Rev. Tom Wenndt said:
Gentlemen, I have heard this rant ad nauseum in various posts on this site.
And when it comes to Fram's basic "orange" filter, you may have some valid
points about some of what is inside.
Yes, I was referring to the basic Fram filter.
But the fact is that these filters, re-badged, are used by as many quick oil
changes facilities as any brand used in the U.S. Surely, these
organizations would not hang themselves out to dry if they were truly that
bad. And carmakers would be quick to put it out a "warranty void" on this
filter if they felt like these were a problem (yes, they can and will do
that).
I tend to not use anything used by a quick change place. That
"endorsement" alone will keep me away.
To those who are used to using Fram (or even if you aren't), they have a
filter that has actually out-tested one of the darling filters on this site,
the Purolater "Pure One." It is called the Fram Tough Guard, it comes in a
gray box, and costs anywhere from $5-7 instead of the orange's $3 or so.
Where is that test? I've seen only a few filter tests of any substance,
and although the Tough Guard is decidely better than the basic Fram,
I've never seen it place more than than in the lower part of the upper
third of the performance grid. Every test I've seen places the Mobil 1
filter at the top by a long shot, but then it is also at the top
price-wise by an equal margin.
All the things you two say are lacking in Frams are in this filter, from the
sythetic media, to the improved drain-back valve and screen, to the quality
of the outer O-ring. This is the filter I use, and I use it because it is
the best one out there, bar none.
Baloney. It isn't even close to the Mobil 1 filter. It still uses a
cardboard end cap last I knew.
http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfilterstudy/oilfilterstudy.html
It also has the easy-grab end that the Purolater, Wix, and all the others
don't, the only thing that allows me to remove filters on my car without
renting Gumby for an hour.
I haven't changed mine yet, but my other cars have easy access for a
filter wrench. If the Hyundai doesn't, that could be a problem.
Fram is on the cutting edge with other filters being designed for different
applications and specified uses (read also, higher price).
Such as?
As for the other brands, both I and my best friend (both of us in our 40's),
have had only one oil-related failure in our long string of owned cars.
Both were filter related. Mine was a Purolater, his was a Wix. We both now
know better.
I'm well into my 40's also and have never had an oil filter related
failure. I did use Fram's on my 89 Acclaim until someone told me that
the lifter noise I heard at startup was due to the crappy anti-drainback
valve. I switched to AC filters and the noise went away completely. I
haven't used a Fram in the 15 years since then.
I've used ACs as they are a good filter at a very good price, at least
they were when Wal-Mart still sold them. Now that they are only
available at GM dealers, the price isn't that great anymore, however, I
was able to buy a case of them online for about $4 each and that will
probably last me until I'm ready to retire the minivan.
You are entitled to your opinion, but please do not equate a brand that has
survived for decades by making quality products with the equivalent of
dumping sugar in one's gas tank.
Yes, we are all entitled to our opinions. I don't equate using Fram
filters to dumping sugar in the tank, but using the basic Fram filter
isn't far above that. There are too many other good filters on the
market for anyone to use a basic Fram. And for the price of a Tough
Guard, you can get better alternatives.
Matt
