OIl Filter Comparison--Fram Users Take Note

Many people don't pay attention to the oil filters a shop uses when they get their oil changed.  Fram filters--a widely-sold brand, are quickly recognizable due to their deep orange color.  Although they have the best advertising program and probably sell more filters than any other brand, I'm not a big fan of Fram.

These You Tube Filters show the internal parts of different Automotive Filters and provides commentary on desirable features.

The first video shows the construction of a Fram filter. You'll see that they use a cardboard-like end cap to seal the filter internally and force the oil through the pleats. If you look carefully, you will see that the metal clamp used to hold the pleats together missed the edge of the pleat and has an open hole to the oil passage--meaning a lot of oil will go through the filter housing and not get filtered at all. It also shows several high-quality filters and how they're made:

 The second video is a little long, but it also shows why Fram filters aren't generally the best choice.

 

A number of years ago, my brother-in-law had a Fram filter on his pickup burst open.  Before he knew there was a problem, the engine was drained of oil and suffered major internal damage.  I've never seen this happen before or since, but I became a little leery of the brand.

I researched oil filters more recently and learned that Fram is actually very cheaply made--as shown on the videos, they use a fiber material instead of metal for end caps on their "Extra Guard" filters, and have less actual filter media (as seen in less pleats) than other brands. Even then, you often pay more for a Fram filter than for a better quality one.

In my personal experience, and from my own research, I've found that the following brands often use cheaper (and less effective) components in their filters:

Fram

STP

AC-Delco (quality varies depending on who makes their filters in a particular year).

MicroGard

Pennzoil

In contrast, the following brands are better quality overall. They may cost a little more (not always), but when you consider that clean oil is the best insurance for long engine life, they're worth it:

Hastings

Purolator

Wix

NAPA (made by Wix)

Fleet Guard (typically used on large trucks and equipment)

Motorcraft

Ford

K&N

Champion

FWIW,

Smitty