Just a note about Fram filters

dwna1a

dwna1a

Well-Known Member
PLATINUM Sponsor
Apr 23, 2012
5,981
James River
Boat Info
88 Weekender 300 "Seahorse"
Engines
Twins 350
Every now and then we talk about oil and fuel filter changes and we are asked about which filters. Many of the older Captains talk about Fram filters and many times they say to stay away from them. I don't talk bad about them, until now.

On Friday my Duramax became hard to start and once it shut down it smelled of raw fuel. Today she went in the shop.

Turns out the Fram filter had spilt along the rim and was draining out as the truck was parked. Letting air into the fuel line.

Be careful of these filters.
 
Those things are junk.
Search Youtube for a video a guy made. He cut open some filters and Fram was pure junk.
 
I worked at an auto parts store back in the late 80's early 90's. I was told back then that Mopar outlawed Fram filters on their vehicles. If you were caught with one they would void your warranty. Not sure if this was actually true. The issue was they did not have a check ball so if the filter was sideways or upside down the oil would drain out of it. I heard they fixed this but I have never used a Fram filter since then.
 
I wouldn't run anything but Ac/Delco on a duramax.
They have come out with revisions in the filter media over the years.
Injectors are too expensive to risk using cheap fuel filters.
 
Got my truck back today, they showed me the filter. It had split at the seam where the base meets the casing.
 
I have always been a fan of WIX filters. I have ran them on my Duramax for the last 10 years. Run them in everything else too.
 
duffman04 said:
I have always been a fan of WIX filters. I have ran them on my Duramax for the last 10 years. Run them in everything else too.
Click to expand...

Wix are supposed to be one of the top rated filters and they make a lot for other companies, Wix is all I run in my trucks, cars, boats and motorcycles
 
Thanks for spookin me! Been running FRAM on my personal car for approximately 150K+, 5K intervals and always Mobil 1. Doesn’t use any oil and never noticed any issues. Now I just jinxed myself.
 
Of course this would be the brand I've been buying. I really love the grippy coating on the Fram filters. You guys always have to ruin things for me! :)

I had a bad experience on my boat with an Amsoil filter last year. But I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and stayed with Amsoil for my fall 2019 oil change. We'll see how this year goes...
 
duffman04 said:
I have always been a fan of WIX filters. I have ran them on my Duramax for the last 10 years. Run them in everything else too.
Click to expand...

Check out filter1.com

You can look up WIX part numbers and order right from there. Free shipping with $50 purchase and they may still give a 10% discount with the code “moparts”
 
I don't have a dog in the fight with regards to filters. But, any filter can be damaged by the installer not properly installing. A hamfisted guy who decides to "get r' really tight!" and over torques the filter can cause the can to stress and separate.
 
Here's just one of the videos about various filters:
 
duffman04 said:
I have always been a fan of WIX filters. I have ran them on my Duramax for the last 10 years. Run them in everything else too.
Click to expand...
Wix makes NAPA Gold filters. One of our local NAPA stores has a yearly 50% off sale, I buy all the filters I need for the year during the sale.
 
My brother interviewed to be the world marketing manager for Fram/Prestone/Autolite. Basically the number 3 in the company.
During the multi day interview process, he toured the lab where Fram filters were developed and engineered. He got to talk to the engineers.
They (the engineers) have heard the same thing their entire life about the Fram filters that they designed. The engineers told him that they take every other brand of filter on the market, make the Fram filtration better, make the cases split later, and improve the durability of every filter made before it can be called a Fram filter. Their bosses gave them the directive to do that with no regard for cost, just make the best filter money can buy.
As a result, Fram has 65% of the world market, and no other filter has over 6%. So, is Fram any good? I use them because they are widely available. I have never had anything close to a failure with them in a lifetime of use. Oil has gotten better over time, maybe filters have also.
 
Fram filters are fine for purpose. The video is showing the old version of the fram orange filter, not current. I personally move up to their tough guard series, as good as you ever need in an engine service. Is the Napa gold a good filter, yep, so is wix, Baldwin, fram tg and xg, Mobil 1 and others. Change them as recommended and none of these will ever be the reason your engine failed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,182
Messages
1,428,038
Members
61,088
Latest member
SGT LAT
Back
Top