people with sideways oil filters

[john keyes]

I had a FRAM on my ford. whenever I started it up I could hear the motor clacking until it got oil pressure. I spun the FRAM filter off and it was bone dry, put a FL1-A on it.  the FRAM was allowing all of the oil to drain back out.

I never noticed it on my chevys because the oil filter is pointing straight up (and stays full of oil).

[R.W.Dale]

yep you just discovered why FRAM is widely regarded as the worst oil filter you can buy

FRAM's are garbage

no anti drainback
cardboard element endcap
and low filtration properties.

they literally couldn't get worse if they were just an empty metal can

a good filter like a WIX or Purolator or AC delco is only a couple dollars more? Seriously I think you can afford it

[mechanic]

On my personal vehicle, just call me fussy, I use only OEM.  On my p/u that's AC Delco.  On my car, thats Benz.  Same with brakes, starters, etc.  My present truck has 110,000 miles, has all the factory parts except filters, hoses and tune up items.  Even the brakes are still good.

Some of the stuff at the discount auto stores won't last a month. 

You can bet the OEM will be good stuff, because they had to warrant that vehicle when they sold it.

[Casull]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about.  I have used nothing but Fram for the last twenty years.  I had a '94 Toyota Celica (it's now my daughter's car) that has 260,000 miles on it.  That filter is mounted sideways, and when I change it, it ALWAYS has oil in it.  Same for my wife's Isuzu.  The filter is mounted sideways and always has oil in it (her car now has 120,000 miles).   

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

ac delco. wic or bosch filters are all we use on our ford truck. bosch recently has gotten the upper hand. i also use bosch on my isuzu and the oil finally stays clean.

[mirage1988]

Fords with high miles rattle at start-up regardless of the filter brand. Who regards fram as the worst oil filters krokus? I use them, maybe I should switch, but then again my truck has the filter mounted so I can remove it without getting an arm-pit full of oil. Maybe the reason filters for a sideways applications drain back is so you can take the filter off without dumping half a quart of oil on your garage floor?

[R.W.Dale]

You guys read for yourselves and then see if you still want to buy a wal-mart oil filter

http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/old_filters.shtml

[mirage1988]

Okay I should trust someone who admits he has no knowledge about what he is writing about An electrical engineer writing about oil filters for hondas. I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a chevy with a fram, and won't switch because of that stupid article.

[Casull]

You guys read for yourselves and then see if you still want to buy a wal-mart oil filter

My last 6 cars (with mileages between 120,000 and 260,000 miles) is all the proof I need.  Your whole point is meaningless to me, since my current BMW has an element only filter (canister is part of the engine) that is mounted upside down on the top of the engine and does not retain oil.  That car has 123,000 miles and runs quiet (at startup and any other time).  Maybe it's the engineering of the vehicles that you drive (since whether the oil pump is sucking oil out of the filter or the oil pan, it still has to move to get to the pistons, crank, etc.).   

[Casull]

Maybe the reason filters for a sideways applications drain back is so you can take the filter off without dumping half a quart of oil on your garage floor?

Good point, Mirage.  But, then again, I always drain the oil pan before removing the filter (even then, it still has some oil in it).

[R.W.Dale]

Okay I should trust someone who admits he has no knowledge about what he is writing about An electrical engineer writing about oil filters for hondas. I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a chevy with a fram, and won't switch because of that stupid article.

And how is the filter mounted on a chevy?  ::)Drive a jeep 4.0 or a Ford 300 and listen to the thing rattle and clatter on dry every start with a FRAM and listen to the problem go away with a quality filter and you'll change your tune. Hey if you think cardboard and hot glue is a great way to cap the end of a filter element that sees well over 50psi more power to ya.



notice some parts missing with the fram?

where's where us Jeep guys think fram is crap
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266751&highlight=fram

here's the mustang guys having problems
http://allfordmustangs.com/forums/94-95-tech/127381-oil-pressure-problems-fram-filter.html

[bobg]

    I have never owned a Ford that didn't clatter when you started it up. Didn't seem to matter what brand oil filter i used.
    bobg

[30-30man]

If the anti drain back valve is working properly, you won't have clatter if everything else in the valve train is right.  The plain orange frams do not have them.  You have to step up to the tough guard in the fram if you want the anti drain back valve.  The funny thing is the Walmart supertechs have them for under three dollars and they contain much more filter material and have metal end caps with the anti drain back valve.  The media is synthetic too.  The Walmart filters are made by Champion Labs.  Champion labs make a good filter.

[wtxbadger]

What year model Ford did you have? Quite a few of the older Ford's had hydraulic lifters and would clatter until they were fully primed after the engine was started.

I have seen a couple of different sites devoted to this topic, not including different forums for different makes of vehicles and each one seems to have their own favorite brand. So far I have not seen any concensus on this.

Sticking with the OEM filter appears to be the best bet from what I have seen, but you will find that the OEM filters are manufactured by some of the same companies that people find fault with as an aftermarket part.

I figure odds are that the OEM filter is required to meet certain specs and criteria to qualify as GM, Ford, Chrysler, etc. are putting their reputation and checkbook on the line for warranty work if the filter does not do the job. I realize that warranties are limited in scope, but most all of them sell certified used vehicles with some kind of extended coverage they cover.



wtxbadger

[john keyes]

the vehicle is an 82 F-100 with a 300 inch six that I had rebuilt last year.  so yes I am not happy about the dry starts, considering I ground a distributor shaft to pre oil the motor before starting the first time. 

since installing the FL1-A the dry starts have not occured again


how much damage did  the dry starts do? Hell I  don't know, it happens every time I change the oil because I am too lazy to pull the distributor and pre oil just for an oil/filter change.  but it can't be good.  But I would rather have a dry start every 3000 miles rather than EVERY TIME I START THE DAMN TRUCK.
But you know what?  in a month or two I'll be starting that poor engine when it is just a little cold outside and Lord knows thats not good either but what choice do you have? 






 
 
 
 

[Lloyd Smale]

fram consistantly scores low on any oil filter shootout. Its not just that one article. What seems to allways score high are wix and delcos. As to a walmart brand, what your getting this week might not be what your getting next week. I know in there sythetic oil, i believe its called high tech, they put out bids for the cheapest supplier and have it put in there jugs. Im sure the same goes for oil filters.

[mechanic]

John, just pour  that new filter full of oil, (or almost) before installing, and quickly zip it on.  You'll lose a few spoonfuls, but it will almost eliminate the dry start. 

[30-30man]

The supertech filters have been made by Champion since they came out as far as I know.  I've used them with zero problems for the last ten years on everything I own.  All you have to do is read the bottom of the box. It will say Champion labs.The factory Mopar and 1/2 of the AC Delco filters are made by the same Champion Labs and are identical on the inside.  Though some of the Mopar and AC Delco are made by Fram and Delphi respectively. Motorcraft seems to be entirely made by Purolator and has been for years. Using a factory filter in no way guarantees the best by a long shot.  They all take the lowest bidders.

[hillbill]

ive been useing the cheap supertech filters for years along with the cheap supertech oil.ive got 2, 98 nissans one with 160,000 and one with 80,000. had them for years, they dont use any oil and the oil stays clean, looks like honey on the stik.i change round 3500 miles in the car and once a year in the truck with the super tech synthetic.usually use wix on all my tractors and heavy equipment.thats what the local mom and pop sells in the small town where i work.