Fram oil filters
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Here's a thought: Quite whining about the price and get a decent filter. The extra $6 is insignificant to the cost we're all paying for fuel. That's only 2.5 gallons here in California.
Buy the good filter and sit on the couch for a night - the investment is equal.
Buy the good filter and sit on the couch for a night - the investment is equal.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by c4cruiser
My filter choices are still Purolator, AC Delco, Wix, and Mobil-1. What irks me is I just found out that the AC Delco PF25 for my 87 is no longer available and a lot of filter companies are dropping their equal. I used a larger filter for my last oil change and it took a half-quart more for the oil change but fortunately, the bottom of the filter didn't stick below the bottom of the oil pan.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Maplewood MN
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
I always use either a K&N or a Mobil 1. Mobil 1 actually has a synthetic filter element rather than paper. K&N I believe is still paper but that little nut on the bottom sure is handy.
But, I spent to much money on my engine to skimp on the oil filter....no Fram for me thank you!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I had an experience with a Fram fuel filter on my pickup. It was acting like it was running out of fuel, since I had just replaced the filter a few weeks earlier I figured it was time for a pump. I picked up a pump and another new filter and decided to change the filter first. The insides of the filter had broken away from the housing shutting off my fuel supply. So, after reading this thread I headed to my local Farm & Fleet and picked up a new K&N for my Vette and a new AC-Delco for my truck. I'll never use fram again. BTW the K&N was only 8.99 at Farm & Fleet.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
I thought of doing my own inspection, tore open the fram...
Then I went to tear open my K&N filter, and had a bitch of a time hacksawing the case. It's very thick gage metal for an oil filter!
This is enough reason for me to like it... especially since the oil filter is one of the lowest parts of my car... a thin casing would be vulnerable to road debris.
I was impressed with the construction of the stp filter for the price.. it seemed to have way more filter area than the fram. I'm not sure if fram is still using the cardboard crap or not.
Another important factor.. is how well they remove the metal scrap from the filter. Poor QC results in metal shards (from core with metal holes in it)... the punched out pieces, along with loose metal where the threads are cut can cause a helluva mess in your motor. I won't buy fram anymore since I dumped a good bit of metal out of one right before I was to install it.
Then I went to tear open my K&N filter, and had a bitch of a time hacksawing the case. It's very thick gage metal for an oil filter!
This is enough reason for me to like it... especially since the oil filter is one of the lowest parts of my car... a thin casing would be vulnerable to road debris.
I was impressed with the construction of the stp filter for the price.. it seemed to have way more filter area than the fram. I'm not sure if fram is still using the cardboard crap or not.
Another important factor.. is how well they remove the metal scrap from the filter. Poor QC results in metal shards (from core with metal holes in it)... the punched out pieces, along with loose metal where the threads are cut can cause a helluva mess in your motor. I won't buy fram anymore since I dumped a good bit of metal out of one right before I was to install it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by joeveto
I try to avoid Fram and stick with Hastings.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: WALLIS TEXAS
Fram
I use fram, Lets talk about the K&NAIR FILTER IT FLOW BETTER BUT IS IT BETTER THEN AC DELCO NO. WE ARE TALK ABOUT PARTICLES. Because fram flow better your oil presure my be low because it flow better it gets up there, The same as the pleated filter in your house ac. Chevrolet truck 89 i got new 260.000 miles on it no problem.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,024
Likes: 0
From: Stratford Ontario
I use Fram. Fram is a part of Honeywell Consumer Products. Many quality products come out of the Honeywell group. As for who manufactures for Honeywell......many different companies. My Uncles company is one of them. He also manufactures for Purolator and K & N out of the same plant. I have no reason to distrust the Fram filters and will continue to use them. Since this topic has come up a few different time in as many weeks I plan on sitting with my Uncle and getting the scoop on how different filters are manufactured (and by whom) I'll post my findings when I get the info. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: Bremerton Wa
St. Jude Donor '04 &'05
I use the Wix filters. I did an oil change and fuel filter in the vette last week. Cost me 20 bucks from Napa. The Napa oil is Valvoline but it is 60 cents cheaper a quart. So that is what I buy. The person before me didn't run synthetic, so I don't and I haven't had any problems with dino oil.
Fram I can't say. I used it on my 91 S-10 blazer and it went 270,000 miles before I traded it in. I won't use it on the vette or the new truck though.
Fram I can't say. I used it on my 91 S-10 blazer and it went 270,000 miles before I traded it in. I won't use it on the vette or the new truck though.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 0
From: Byron Center MI
Originally Posted by loiq
I did my own independent study last summer. 
I had a Fram in my Corvette and when hot the oil pressure would drop down to 14-15 lbs. at idle. Swapped to a purolator, same oil, never dropped below 20 lbs while hot at idle - usually held around 23lbs. So thats almost a lb gain in oil pressure reading. After reading the filter evaluations mentioned earlier and seeing this first hand I was sold -er, unsold on Fram. Purolator ranked high in the test I read. I put the off-brand Fram filter sold at Wal-Mart on my truck and lost oil pressure too - this is with a mechanical Auto Meter guage - lost almost 10 lbs there as well. Plan on switching it BACK to Purolator. I'm not saying go with Purolator, just that Fram seems sub-par. 
I had a Fram in my Corvette and when hot the oil pressure would drop down to 14-15 lbs. at idle. Swapped to a purolator, same oil, never dropped below 20 lbs while hot at idle - usually held around 23lbs. So thats almost a lb gain in oil pressure reading. After reading the filter evaluations mentioned earlier and seeing this first hand I was sold -er, unsold on Fram. Purolator ranked high in the test I read. I put the off-brand Fram filter sold at Wal-Mart on my truck and lost oil pressure too - this is with a mechanical Auto Meter guage - lost almost 10 lbs there as well. Plan on switching it BACK to Purolator. I'm not saying go with Purolator, just that Fram seems sub-par. 
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 0
From: Byron Center MI
Originally Posted by c4cruiser
My filter choices are still Purolator, AC Delco, Wix, and Mobil-1. What irks me is I just found out that the AC Delco PF25 for my 87 is no longer available and a lot of filter companies are dropping their equal. I used a larger filter for my last oil change and it took a half-quart more for the oil change but fortunately, the bottom of the filter didn't stick below the bottom of the oil pan.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
WIX I'd like to say that Fram is crap. But that may not be PC here on the forum. So I'll say that I'd never consider buying, installing or recommending a Fram filter. You can take it from there......
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Sep 1, 2004 at 08:53 PM.
