Some have been dissing the Fram oil filters on this Web site. In another thread about the "piston slap" fairy, I said I would cut apart a Fram oil filter and the equivalent factory oil filter and report my findings.

I did that today, using the Fram PH3600 filter that I used consistently on my '98 F150 without complaint (and for the first oil change on my new 2000 F150) and the Motorcraft FL-400S (long life)filter that came originally on my new truck (I kept it because I lease and I change my own oil).

Got out the old hack saw, my reading glasses for close examination, and my note pad. Here goes. Note: My report is based on my personal observations only. I am not an expert and what I saw may not be relevant to other filters on V8s or diesels.

Fram PH3600:
Filter material: folded fiber material, each fold about the same length as the Motorcraft.
Number of folds I counted: 38.
Anti-backdrain gizmos, if any: I don't know.
Thingie-bobs at the top of the filter (next to the engine block) thin tin disc, half-inch-wide 4-prong plastic whatchamacallit, thin black rubber grommet filter-width-wide.
Size of spring: half-inch wide by half-inch high.
Cost: $3.97 Cdn at Walmart.

Motorcraft FL-400S
Filter material: folded fiber material, looks just like the Fram
Number of folds I counted: 59.
Anti-backdrain gizmos, if any: Guy at the Fo-Mo-Co parts desk volunteered the info that these filters have them (may or may not be important; probably is).
Thingie-bobs at the top end of the filter: thick disc, substantial, 9-rib orange rubber gasket held in place by metal disc not found on Fram filter.
Size of spring: 1 inch wide by 1.5 inch high.
Cost: $5.22 Cdn at local dealer.

Any comments?


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Black 2000 SC short-box XLT. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, factory box liner. My add-ons: Older Windstar (driver's side) wiper blade - the one with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains; "f150online" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My second of the "new" F150s. Great trucks!




[This message has been edited by Shifter (edited 02-05-2000).]

 

You can get Motorcraft filts at WalMart for about the same price as Fram. I use Motorcraft simply because its got to be good!

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'93 Regular Cab XLT Shortbed, 5.0, K&N, Borla, 160,000 miles; Future Expedition owner.

 

A while back there was thread around and it had a link to some Mopar guy's web site. He dismantled numerous oil filters and said Fram was one of the worst! This surprised the @#$% out of me I had been using them pretty regular for the last few years. He recommended the Puraltor filters, not their Micron filter too restrictive I guess and Napa filters. My truck ain’t going to see no Allied Signal crap on it at all, that’s the bottom line.

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99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter, Suuuuperchiped, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner, 3" single CatBack

 

I had a Ford mechanic tell me the Ford filter is a Purolator PUREone with the Ford name on it

 

Here's the site.
http://minimopar.simplenet.com/oilfilterstudy.html

[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 11-11-1999).]

 

@

[This message has been edited by msparks (edited 05-18-2000).]

 

Motorcraft all the way. It's what Ford makes for the truck, it's what I'll put on the truck. Who out there has a Group 7 filter on their truck? If you get one of those cheapo quickie oil changes you probably do. Saving a dollar on a filter will cost you many when the paper element inside clogs the oil pickup tube, starving your engine of oil and ruining it. I have seen this a couple times. My boss said he see's it all the time and the filters don't meet o.e.m. specs either.

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1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Chrome Grizzly Wrap Around Push Bar, Ford bedliner, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, and Lots of TLC!! (Besides being an F-150 nut, I am a Ford auto technician.)

 

Well Shifter there you have it, go for the best your truck deserves nothing less.

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99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter, Suuuuperchiped, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner, 3" single CatBack

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but to the best of my knowledge, Ford does NOT refine oil or manufacture oil filters. This being the case, "Motorcraft" is simply the name that Ford has put on it's oil and filters that are made by whatever company has the currrent Ford contract. You really don't know what you're getting. That being said, I choose to buy the NAPA Gold (WIX) filter. It's one of the best. Every Fram I've seen cut away has the least amount of filter pleats when compared to others. If you found out that Fram got Ford's new filter contract, would you still buy Motorcraft?........

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2000 XLT Black Sport, Flareside, 2WD, Ext. Cab, 5.4L Auto. Other factory options: 3.55 LS, Class III tow, 6-way Captains chairs w/CD changer, Remote entry , and Slider window.
Mods: Undercoat, window tint, headlight & tail light covers, removed "Sport" decals, upgraded Triton tailgate emblem, Linex spray-in bedliner, and an ARE LSII lid.
Wish list: Flowmaster duals, K&N FIPK, and a Belltech 3/4 drop.

 

Whoever gets the contract must manufacture to Ford's specs. Ford would not risk the warranty claims from inferior filters. Change the oil at Ford recommended intervals and you should have a long lived motor regardless of the filter.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks,
SmittyBilt Nerfs, Borla Cat Back
Modified Air Cleaner Outlet Tube
To Be installed;
Superchips

 

For anyone interested, I strongly recommend you click on the hot link that Dennis provided (above). What a fascinating read! And that e-note from the Allied Signal engineer. Wow.

Power to the people through the Net! Corporate (North) America better catch on that we, the customers, won't be mucked with.

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Black 2000 SC short-box XLT. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, factory box liner. My add-ons: Older Windstar (driver's side) wiper blade - the one with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains; "f150online" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My second of the "new" F150s. Great trucks!

 

Great stuff! Thanks.

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97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels and the 4X4 decals, MODs so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Bosch platinum + 4's.

 

I now have some proof to my own ears that the Motorcraft oil filter is far superior to the Fram as far as anti-drain-back valves go. For the first time since my '89 Taurus rolled out the factory door, I put a Motorcraft factory oil filter on it when I changed my oil recently. What a difference upon start up!

My Taurus, bought new, has 170,000 km (about 105,000 miles) on it and the 3.0 V6 motor is original (heads never off, etc.). I always used Frams since the first change (every 5,000 km; 3,000 mi.). For the past 30,000 miles or so the motor would run fine but clank and rattle like an SOB until oil got to the heads - which was at least a minute after start-up and well down the road.

With the Motorcraft, the motor's almost totally quiet on start-up. Some light rattles (almost certainly because of lack of lube from the Frams) but they're gone almost immediately. To me, a very noticable difference. Thought I'd pass this information on since the filter is exactly the same as on my 4.2.

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

I don't know, Fram's been around a long time, as has Allied Signal. Their company makes some good products; Prestone antifreeze, Autolite spark plugs, Bendix brakes, etc. While I found the Mopar guy's site interesting, I'm a little suspect of his credentials. Aside from cutting open filters and publishing a letter from some malcontent, who may or may not have worked for Fram, what tests has he performed? How many documented engine failures does he have that can be directly and exclusively traced to the use of Fram filters? With that said, let me say, I use Wix (and not because of something I saw on the internet). On my '93 Mazda B2200 commuter vehicle, I noticed Fram, Purolator, Motorcraft, and Mazda recommend what is the equivalent of a Wix 51356 for that engine. Wix however, recommends a 51357 filter. I contacted Wix and asked, "What's the deal, who's correct?" They informed me that both filters were essentially the same, but their recommendation, the 51357, had a SECOND anti-drain back (this doesn't indicate all Wix filters share this feature). I countered that the local Mazda dealership (also the local Ford dealer) was not recommending this particular filter. They stated, "We received the change in specification from Mazda and are standing behind our recommendation, regardless of what your dealership has told you." At any rate, Fram makes a filter that directly crosses with the Wix 51357 (as does Mazda), but there's one problem: YOU CAN'T BUY EITHER ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE I LIVE! Couple that with the fact that Fram filters are primarily sold at Wal-Fart here, whom I LOATHE, and other retailers who carry Fram have a very sparse selection, and the parts store where I do business is an all around good outfit, and I'll stick with Wix. I think the internet is a great resource, but I sure don't believe everything I see or read on here.

[This message has been edited by Ford man (edited 01-31-2000).]

 

Last year there was a long posting on this subject and there was another site where filters were tested by a college in Ca. I think. It seemed to have been done professionaly and they also hammered Fram.

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98 Nascar Edition, Superchip, Airaid, Flowmaster 70 series, bedliner, in bed tool box, Profile bug deflector and window vents, Class III receiver hitch.