lots of negative about Fram oil filters cause of there famous "cardboard top" failing and whatnot.


Any one have details or pics of this? Or even better does any one have any engine failures because of this? What does it do to it? Mess up the bearings etc.?


I use Fram once in a while, but my regular brand i've always used is Wix for pretty much all filters, Wix and Motorcraft but once in a while I'll buy a Fram when they don't have the right Wix filter when I need it.


I've already cut up several filters a while ago, but never been inside a Fram.

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Really? Wow that I didn't know.... Guess I'll be using a Fram I had picked up for my next oil change and explore in there.

All fram filters for fords have anti drain back valves , its how good are they ??....Lew

We have a 97 T-bird that the better half got an oil change on a month or so back, well it rattled like two skeletons having sex on a tin roof with the FRAM oil filter they put on it... All I did was replace the filter with a Wix and it is quiet as a mouse on start up now..

When I cut it open there was there was NO anti drain back valve, unless you call that card board flap a valve.... Also it has a LOT less filter media in it also.....

The parts house tried to give me a Fram for my riding mower, I said HELL no order the Wix...

Any one is welcome to use Fram, but you can't force me to use one with a gun!!!!

What about a TANK??

like i said , its how good are the valves , cardboard isnt good , i don't use fram , motorcraft & wix are good , i use the K&N filter that is excelent....Lew

Use what ever you want!!!! I ain't using a fram filter under any circumstance!!!!!!

I gained more than 10 lbs of oil pressure when I switched from Fram to Motorcraft.

No more Fram for me.

frams are known to drop oil pressure because they use less filtering area (less restriction= lower pressure) There have also been a lot that supposedly came apart and let the filter guts try to make its way through the engine.

I had one that flowed ZERO!!!!!!!!! next gave me 5psi. Got a walmart brand and pressure was back up to 50.

I'm in agreement that you can't get me to buy me a fram even with a gun pointed to my head. And my friends hate it that I don't change their oil if they buy a fram. From my understanding fram makes the k&n oil filters so I haven't bought any of those, could just be rumors. Ill always use a wix or hastings. I've seen too many sketchy scenerios from fram to ever trust them

Tech Review: The Long Waited FRAM OIL FILTER REVIEW! - Automotive Social | DSLReports Forums

From another country but still interesting
Oil filters - used

Engine Oil Filter Study

Lots of good reading.

I've seen it happen once. Wasn't pretty. Trashed everything due to filter media plugging up the oil passages. The guy was very recultant to even attempt to reuse the block. Looked rather odd seeing what appeared like toilet paper sticking out of the holes in the rod/main/cam bearings....
Was even stranger to see the same stuff packed in the bottom of the pan, sucked into the pickup tube, and even in the oil pump.
May have only been one time, but it's enough for me. I won't install an "Orange can of Death" on any engine, mine or not. Wix, Motorcraft, or Baldwin for me, end of story.

Fram is owned by Allied Signal, although I'm not sure if they make them in-house or not, and K&N is made by Champion Labs. Internally they are as far apart as you can get. K&N and Mobil1 filters have the same internals and are both very good filters. Pennzoil filters are Fram filters with different paint and label on the outside.