Hah,

If you want to goto the extreme in filtration and have 20,000+ mile oil change intervals.
You can go with a Bypass filter system like http://gulfcoastfilters.com/ and your oil will stay nice and clear as long as you change the filters when spec'd.
I'm not sure I agree completely because it seems the additives in oils are beneficial for sludge reduction and breaking down the by-products of combustion engine.

Article on analysis of oils with a by-pass system.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/by-pa...filtration.php

 

I've been using Fram oil and air filters in pretty much all my vehicles for the last 30 years. Jeeps, Chevys, Chryslers, Fords, Isuzus, and even a few Toyotas.

I have never had a problem like those described above. I've never had a car start hard after using a Fram filter. Never had a lifter tick go away after changing the oil.

I am wondering if those people having problems and the "fix" being a swap from something other than Fram may have changed something something else at the same time? Maybe oil viscosity or brand of oil?

Maybe I have just been the luckiest Fram buyer over the last 30 years or so?

 

Maybe I have just been the luckiest Fram buyer over the last 30 years or so?[/QUOTE]

That's probably the answer.

As stated earlier, Fram's quality has dropped off over the years. And, the lack of a good anti-drainback valve spells big problems considering the angles our filters are mounted at.

Did you read the link I posted above? That guy took them apart and saw what we never see.

 

I just got done replacing a short block in a Cummins b/c of a Fram oil filter. Element came apart and plugged #6 piston cooling jet. Piston siezed in up in cylinder.

 

Not trying to pick on you but I hate when people make statements like that since they don't prove anything. I don't care if you've used them since the first filter was invented, do you really think the Fram filter today is the same one as 47 years ago? Years ago Frams were THE filter to buy and were top notch in quality. Times change, production gets shipped overseas, etc. I've had my own experiences with Frams causing dry starts that were from bad ADBVs. I run Purolator PureOne filters since at the moment they are great quality. If down the road the quality tanks, then I will use something else that is better. Brand loyalty is almost non-existent nowadays. Many people in my family have owned Jeeps. I have owned (and still own) a few jeeps. Would I buy a new jeep now? Hell no because the quality has gone down.

Not trying to be an ***, but do you see my point? Maybe if Fram realizes the bad rep they have with parts of the automotive industry, they will up their quality back to what it used to be. If Fram came out with a quality filter that competed with the other top market filters I would definitely buy it.

 

Wasn't trying to prove anything.....just making a factual statement (of which I'm just as entitled to as anybody else, whether u hate it or not) that I've simply never had an issue with a Fram filter (including losing prime once filled).......nothing more, nothing less. Doubt if the hundreds of millions of satisfied Fram customers will be posting.......just the handful that aren't.

 

Years ago, I, as well as my dad, had used Fram filters on a couple of cars we used to have in the family. We never had any issues................However, about 20 years ago, I discontinued using Fram oil filters once I found out that they use glued-on cardboard ends for their filter media.
I have worked in the Automotive industry since '89, and had a filter display at a seminar I went to once, that had cutaways of every popular oil filter.

Another reason that convinced me that Fram filters were garbage was the fact that where the filter media wraps around the center core, and meets itself, the pleats were just folded inside itself here. There was no metal crimped strip, or any other means to hold it together.

I have seen the inside of alot of filters over the years, and in my opinion, these are cheaply made garbage...........Kudos to Allied Signal though for marketing this cheap crap so well, and making shiploads of money on them.

 

My personal experience. I have seen an engine toasted because of a failed Fram filter, and heard of others. I've also seen a couple of other engines with symptoms that were resolved with changing out their Frams. I must be honest and confess that when I was younger, I used to run Fram and had no issues when I did.

After some analysis and research, I'm pretty confident that Fram is very mediocre at BEST. Their high end filters are better than their low end ones. Fram is continuing to run and do reasonably well based on their historical domination of the oil filter segment of the market. Dad used them, so why shouldn't I do it? But that is slowly changing......

I worked for 23 years in Test Engineering for Honeywell, the parent company of Fram filters. And I use Purolator Pure One filters. Does that tell you anything? The Pure One is a great bang for the buck when snagged on sale and is a very solid filter with great media filtration.

Simply put, there are just better options out there than Fram.

 

Here is my FRAM story.
When I bought my Jeep I let a friend of mine drive it like he owned it(bad move he spun the tires and I thought cracked or stretched the flex plate), next day Changed my oil and filter with a tough guard by fram.Had a lot of engine noise. Clacking and ticking, thought it was my flex plate, even have a brand new one sitting in my garage because of the sound.
After reading some FRAM horror stories, I bought a purolator classic and changed it yesterday. Now the engine is quiet like the day it came out of the factory, so to me and my own life experience FRAM sucks azz! never again will I ever use one.
I have been turning wrenches my whole life and NEVER seen(heard) anything like it!
Hopefully my motor will not be too upset that it was in there for about a month and live for many more than her 200k+ miles.I feel so horrible doing that to her.
Thanks for reading have a nice night.

PS: the same oil is still in the motor, just changed the filter.SO as to prove any question about it being the oil. IT wasn't.

PPS anyone want to buy an OEM flywheel, no need for it anymore

 

The OP said his Fram filter was keeping the oil from draining back?

I've never seen any automotive filter hold 6 qts. of oil.

However, I use a Wix on my '87 4.0 and a Mopar on my '92 4.0.

Both seem to be really well constructed.

 

Did you think that maybe the filter wasn't holding the oil but only blocking it?

I only use OEM parts on my jeep. The others maybe cheaper but they wont last as long and aren't built with the same quality. I dont understand why people cheap out on parts. If jeeps oil filters are good enough to go on 2012 jeeps they are good enough to go on my 2001.

 

They've been known to come apart internally and block flow. I think a guy did a youtube video on it. Who knows? Best to stay with Wix or Napa Gold I guess. Easy to find. Priced reasonably.

 

If you choose carefully a lot of parts are as good as from the dealer. Jeep does not make all the little electronics, oil filters etc. They are made by others and used by jeep. You can usually find the oem cheaper direct then from the dealer.

 

You can buy Mopar filters at Wal-Mart.

 

Had a Quaker State (AKA Fram) Blow its seal. Dumped all the oil out of the block before My Buddy and I realized what was going on. Spun a bearing. R.I.P Green, '94 XJ