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Fram oil filters - crap or not??

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sk8rh84

New member
I really hate to start this debate, but was recently discussing on a forum for the last car (gt ford probe) - I know, I know, the only car with a crappier trans than the 4l65e.

Anyway, for all 13 yrs I had that car, everyone ragged on the fram filters. Crappy anti drain back valve, crappy construction, etc. For the entire time I abused the hell out of that car (also 13 yrs), I used dealer filters and the engine was perfect when I sold it a couple months ago.

I sort of forgot about this when I got the GP (base) and I am curious if you guys have the same thoughts. I've used the fram synthetic filter on the GP. Are they really that bad? If yes, recommendations? I get the impression that most of you people are just as crazy about maintenance as I am
 


I should add that 10 transmissions in 13 years is stupid! Even with mild abuse, I hope like he77 that the GP does better! It is a boat compared to what I am used to, but so far ... I love the car!
 
The Fram Extra Guard is complete crap. The Tough Guard is better, but still subpar compared to others on the market. The Xtended Guard is actually a good filter, but overpriced IMO.
 


At WalMart, they sell Fram and AC Delco at about the same price. I don't see anything wrong with using a factory filter.
 


Thanks for the just about unanamous response! I think I got fooled by the decent looking anti drain back valve.

I'll checkout Walmart in Canada to see if they sell the Delcos
 
In my experience people don't like Fram filters because their friends told them to not like them. I thought the Delcos looked better (and I find them easy to trust), but I don't really know anything about filters. I have read that Fram used to suck bad, have changed, and their reputation hasn't recovered, but I don't know what the truth is to that either.
 
Fram is garbage. This is also well known in the Jeep comunity I belong to as well.

As for my GP, I use a AC Delco. But you could also use either a WIX, Purolator, etc. Anything but Fram.
 
SlowNA06 said:
In my experience people don't like Fram filters because their friends told them to not like them. I thought the Delcos looked better (and I find them easy to trust), but I don't really know anything about filters. I have read that Fram used to suck bad, have changed, and their reputation hasn't recovered, but I don't know what the truth is to that either.
Click to expand...

The Extra Guard still uses cardboard endcaps, a nitrile ADBV, and a cheap canister. They've improved the filter media, I believe, but the construction is still far below industry standard.

As I said earlier, their other lines are better.

To the best of my knowledge, the Delco filters on the market now are Champion E-Cores. They're better than the orange can of death, but not up to the level of Wix/Purolator IMO.
 
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Fram are crap, I';ve had one or 2 fail in the past ... not fun... I'll only run Wix, AC Delco, Mobil 1, K&N or Napa filters anymore
 
I buy whatever comes with an Autozone or Advance Auto Synthetic Oil change. Sometimes it's Mobil 1, sometimes Fram Extra Guard, and sometimes the higher end Purolator, sometimes Bosch. I think a lot of it is people saying something is crap, so you believe it. People like to go on the Internet and *****, but they don't often go there to praise.

I'm cheap, I buy what's on sale. I don't care so much about brand.
 
Deezul_AwT said:
I buy whatever comes with an Autozone or Advance Auto Synthetic Oil change. Sometimes it's Mobil 1, sometimes Fram Extra Guard, and sometimes the higher end Purolator, sometimes Bosch. I think a lot of it is people saying something is crap, so you believe it. People like to go on the Internet and *****, but they don't often go there to praise.

I'm cheap, I buy what's on sale. I don't care so much about brand.
Click to expand...

There was an in depth analysis done by the jeep community on oil filters... Frams were garbage.

Most of what is being said here is very true.
 
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