Fram Filters

[cos]

bigdreama,

Good move!

I'd like to know when Fram Extra-Guard filters became such [censored]. I'm guessing they were quality back in the day. Back in the early 90's Consumer Reports rated them #1. I was a big fan but wouldn't use 'em today if they were free!

 

[leftlane]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
They have a higher incidence of popping up with issues just due to being the most popular filter.


Sincere question Gary, do you have any idea of how much more frams are sold than their nearest competitor? Is it something near say 5-10 times more or is it way less? Reason I ask is because the fram complaints I have seen would be many times more than any other filter complaints Ive ever seen so if fram doesnt sell filters many times more than anyone else then I'd have to believe the above is not the sole factor for fram complaints although Im sure it is one factor.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: leftlane
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
They have a higher incidence of popping up with issues just due to being the most popular filter.


Sincere question Gary, do you have any idea of how much more frams are sold than their nearest competitor? Is it something near say 5-10 times more or is it way less? Reason I ask is because the fram complaints I have seen would be many times more than any other filter complaints Ive ever seen so if fram doesnt sell filters many times more than anyone else then I'd have to believe the above is not the sole factor for fram complaints although Im sure it is one factor.

I doubt it's THAT much.

OEM for Ford is Purolator in the US, WIX in Canada. GM is WIX, Dodge is "the lowest bidder". Given the number of changes done at stealerships, using OEM filters...... I can't see the rift being THAT large.

 

[dwendt44]

Consumer Reports rate the orange Fram as #1 due to level of filtering and filter capacity.
It didn't consider construction at all as I recall.
And construction is the bug-a-boo that Fram critics
harp on.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: cos
bigdreama,

Good move!

I'd like to know when Fram Extra-Guard filters became such [censored]. I'm guessing they were quality back in the day. Back in the early 90's Consumer Reports rated them #1. I was a big fan but wouldn't use 'em today if they were free!


+1

I believe the CR test was actually done in the 1980s or maybe as far back as the 1970s.

Fram has also been bought and sold at least a couple of times since then. Do today's Fram filters have anything in common with the tested filters except for the color orange?

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
Sincere question Gary, do you have any idea of how much more frams are sold than their nearest competitor?


I truly don't have a (factual) clue, but on the retail level Fram dominates most shelves in WM, K-Mart, and a few other mass marketing outlets. They're also surely competitive in the generic quicklube/service market. They also have the biggest marketing effort out there. You don't see a Champ Lab commercial ..you may see a NAPA ..but I don't recall a WIX filter commercial ..maybe an ad in some trade mag or "mining USA" type mag. ..but I've seen plenty of Fram decal ..sponsorships ..you name it.


I believe that the cardboard end cap deal has been with them for a long time. I'm not sure if it track back to their days in Providence, R.I. ..but it's been a while.

 

[dwendt44]

Fram also makes filters for private(?) labels such as Pennzoil.

 

[leftlane]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan


I truly don't have a (factual) clue, but on the retail level Fram dominates most shelves in WM, K-Mart, and a few other mass marketing outlets. They're also surely competitive in the generic quicklube/service market. They also have the biggest marketing effort out there. You don't see a Champ Lab commercial ..you may see a NAPA ..but I don't recall a WIX filter commercial ..maybe an ad in some trade mag or "mining USA" type mag. ..but I've seen plenty of Fram decal ..sponsorships ..you name it.


I believe that the cardboard end cap deal has been with them for a long time. I'm not sure if it track back to their days in Providence, R.I. ..but it's been a while.


Someone here awhile back posted a list showing how many frams were sold annually along with how many other brands that were sold, and if I remember right fram was ahead of its nearest competitor by around a million filters. If I had to guess the percentage of fram complaints out of all the filter complaints Ive seen on different forums I'd conservatively say 75% of them are frams so if they dont outsell the competition by that much then my best guess would be that their build quality is more of an issue than build amount. None of that is certain but its enough to make me hesitant to try one even though I do see that some people have used them for decades without problems.

 

[Gary Allan]

I think that the most frequently express complaint (FEC) would be start up rattle. This will tend to occur with any nitrile ADBV filter ..but will surely depend on the engine whether it evidences itself or not. I've had this with ST, Fram (clones), and others. It doesn't do anything more than annoy me. In my experience, Fram does seem to time the 3,000 fatigue threshold with amazing accuracy.

 

[crazyoildude]

I would not ever use a fram again i used to use them exclusivly in the eightys but stopped using then in 1990 when i relized they caused startup valve noise in my ford work van and around two years ago i cut a new one open and it looked like a seven year old put it together.. if in fact they are a number one seller it is because they advertise and they were one of the first to have the grip on the top of the pretty orange can.. i use pureolater in everything now because it is a good filter for the money and has a good anti drainback valve..Just my opinion.I have cut open more filters in my shop to know which one looks better

 

[-Clayton-]

Originally Posted By: KA426
Having a Fram in one hand and a Wix in the other is like have a pile of (censored) in one hand and a $20 bill in the other hand. You won't miss the Fram.


Excellent!

 

[BrianWC]

I also was a Fram-only user until I wandered on here. Now I am a Supertech junkie...after spending a couple years in Purolator PureOne's sway. But I tend to agree w/ Gary, Frams aren't horrible, they are just not a good product for their price point. On the other hand, that top of the line "extended guard" version is pretty durable. I've taken one apart and was pretty impressed.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: cos
bigdreama,

Good move!

I'd like to know when Fram Extra-Guard filters became such [censored]. I'm guessing they were quality back in the day. Back in the early 90's Consumer Reports rated them #1. I was a big fan but wouldn't use 'em today if they were free!


+1

I believe the CR test was actually done in the 1980s or maybe as far back as the 1970s.

Fram has also been bought and sold at least a couple of times since then. Do today's Fram filters have anything in common with the tested filters except for the color orange?


Frams are the same . I have cut then open in the 70s

 

[Gary Allan]

I don't recall all the filter offerings in the early 70's ..but I imagine that Fram dominated the retail/aftermarket market more back then. I do recall that you had a few more house brands that were attached to the "service stations". Atlas for Esso/Exxon. Saxony for Mobil. I don't recall if Sunoco had their own filter line (but I imagine that they did).

 

[Ausfahrt]

This is the first time that I have cut open my used filters and it was interesting. Sorry about the picture quality (my wife won't let me use the good digital camera since I dropped the last one in the pool).

Here are my observations:
-The NAPA/Wix filter did indeed have metal endcaps while the Fram had some sort of fiberboard.
- The fiberboard was not simple cardboard like I have seen mentioned, I don't know exactly what it is but is pretty tough and seemed to be about as strong as the thin metal endcap in the Wix.
-Both filters had about the same amount of filter media but I have no way of knowing if one was superior to the other.
-The filter media did seem slightly thicker in the Wix.

In conclusion, I don't think that I would hesitate to use either of these filters in the future. I did enjoy this little endeavor and will be trying different brands and cutting them open in the future. Bring on the criticism, I can take it!
-Steve

 

[TurboLuver]

If you are implying that you honestly think both of those filters are of equal quality then your eyes are as poor as the camera you took the pic's with..

 

[Ausfahrt]

No, I don't think that the quality is equal but I also think that Frams are not as bad some on this forum would have you believe. I would choose the NAPA if given a choice but I would not have any reservations about putting a Fram in my car.

 

[02zx9r]

same here

 

[demarpaint]

Looking at the side by side, I would pass on using the Fram filters. Its almost like comparing apples to shoes.

Frank D

 

[dishdude]

The build quality on that Napa is so much better than that Fram, I don't know how you could even say it was close. It probably performs alright under the majority of conditions, but why risk it when better built filters are the same price or a buck more?