dnewton3
Staff member
Two filters I recently got at a local Walmart.
Fram cartridge-type Ultra and Extra Guard; both in style 9972 form (fits many late model Toyota/Lexus 3.5L engines).
The Ultra:
- does have wire backing; this must be old stock as the "new" Ultras are apparently lacking wire backing per many reports here on BITOG
- presumed to be of the typical advertised 99%+ efficient media
- has very uneven pleat spacing; what you see in the image represents the way it looks all the way around (even the inside has uneven spacing)
- has a very thin top and bottom caps with no lip on either side (there's no adhesion point other than the flat surface for the media. If you look closely you can see that the pleast simply sit "on top" of the flat cap.)
- 31 pleats; metal crimp band at media joint (I don't think glue would work well anyway; the syn media may not adhere as well)
The Extra Guard:
- no wire backing (never has been that I know of)
- presumed to be the typical advertised 95% efficient media
- has incredibly evenly spaced pleats all the way around! (I looked at several in the store; they were all like this)
- has top and bottom caps that have a wide lip around the media (so the media can not only adhere to the flat surface, but also along the pleat edges; the media sits down in this shallow "cup" of the cap/lip)
- 57 pleats; glued at media joint (so well that I had a hard time finding the seam; was very firmly adhered)
IMO, the construction of the EG is actually as good (maybe better?) as the XG, but for different reasons. I'm not saying the EG is all around better; it does not have the efficiency rating or capacity rating of the XG. But you gotta admit, the EG is very well constructed. Yes; wire backing is nice in the XG. But the density of the EG pleats and their very even spacing make wire backing unnecessary if you ask me. Look at the pic inside the EG; there's little if any room for it to wiggle or wave. There are almost 2x more pleats in the EG, though the Ultra does have "thicker" media. With the lips of the EG caps, it also appears to be a stronger cap design.
Either one would do fine IMO. I'd have no issues using either, and probably will at some point.
I got the Ultra to start my extended OCIs with HPL, and to have the EG as a back-up. The experiment is forthcoming; to start in less than 1000 miles.
I wish I had picked up a TG for observation; maybe the next time and I'll add it to this thread at some point.
Fram cartridge-type Ultra and Extra Guard; both in style 9972 form (fits many late model Toyota/Lexus 3.5L engines).
The Ultra:
- does have wire backing; this must be old stock as the "new" Ultras are apparently lacking wire backing per many reports here on BITOG
- presumed to be of the typical advertised 99%+ efficient media
- has very uneven pleat spacing; what you see in the image represents the way it looks all the way around (even the inside has uneven spacing)
- has a very thin top and bottom caps with no lip on either side (there's no adhesion point other than the flat surface for the media. If you look closely you can see that the pleast simply sit "on top" of the flat cap.)
- 31 pleats; metal crimp band at media joint (I don't think glue would work well anyway; the syn media may not adhere as well)
The Extra Guard:
- no wire backing (never has been that I know of)
- presumed to be the typical advertised 95% efficient media
- has incredibly evenly spaced pleats all the way around! (I looked at several in the store; they were all like this)
- has top and bottom caps that have a wide lip around the media (so the media can not only adhere to the flat surface, but also along the pleat edges; the media sits down in this shallow "cup" of the cap/lip)
- 57 pleats; glued at media joint (so well that I had a hard time finding the seam; was very firmly adhered)
IMO, the construction of the EG is actually as good (maybe better?) as the XG, but for different reasons. I'm not saying the EG is all around better; it does not have the efficiency rating or capacity rating of the XG. But you gotta admit, the EG is very well constructed. Yes; wire backing is nice in the XG. But the density of the EG pleats and their very even spacing make wire backing unnecessary if you ask me. Look at the pic inside the EG; there's little if any room for it to wiggle or wave. There are almost 2x more pleats in the EG, though the Ultra does have "thicker" media. With the lips of the EG caps, it also appears to be a stronger cap design.
Either one would do fine IMO. I'd have no issues using either, and probably will at some point.
I got the Ultra to start my extended OCIs with HPL, and to have the EG as a back-up. The experiment is forthcoming; to start in less than 1000 miles.
I wish I had picked up a TG for observation; maybe the next time and I'll add it to this thread at some point.
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