BlackDeuceCoupe

The overall design of FRAM oil filters isn’t bad, but the materials used are SORELY lacking in quality. FRAM filters have cardboard end-caps, the lowest filter media surface area in the industry, a plastic bypass valve, and an anti-drainback valve that seals against cardboard, i.e. doesn't seal well.

The use of cardboard end-caps is inherently stupid. When cardboard is exposed to very high temperature oil [200+ degrees], under pressure, it turns to mush pretty quickly. The internal O-ring seal cannot possibly maintain a viable ‘sealed’ surface against ‘mushy cardboard’, suggesting that FRAM filters are prone to leaking unfiltered oil between the intake and exhaust channels within the filter.

The filter element, itself, has very few pleats in it compared to other filters. What does that translate into? Less filtering surface area. If you push more dirty oil through a smaller area, it will clog faster. Essentially, it has less ‘room’ to hold captured material.

The bypass valve assembly is fairly unremarkable. I suspect the filter element would fail, i.e. rip, tear, burst, et cetera, before the bypass valve would actually have a chance to do its job. If this type of failure should occur, this filter is going to send a massive amount of crap into the engine, assuming it doesn't clog all the outlets first, which means your engine could suffer from oil starvation and seize.

If I wanted to increase the odds of grenading an engine, this filter would most certainly be the ticket. Allied Signall/FRAM shows you how NOT to make an oil filter IMO. I recommend avoiding this filter at all costs, but it's your funeral...

deepnite

the fram may or may not be any good at all..again theyve been used for years by happy customers..so if u dont like them dont use them

BlackDeuceCoupe

AH... I don't like them and I don't use them. I use Purolator PureONE filters. I'm sorry if I gave you the impression I was an unhappy FRAM customer. I'm a happy Purolator lover...

DragII

Good for you...thanks for clearing that up.