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ViewRVs · 05-13-2003, 08:48 PM

Here is an interesting web page on oil filters. I was reading a whopper of a usenet thread on oil filters. That's not a place for the weak minded!

Oil Filter Study
Oil Filters

One man's opinion based on his research.

53flyingcloud · 05-13-2003, 10:46 PM

Fred

Thanks for the link!~!
That is quite a site and, eye opener.
I'm gonna print this one out and, keep it for easier reading.

BTW, it just confirmed what I had been told abt FRAM..
(I noticed that the date on his research information is (1999) somewhat 'dated'..Do you know if he has anything more recent?)

thanks~!

ViewRVs · 05-14-2003, 05:58 AM

Here's the thread out on usenet:

Are all oil filters created equal?

WARNING: You will be leaving the friendly confines of the Forums!

Pick · 05-14-2003, 06:12 AM

You only need to know 3 things:

1.Amsoil
2.Mobile 1
3.Hastings

Pure One's are rated pretty good also.

I have some pix of a Hastings that I sawed apart, excellent construction.

59toaster · 05-14-2003, 07:31 AM

I have been having good luck with the A/C brand filters. Good drain back valves. I have to get the Fram off it that the PO put on it this weekend.

For the record Autozone is phasing out the A/C and Bosch filters. The Bosch Filters for GM trucks are IDENTICAL to the A/C. It's the same filter different paint and sticker. I have been using Bosch on My Supra that has a oil filter mounted on it's side so very prone to drain back problems. I had tried a couple of filters and I had run accross this story right after I had purchesed the car. Only filter that was in stock at the time was a Fram. Lots of start up rattle. Swapped on the Bosch for the vehicle and it stopped the start up rattle all together.

markjoandall · 05-14-2003, 07:52 AM

I'm in shock, I've been using Fram for several years now. Next oil change I'm going to the Amsoil product.

Silvertwinkie · 05-14-2003, 08:13 AM

There are a bunch of those oil filter threads floating around most of the car/truck forums.

The Fram is a POS. I didn't believe it until one nearly dumped all the oil out of a Brandi's Accord. The filter valve siezed and the weakest link was the gasket, so it blew almost all the oil out. So I can attest first hand stay away from Fram.

I use the UPF-52s in the battleship. Cost is about $6 compared with the standard PF-52s cost of about $3.

Eric

59toaster · 05-14-2003, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by markjoandall
I'm in shock, I've been using Fram for several years now. Next oil change I'm going to the Amsoil product.

Scary isn't it.
I have never been a fan of fram. Before I was driving GM trucks I was driving Mazda RX7 and I always bought the filters from the dealer. Those were Nippon as I recall. Before that I was driving VW's and like my Dad I alwsy Bought the MANN filters from the dealer. MANN is a excelent filter but not widely available. THere was a guy in either German our the UK that did a simular study of the products available there. The MANN filters were well rated.
Let me see if I can find a link. I have changed computers a couple times and no longer have the book mark.

zduke4x · 05-14-2003, 12:49 PM

I read this post and links and it is an eye-opener.....does anyone know where Castrol filters fit in?.....such as the MaxPro?

53flyingcloud · 05-14-2003, 02:17 PM

zduke4x

Quote:

Castrol PH922A (all Fram numbers should be same on Castrol filters) Champion ... 1500's

This was taken off the internet and, sorta says it all..

ciao

davidz71 · 05-14-2003, 09:39 PM

I remember seeing this study over a year ago and thought it was interesting. Amsoil magazines have said that the Mobile One, AC and Hastings filters were good so that is what I buy when I wasn't using the Amsoil SDF-15 filter. I use the Amsoil recommended Hastings filter in my 8.1 engine until such time they make an SDF filter. I have also used the STP media filter as well as the Castrol filter. I do not use the Fram on any of my vehicles.

Hayseed · 06-17-2003, 05:43 PM

WOW !!! Always used Fram ... figured since they were a big company they should know what they're doing ... WRONG !!
Changed the filter (only) to a Wix filter- no oil change - in our '00 Jeep ... oil pressure increased by 26% !! (Currently using 5-30 Mobil-1 in it.)
Did the same to our '75 Argosy ... 32% increase in oil pressure !! (Currently using 20-50 Castrol GTX in it.)
Are Fram filters that much of a P.O.S that they actually inpeed the oil flow ??

john hd · 06-17-2003, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pick
You only need to know 3 things:

1.Amsoil
2.Mobile 1
3.Hastings

Pure One's are rated pretty good also.

I have some pix of a Hastings that I sawed apart, excellent construction.

pick,

fourth,

ac delco.

fram filters are the number one cause of cold start "knock" in chevys.

john

wingfoot321 · 06-17-2003, 09:55 PM

I have used Fram for 15 years based on an old comparison study that judged them primarily on particle filtration size.

I have been having valve train noise with an old 300six Ford during warmup. Will change the filter tomorrow.

Fram will never get on the new GMC.

I need to thank you guys for the good discussion.

garry · 06-18-2003, 11:23 AM

After reading about Fram decided to switch to AC after 25 yrs of Fram use. No longer changing my own oil so I went to Walmart and they stock and use only Fram Filters.
Went to a Jiffy Lube and they only stock Pennzoil filters made by Fram.

Decided it was back to the DIY oil change and went to Auto Zone and bought the last 2 AC filters in stock that would fit on my GMC.
Went back to Walmart and they changed the oil using my filter.
Didn't seem to make any difference Fram or AC on the oil pressure but I don't think I will ever use a Fram again.

Thanks for the post and info.

Garry

ALANSD · 06-18-2003, 12:03 PM

I put on a a k&n I got at etiher NAPA or Advance auto, hows that stack up... a good choice??
I am using Valvoline synth blend 10-40 summer 10-30 winter.

**jcanavera** · 06-18-2003, 01:01 PM

The AC filters are a little harder to find these days. Apparently Walmart is no longer stocking them. I've been using AC since reports of Fram quality issues began surfacing. I found AC is stocked at the local Auto Zone store.

Consumer Reports did an oil filter study many years ago and rated Fram the best at that time. I remember that those results moved me to change to Fram filters. I think this is one of the reasons they became so popular with the DIY crowd.

Jack

alan · 06-18-2003, 06:13 PM

I too, have decided to go away from the FRAM filters I have used for years. As far as I can tell, none of the local auto parts stores carry them. However, they are available at GM dealers, though somewhat overpriced ($7 ea).

wingfoot321 · 06-18-2003, 07:40 PM

Napa had only Napa Silver and Napa Gold.

Walmart had only Fram & a few Motorcraft, have dropped AC.

Advance Auto had a small section of Fram, A huge section of Purolator, and a small section of Purolator Pure One for $5.99. I decided to try the Pure One.

Toyota ( for the Camry) is using Mobile bulk oil and Toyota filters and the service manager showed me a sample of disassembled filters to distinguish themselves from the crowd. I think I will trust my Toyota friends to make a good engineering choice.

Didn't get to Auto Zone yet or O'Reilly.

JCanavera is right. I remembered that study being Consumer Reports. United Technologies bought Fram about 10 years ago. I guess I should have known to audit their quality after the purchase.

wingfoot321 · 06-18-2003, 07:52 PM

Forgot to tell you.

I pulled the Fram filter about 4 hours ago. I had driven the van yesterday. There was almost no oil in the filter. I expected oil to run down as I loosened it but, none came out. Apparently the valve wasn't holding the filter full of oil. Then the sky opened up and poured rain so I haven't been able to drive it. I hope to handle my noisey valves.