What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Fram oil filters

K85 Octane

K85 Octane

People Fatigued
 Premium
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Nov 2, 2009
Posts
15,355
Reaction score
5,949
Location
San Bernardino CA
Dunno if anyone has ever cut one open and looked at the quality, but I have. I'm sure this is going to offend someone...

I dropped by a wholesale warehouse the other day, I do a lot for OEM factory parts. They had just cut open several oil filters and all the guys were looking at them. They did this on their own, not a demonstration or manufacturer setup. There were I believe 5 or 6 different filters they carry. ACDelco, Mastercraft, puralator, Fram, etc. Looking at each one's materials used, quality of build, and overall size of the filtering element.....I would say out of all the ones they cut, Fram looked the worse. Poor build quality and poor paper pleated material.

Just saying:dunno:
I put a Fram on my Moms car the other day, save her some money over Jiffydude. It's a difficult place to get at, so the grip on the end is nice. I'll struggle with something different from now on.
 
I've seen some comparisons of oil filters that have been cut apart and the Fram looks like the least quality of almost any filter it is compared too...I do not use Fram filters.
 
old news..... Frams suck... trust me, I've cut open quite a few that customers have installed.... we pretty much only run WIX, Napa Gold (same) and Mercruiser filters...
 
I always used to get Fram due to teh fact i buy all my oil/filters at walmart, or kragen, and neither carried better.

Always liked the grippy stuff on the end.

BUT, now that kragen carries Wix, that is ALL i run now.

Too bad i have all the Fram part numbers burned into my brain, and can't remember the wix numbers for the life of me...
 
power of advertising....

I'll never forget when I went to work at my last marina about 5 or 6 yrs ago... known for excellent quality, great craftsmen.. mechanics, woodworkers, glass, etc....

the old man had bought cases and cases of Frams, thinking they where a quality filter... this was a smart boat guy...

he was floored when i asked him "ummmm, do you know Fram makes a horrible filter?" he really thought he was buying quality.... we switched to Wix and Napa Gold soon after...
 
I've used fram before, but I got a WIX last time and I've got full synthetic shell oil. will run that from now on.

Didn't know that about Fram though, thanks for sharing that tidbit of info..
 
Purolator makes Motor Craft, Quaker State, and Purolator
Honeywell makes Fram, Pennzoil, and Quaker State
Wix makes Carquest, NAPA, and Wix
Champion makes AC and STP.
All four make filters for other suppliers, Wal Mart are made by whichever one makes the best deal. The off brand are the same filter as the name brand, just different name and color.
 
Fram filters suck. I've seen one cut apart about 20 years ago and have been running Wix filters ever since.
 
well this was the first time I ever got to see the insides of several filters at one time. I only use AC delco on the DD @ 106k I'm the only one whose touched it. I also have Wix and puralator for for the blazer and a few for the DD. I've never used fram other than this one time for my moms car, and a few air cleaners too. Mostly use puralator air filters though.

I'm taken back by the findings. How are their air filters? Looking for something to replace the metal housing and filter element on the blazer.
 
K85 Octane said:
well this was the first time I ever got to see the insides of several filters at one time. I only use AC delco on the DD @ 106k I'm the only one whose touched it. I also have Wix and puralator for for the blazer and a few for the DD. I've never used fram other than this one time for my moms car, and a few air cleaners too. Mostly use puralator air filters though.

I'm taken back by the findings. How are their air filters? Looking for something to replace the metal housing and filter element on the blazer.
Click to expand...

Keep the air cleaner housing and install a K&N filter in it. You want to ingest as cool of air as possible to make the most power and running any kind of open element air cleaner defeats that purpose.
 
From what i read, the AC Delco filters are not that bad, ANYTHING over a Fram.

I'm curently using the Mobile 1 filters, pricey, yeah.

Got my dad away from those Frams too.

Gotta love all that advertising they do for those filters... :doah:
 
I just looked, ive got 3 Purolators on my shelf. Hope they work well. lol. I stay away from Fram, ive heard about them a long time ago.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Keep the air cleaner housing and install a K&N filter in it. You want to ingest as cool of air as possible to make the most power and running any kind of open element air cleaner defeats that purpose.
Click to expand...
sorry, bad wording
I'm keeping the factory cold air tube and housing. I was looking at the metal screen, I think flame arrestor or something, and wanted to remove it. Mine is ugly and soaked in old gas or oil, unsure.
 
K85 Octane said:
sorry, bad wording
I'm keeping the factory cold air tube and housing. I was looking at the metal screen, I think flame arrestor or something, and wanted to remove it. Mine is ugly and soaked in old gas or oil, unsure.
Click to expand...

I have no idea what you're talking about. I've never seen anything other than the air filter inside the housing before. :confused:
 
back in the day the declo p35s were great untill they stopped making them. now it is wix for me. i have a fram from the 80s and it looked cheap even back then.
 
Oh hell, I do remember seeing one of those once before. I have no idea what the purpose was but i've seen literally thousands of air cleaner assemblies in my time and only remember seeing that once. Either cut it out or find another housing without it. On a good note, you have the TALL lid which allows you to have more surface area of filtering element.
 
I am curious as to what that thing is that sits inside of the filter element that is permanantly fixed in there.

I am guessing that it is an intake muffler so that you cannot hear the secondaries trying to suck in the whole states worth of air when you get on the skinny pedal hard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom