The Infamous FRAM

[1972RedNeck]

Why are Fram filters so despised? What are the best oil filters to run?

[TrkEnvy]

Because they use/did use cardboard inside their filters and were notorious for coming apart and sending said cardboard through your motor..
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[70cst]

Here you go... I hope this helps

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=24935

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=323538

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=285422

[1969stepside]

ac delco pf 1218 all the way never a orange can of death if ac delco filters are good enough for gm to use i will use them as well nothing else will go on my gm cars/trucks but an ac delco

[sjarrett71]

I've used Fram for years and never had a problem.

Here is a link I found upon Googling "oil filter manufacturers". It has some pretty good info:

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/index.html

[1972RedNeck]

Are Napa Gold filters any good?

[treveiger]

Ams oil filters the best of best, next in line wix. Won't ever use anything else other than ams oil filters an if they don't have what I need I go to wix. Run them in quads, cars, diesel, anything I have or work on.
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[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

Are Napa Gold filters any good?

Yes.

[Longhorn Man]

napa gold is a rebadged Wix, a very good high quality filter.
I didn't believe the hype on the fram sucks, so i bought a fram, and a napa gold, and cut them both open. Doing so made a believer out of me.
Fram sucks.

[Stocker]

I ran Fram filters for a lot of years with no problems. After reading bad press all over the 'net, I now use NAPA Gold... as Andy said, they are repackaged Wix filters, and very good.

[BigRed76]

Mobil 1 oil filters are also really good. Expensive, but you get what you pay for...

[leddzepp]

Fram is not what it used to be back in the day. Years ago, my dad had an 87 Dodge Ram pickup (beater/driver). After numerous bad experiences at the Jiffy Lubes, he opted to change the oil himself, just like all his older cars and hot rods. He experienced super low oil pressure, and asked around as to why all of the sudden? Someone asked him if he was using Fram oil filters, and he was... After changing to another brand, oil pressure was restored immediately.

Fram sucks.

[72chevy383]

Yes napa or wix, and yes napa is a wix filter anyway, and my brother-in-law has work for Wix for 32 yrs. I always run Wix in my rides.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I use the Wix 51060 or 51061. I think NAPA drops the "5", so its 1060, 1061. Equivalent to the old AC/ Delco PF35 (tall 1 Qt). [Come to think of it ... I have not seen an AC/Delco PF35 in years.]
I run both an L6 292 (modified), and a V8 350 crate motor. I use the same filters for either.

[richards72chevy]

I always thought fram was the best.I run them on all my vehicles.I put 60,000 on my daily driver with nothing but fram filters and no major engine problems so far.

[70cst]

Hey all...very very good info. Good thread

[mbgmike]

I read an article on filter tests but can't remember where but as far as filtration the Purolator filters filtered to 28 microns which were the best of any manufacturer.

[CG]

I use Napa gold because I was told they were a premium filter. But if Fram filters are so bad how are they able to sell bazillions of them year after year?

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by CG

I use Napa gold because I was told they were a premium filter. But if Fram filters are so bad how are they able to sell bazillions of them year after year?

Marketing, pure and simple brand recognition. Ask a "non car person" to name a brand of oil filter...after they say Fram, ask for another......crickets?

If you ask an older person, they may know Purolator "Pure oil now, Pure oil later"....maybe

[Longhorn Man]

Millions of fram filters have been used "without a problem".
I've been smoking a pack a day for 23 years now... and have had no problems.

All either one means is no problem has been detected... YET.

the car companies took fram to court over there low quality. I don't know which companies, but some of the automakers did in fact do it. They were denying engine waranty claims if fram filters were being used.
A high court decided that fram was 'good enough', and any auto maker that tells you you can't use xxxx filter, will have to provide you one of there filters to you, free of charge.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I was always a fram guy untill I joined the board and read a few bad reviews then I switched to wix about 2 years ago...

[bruceman1968]

1)The Fram filter cartridge has a small outside diameter with a low filter element surface area, 193 sqin. Wix surface area is 349 sqin.

2)Fram has CARDBOARD end caps. They deteriorate, metal doesn't.

3) The rubber anti-drainback valve seals the rough metal backplate to the CARDBOARD end cap. In practice these seem to leak, causing dirty oil to drain back into the pan.

4) The bypass valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak when they should be closed. (at start up)

5)The backplate has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which restricts flow.

[mbgmike]

I have been in a whole bunch of chemical plants the past 40 years and the vast majority of lube oil units I saw had WIX filters. thats where i first heard of them. I figured if they use them to protect machinery that costs $100,000 and up they must be good.

[Ackattack]

I used to use frams with no problems, but since I've learned better I switched to ACdelco, but now I've been using Mobil 1 filters (and oil)

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I used to use frams with no problems, but since I've learned better I switched to ACdelco, but now I've been using Mobil 1 filters (and oil)

My dad's brother retired from GM and he never used anything but Mobile products. Whenever we went anywhere he was always on the look out for Mobile stations. he was a fanatic about it even though it drove us crazy.