Fram Oil Filters????

[trmiv]

Frams have also been known to collapse. Go for a Napa Gold filter, they are great. Great price, great quality. Actually made by Wix. We used to use Napa Gold filters on our race car, but now we use Napa Racing. Still made by Wix, but a bit more heavy duty for racing.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Watch out. Apparently quality caught up to the price and STP are no longer made by Champion IIRC. For you Honda guys, ask for a S2000 filter at the dealer. They're still the larger style filter and are Japanese made. And yes, the filters sold for Accords/Civics/etc. are now made by FRAM. Avoid these like the plague.

I juts got a couple cases of STP filters the other day and they are still Champ filters.

Where have you seen or heard this??Links? AutoZone has a contract with Champ to make their filters, and STP is still at Autozone.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Watch out. Apparently quality caught up to the price and STP are no longer made by Champion IIRC. For you Honda guys, ask for a S2000 filter at the dealer. They're still the larger style filter and are Japanese made. And yes, the filters sold for Accords/Civics/etc. are now made by FRAM. Avoid these like the plague.

So STP's are fram's now? Damnit. Guess I'll have to go AC Delco.

 

[LAUST]

As far as trapping crap

Dealer/Lube Shop Brands - Pennzoil, Fram, Valvoline, Quaker State - These are generally lowest quality capturing 40 micron sized particles.

Conventional- Fram Extraguard, Purolator, ACDelco Duraguard, Wix - These are around 25 micron filters.

Mid-grade - PureOne, Fram Toughguard, ACDelco Duraguard Silver - These are generally 10-20 micron filters.

Premium - ACDelco Ultraguard Gold- 8-10microns, Mobil One-10-12 microns

 

[Pepsei]

Guys, let's say that I purchased the BEST filter... does that mean instead of changing oil every 3k, I can wait until 5k?

 

[Howard]

http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml

The Mobil 1 oil filter is well constructed and a decent filter. Unfortunately, I'm not been able to get my hands on a stock spec'ed Mobil 1 filter (but have taken apart a few oversized ones). However, I have been able to discern that it's made on the same line as the K&N filter, but will a media that is slightly better at filtration. Based on testing by others I still think this is a really good filter.

The AMSOIL SDF-20 filter is well constructed and lab tests show that it's an excellent filter. At 6350 miles this filter was able to generate the above lab test report and show that 10w40 oil in an H22A4 causes no problems. On the other hand, it's big brother the SDF-44 did not filter oil well at 13,000 miles. Proving that an oversized filter is not always a good thing when it comes to filtration.

The K&N HP-1004 is a great filter. The internal construction is the same as the Mobil 1 filter, but it does not filter the down to as small a particle size. This filter is meant to maintain higher flow while still actively filtering, as opposed to by-passing. Lab tests using Mobil 1 at 7500 miles indicates that this filter works as well as the AMSOIL SDF-20.

The FRAM x2 (and only the FRAM x2 Series) is probably the most heavily constructed filter I've seen so far. Though all of the Japanese made filters were of exceptional quality, the Fram x2 was as good in every way. Of note with the construction were the following features: metal screen backing the media, heavy metal end caps (all other Fram filters have cardboard), and 2 layer filter medium. Lab testing indicates this filter is fine at 5000 miles use with Mobil 1. As with all of the Fram filters and OEM Honda oil filters the x2 uses the standard spring loaded plastic by-pass valve that many people do not like. However, lab tests do not indicate that the valve jams or fails to work. It's possible that a hard enough impact at a sharp angle while the filter was by-passing might cause it to jam open, but I suspect the fluid within the filter would prevent this.

 

[Thegonagle]

Pennzoil filters are also sourced from Fram, IIRC, so avoid those too.

Heck, from all I've heard, avoid Pennzoil oil for that matter. So that rules out Jiffy Lube, unfortunately.

For my oil changes, I generally go to the nearby Firestone with one of the $11-18 oil change coupons they're always mailing to me, but If I need a quack-lube place, I tend to go for Valvoline Instant Oil Change (AKA Rapid Oil Change).

 

[C'DaleRider]

We use Wix-made or NAPA Gold only.

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
What about Fram Tough Guard? Are they the same?

They're supposed to suck too.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
Guys, let's say that I purchased the BEST filter... does that mean instead of changing oil every 3k, I can wait until 5k?

I use Mobile1 and a high quality filter but i still change my oil every 5k. The reason is this. While you'll capture the junk in the oil, other contaminants still get in your oil and no filter can remove these. Therefore the oil must be replaced.

 

[flot]

Well, for the record, I bought a fram X2 filter for my jeep a couple weeks back, and _externally_ it seemed to be of excellent construction. Of course, it should be - for freakin $10 or whatever it cost.

I didn't have the heart to rip one apart at that price, but will consider disassembling it in a few months when I go to change the oil again.

PS: This was literally the first time I had ever changed my oil (not for lack of skill, but for lack of anything but a busy apartment parking lot to do it in) and WHAT A FREAKIN mess. What's the key to coping with 5qts of nasty smell dirty oil when you are done? (actually for me it was 11 quarts, did mine and a friend's at the same time)

 

[CraigRT]

I am going to try a Mobil1 filter next time, I hear they are good.. (in LAUST's post too)

 

[ApacheXMD]

Originally posted by: flot
What's the key to coping with 5qts of nasty smell dirty oil when you are done? (actually for me it was 11 quarts, did mine and a friend's at the same time)

Put it in a spill proof container, and take it to an autoparts store that accepts old motor oil for recycling Some cities also have curbside oil recycling pickup.

-patchy

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Pennzoil filters are also sourced from Fram, IIRC, so avoid those too.

Heck, from all I've heard, avoid Pennzoil oil for that matter. So that rules out Jiffy Lube, unfortunately.

For my oil changes, I generally go to the nearby Firestone with one of the $11-18 oil change coupons they're always mailing to me, but If I need a quack-lube place, I tend to go for Valvoline Instant Oil Change (AKA Rapid Oil Change).

doesnt firestone use kendell's oil or something like that? i've never heard of them. i took mine to the dealer and they gave me pennzoil but i'm not sure about the filter. i'm changing mine this weekend.

 

[virtueixi]

Purolater/Pureone are great filters. Pretty cheap too.

 

[weezergirl]

hmm i have a fram AIR filter...is that bad as well????
that was the only kind they sold at kragen

 

[Lvis]

I use mobil one, oil and filter. Time will tell how it works out. I do believe that a quality filter HAS to increase engine life, and is probably more important than the type/brand of oil used.

my 2 cents

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD

Originally posted by: flot
What's the key to coping with 5qts of nasty smell dirty oil when you are done? (actually for me it was 11 quarts, did mine and a friend's at the same time)

Put it in a spill proof container, and take it to an autoparts store that accepts old motor oil for recycling Some cities also have curbside oil recycling pickup.

-patchy

drop it off at some local garage assuming you live someplace cold. you may see some waste oil but they see it as six hours of free heat.

 

[JediJeb]

I normally use Motorcraft which are remarked Puralator filters, where my dad used to work they used Wix which were great. This oilchange I tried the K&N filters, about $9 a piece but wanted to try it, really heavy outer casing for sure. I always use Mobile1 oil, and change at 10K, just rebuilt my old 88 Ranger because of a water leak and at 175K miles it had no cylinder wear at all and the mains looked pristine so i am sold on Mobile1

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD

Originally posted by: flot
What's the key to coping with 5qts of nasty smell dirty oil when you are done? (actually for me it was 11 quarts, did mine and a friend's at the same time)

Put it in a spill proof container, and take it to an autoparts store that accepts old motor oil for recycling Some cities also have curbside oil recycling pickup.

-patchy

AND some quick hands!! That's been about the only thing I've found to keep my hands relatively clean

I was talking to the guy at Oreilys store where I take my used oil. He said they use it in their heating system. Is that for real??

EDIT: OrganizedChaos, I see you sort of confirmed this question. Maybe I need to get in the business of recycling oil I wonder how much one of those heaters costs

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD

Originally posted by: flot
What's the key to coping with 5qts of nasty smell dirty oil when you are done? (actually for me it was 11 quarts, did mine and a friend's at the same time)

Put it in a spill proof container, and take it to an autoparts store that accepts old motor oil for recycling Some cities also have curbside oil recycling pickup.

-patchy

AND some quick hands!! That's been about the only thing I've found to keep my hands relatively clean

I was talking to the guy at Oreilys store where I take my used oil. He said they use it in their heating system. Is that for real??

EDIT: OrganizedChaos, I see you sort of confirmed this question. Maybe I need to get in the business of recycling oil I wonder how much one of those heaters costs

Yea look up a company called Clean Burn. The make heaters that run off of old motor oil. They even have AC machines now and last I heard they either had or were working on one to run off of old tires.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

K&N/Mobil 1 here. Been using this combo for years. It's a lot more expensive that Fram/some junk oil, but it's money well spent imo. I'd bypass the filter before I'd put a Fram on. If you're going to go with Fram you might as way save yourself the money and just run without a filter. Do you about as much good.

 

[bozack]

Used to use Mobil 1 for $11 a pop and a few other brands, used a Fram filter once and while it was cheap I didn't like the threading as much as the Mobil 1's, now I just get my oil done at the stealership where they use Motorcraft/Ford/Purilator...I think people are making a mountain out of a molehill with re. Fram filters esp if you change every 3K miles....

as long as you have clean oil, put in magnetic drain plugs and use quality oil I don't think you will notice any major improvement by not going with a Fram...heck if Honda is using them as OEM replacements that mean they cannot be that bad.

 

[freebee]

Having known several friends that use frams in their fleet cars, I would not hestitate to use it in normal applications...provided the oil is changed every 3-4k miles. In that interval, just about any filter is ok.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
K&N/Mobil 1 here. Been using this combo for years. It's a lot more expensive that Fram/some junk oil, but it's money well spent imo. I'd bypass the filter before I'd put a Fram on. If you're going to go with Fram you might as way save yourself the money and just run without a filter. Do you about as much good.

K&N air filter?

Personally, I'd stick with the stock or another paper air filter. Filters more out of the air, and the performance "decrease" is negligible anyway.