Are FRAM trans filters as bad as their oil filter?

[occupant]

I saw the fuel filter topic and then I opened the RSS feed for wholesaler closeouts for my car at RockAuto and I can get up to 16 FRAM AT filters for my FMX transmission at the price of $2.53 each which is half off. They have similar deals on C3-C4-C6 filters too.

Are they any good? I mean, for $4.95 regular price, they don't sound too good. What is the Cliffs notes BITOG experience with FRAM AT filters?

I'm not sure I'm going to buy any anyway, because I intend to put a 302/AOD in this car if/when I have any transmission or engine trouble. The 351M engine is already burning/leaking a quart of oil every 75 miles. I've driven it 750 miles since I got it and I have added 10 quarts in that time, plus one oil change so I know it was full when I started.

Does this also mean my car has changed it's own oil twice since I crawled underneath to do it?

 

[ryan2022]

Fram oil filters are not that bad.

Even their orange filter isnt as bad as its made out to be with a reasonable OCI.

If their trans filters are anything like their air filters, they're a pretty stout filter. I haven't heard anything negative about them.

 

[occupant]

Here's what my shopping cart looks like now.

I can add more oil filters up to about 22 before the shipping jumps from $11 to $20. So for about $54, I can have 22 oil filters, 4 transmission filters, and the plug wires I forgot to buy last time. That ought to last me a couple years and the oil filters will also fit the 302 when I get it.

Yeah, you Ford V8 owners pay attention. Those are 87 cent oil filters.

 

[oilboy123]

Wow good deal......

 

[getnpsi]

If the gasket doesn't leak, i think a pan drop with a really bad filter is better than never changing. you can always add the inlines too.

on my way to the site. All 3 of my cars in signature can rock a ford 302 v8 filter. Not that id plan my vehicle purchases to my stash or anything, just a happy coincidence!

 

[Stu_Rock]

I would bet real money that Fram just outsources the trans filter to someone else. No matter what brand you buy, it's probably the same part.

Originally Posted By: ryan2022
If their trans filters are anything like their air filters, they're a pretty stout filter. I haven't heard anything negative about them.

I have had problems with Fram air filters.

Originally Posted By: occupant
Yeah, you Ford V8 owners pay attention. Those are 87 cent oil filters.

I've never seen a Pro-Tec filter in person, but I know that they have the much-desired base-end bypass valve:
http://www.wixconnect.com/assets/bulletin.wix.protec.combo.valve.final.pdf

Also, do I recognize your screen name from the old Yahoo! Chevy Celebrity group?

 

[getnpsi]

**update** as you add filters to your cart, do them one by one. Apparently the size of the box they ship in changes so the shipping UPS price gets CHEAPER by 20 cents then goes back up. My example is I'm just buying copper plugs and oil filters for the ranger. When I went from 6 to 7 oil filters the shipping price went down LOL. $21 shipped for 12 plugs and a buncha filters to my door.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
I would bet real money that Fram just outsources the trans filter to someone else. No matter what brand you buy, it's probably the same part.
I concur.

I bought a FRAM transmission filter for my work van that was identical in every way to the OEM one. Even said "Filtech" (or Filtran...I forget) just like the original.

As I said in the fuel filter thread, I think FRAM's transmission and air filters are decent quality; I just pretty much avoid all their products on general principle.

OEM or NAPA Gold FTW!

 

[Nick R]

I don't know anything about Fram AT filters, but I bought a Champion Labs filter for my cav a couple months ago from AZ, it seemed pretty high quality (And said made in in USA on it to boot)

 

[SilverC6]

I'm sure Fram transmission filters are fine.

A filter doesn't have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, they just have to filter oil or transmission fluid.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Originally Posted By: getnpsi
If the gasket doesn't leak, i think a pan drop with a really bad filter is better than never changing. you can always add the inlines too.

on my way to the site. All 3 of my cars in signature can rock a ford 302 v8 filter. Not that id plan my vehicle purchases to my stash or anything, just a happy coincidence!


A different gasket can always be bought if the person doesn't want to use the one that comes with the filter.

 

[dwendt44]

Some tarnsmissions don't even have a 'filter', just a screen.
So even a bad or marginal filter would be an improvement.
Aside from the Orange Fram, their other products are well made.
Even their cartridge filters are decent.
I've never had a problem with any Fram in the 45+years I've been driving.

 

[wgtoys]

Most of the transmission filters I've seen lately have one name on the filter and another name on the box. Buying a Fram, Wix or whatnot actually tells you very little about what is inside!

 

[dwendt44]

Some filters come with a pan gasket, some don't.
Find out before dropping the pan.

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: occupant
I saw the fuel filter topic and then I opened the RSS feed for wholesaler closeouts for my car at RockAuto and I can get up to 16 FRAM AT filters for my FMX transmission at the price of $2.53 each which is half off. They have similar deals on C3-C4-C6 filters too.



It depends on the model number. I have seen good Fram filters for the TH400 and TH350 GM transmissions.

How long will it take to use up 16 filters? Saving $2 to have a bunch of filters sitting around for 10 years is not worth it. You will end up throwing them out and buying a new one. I bought 2 transmission filters for my 4L60E off ebay. They were $0.99 each. After 1 year, one of them started to rust on the bottom (dirty) side. The top (clean) side is plastic, so the rust shouldn't hurt since it will get caught in the filter media. I change my filter about every 3 years.

I would pay more attention to the country where the filter was made. USA, Canada, and Mexico as well as any western European filter. If it says "China" on the filter, I would not buy it.

 

[HyperJinx]

Originally Posted By: SilverC6
I'm sure Fram transmission filters are fine.

A filter doesn't have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, they just have to filter oil or transmission fluid.


and a bridge made of rope may get you across the canyon, until it fails.

 

[occupant]

Originally Posted By: Loobed
How long will it take to use up 16 filters? Saving $2 to have a bunch of filters sitting around for 10 years is not worth it. You will end up throwing them out and buying a new one. I bought 2 transmission filters for my 4L60E off ebay. They were $0.99 each. After 1 year, one of them started to rust on the bottom (dirty) side. The top (clean) side is plastic, so the rust shouldn't hurt since it will get caught in the filter media. I change my filter about every 3 years.

I would pay more attention to the country where the filter was made. USA, Canada, and Mexico as well as any western European filter. If it says "China" on the filter, I would not buy it.


I wouldn't buy 16 trans filters. But I do want a ton of the oil filters and I figure adding 3 or 4 of the trans filters will be a good thing. I need one right away, and I'll want a couple spares. I can always give them to my mechanic if I don't use them.

Maybe I should buy a ton and pack them in Cosmoline? Hahaha...