My Fram Oil Filter Story....

[Steady Eddie]

I took my rig to the Pacific Power Allison Service Center for a 5000-mile "medical"
check-up. 100 dollars per hour Shop time fees.
Long story short, I'll be danged if they (Allison) didn't stick a FRAM filter on my transmisssion. I would not use a FRAM oil filter
on my lawntractor, let alone on my Coach. When I got home, I crawled under the Coach to change out the gasket on the PTO cover plate and right away noticed that the filter they had put on was orange NOT Allison Red. I thought: OMG is that a FRAM filter?? Yes it was..and not only THAT, -- it was LEAKING!!! I had an attack of the Red A$$ right on the spot. What to do? Take it back? 84 miles and another day shot and I'd maybe get yet ANOTHER Fram Filter..and we are due to leave for Phoenix. I went directly to NAPA and bought a new filter and installed it.
The NAPA/Wix was sealed in a plastic bag, like
the Chief said all filters should be.
I followed the plan--tighten 'til the gasket touches and then one full turn around. No leaks.
I'll not be taking it back.

[Steady Eddie]

I took my rig to the Pacific Power Allison Service Center for a 5000-mile "medical"
check-up. 100 dollars per hour Shop time fees.
Long story short, I'll be danged if they (Allison) didn't stick a FRAM filter on my transmisssion. I would not use a FRAM oil filter
on my lawntractor, let alone on my Coach. When I got home, I crawled under the Coach to change out the gasket on the PTO cover plate and right away noticed that the filter they had put on was orange NOT Allison Red. I thought: OMG is that a FRAM filter?? Yes it was..and not only THAT, -- it was LEAKING!!! I had an attack of the Red A$$ right on the spot. What to do? Take it back? 84 miles and another day shot and I'd maybe get yet ANOTHER Fram Filter..and we are due to leave for Phoenix. I went directly to NAPA and bought a new filter and installed it.
The NAPA/Wix was sealed in a plastic bag, like
the Chief said all filters should be.
I followed the plan--tighten 'til the gasket touches and then one full turn around. No leaks.
I'll not be taking it back.

[rvten]

Do you still have the washer magnet on? Or did it get lost. This is reuseable. Just needs to wiped clean and reinstalled.

[obbm]

I put a NAPA filter on my Allison 1000 at about 5000 miles. Then a couple of hundred miles later, I called the very friendly and helpful tech at Allison about the synthetic oil change. I mentioned the NAPA filter and the tech said they would prefer that we use genuine Allison filters since many aftermarket filters do not have sufficient clearance on the top for the oil to flow properly around the magnet. I then talked to a very experienced and successful owner of a big truck shop. He told me he uses all OEM parts and filters so that when it comes to warranty time there is no question about aftermarket products. This made sense to me, so I discarded the NAPA filter ($16.68) and installed a genuine Allison filter ($11.20)

[Steady Eddie]

My old-school Ally does not have a filter magnet. It is in the pan itself. I didn't believe it either..Allison Part # 29532686--
My rebuilt trans has had a NAPA/Wix spin-on
filter on it since the install and at 5K miles
the Dexron was so clean that the Allison Tech
didn't even change it out, I think he ran it through the Shop's Transmission Fluid Stand-alone Fluid Filter to look for debris. The Tech even said that the Wix had kept the Fluid really
clean...and then he turned right around and stuck the FRAM on there..I believe it ws a PH 3519A, which is listed as a "Heavy Duty Filter",
an oxymoron IMO...

[max49]

Everybody loves to bash Fram Filters but I've never had a single problem with them in 40 years or so. I doubt if there's been a single documented case where Fram was found at fault for any engine damage. I think the other guys are jealous because Wal Mart won't pedal their filters for them.
I use the Fram 2 qt oil filter

[Davel]

max49,
I felt the same way as you for years, but this study of filters made me change my mind. This is not to start a big arguement, but just for info sharing.

Dave
http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfi...lterstudy.html

[dieselclacker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max49:

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>I think the other guys are jealous because Wal Mart won't pedal their filters for them.

I agree Max, although I only use the 1 quart size on my Workhorse. Also use Fram filters for many years on all my vehicles with no problems.

Dieselclacker

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max49:
Everybody loves to bash Fram Filters but I've never had a single problem with them in 40 years or so. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Max, You're missing the point here. We (iRV2.com members) could care less about what everybody thinks.

What I have published in these webpages is that during WCC tech seminars the presenter when questioned about routine maintenance the fact the Fram filters were problematic on the 8.1L engine was sharred with the attendees.

You have 2 choices, continue to use the Fram filter or consider using an alternative. That's basically it and nothing more than that.

During chat yesterday evening it was mentioned that there is a "huff" brewing over on the dark side about Fram. I believe they are writting about some type of manufacturing defect from an off shore source.

You would have to agree that most everyone is pleased with Fram in its execution of its business plan in the public domain. Fram does have name brand recognition.

In reality the filter falls short of its peers regarding current filter technology available to each one of us for perhaps as little a dollar or two more per filter.

Given the choice and task that the filter has to accomplish I will always choose the best filter that I can possibly purchase given my reasearch in the matter with the hope that a "Made in USA" stamp is on the case.

[depchief]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Everybody loves to bash Fram Filters but I've never had a single problem with them </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Max I will agree with you on the Fram deal.

I have used them for years also, but after reading a report about 2 years ago I changed to NAPA Gold filters on my 2 cars, one classic, and 1060 1 qt for the MH.

For a few bucks I guess I did good.

In '68 a friend told me Sears Spectrum motor oil was terrific, I tried it and wiped a cam in the 389 Pontiac, dealership told me I was the first with a wiped cam in that engine.

So I now stick to known products, and Sears and Quaker State are not one of them.

[Steady Eddie]

Posted by max49:
"...I use the Fram 2 qt oil filter..."
=============================
Max--
I also used the 2-qt spin-on oil
Filter, until I found out it did not
have an anti-drain back valve in it.

I think the anti-drain back feature is needed
with the roller lifters we all have...but I don't really
know for sure, would be a good question to ask at a WCC event, I think.

[Steady Eddie]

DriVer wrote:
"...with the hope that a "Made in USA" stamp is on the case...."
====================
DriVer--
Last I looked a Fram GAS filter it said: "Made in China" right on it. I had used them for years,
as they were easy to find at all hours, and they
were seemingly very well made. The new issue
Fram gas filter looks pretty bad, might be wonderful, but I'll not gamble. Off topic, I know, but it might be a compass showing which way Fram is headed.

[NeilV]

I used Fram filters until it was bought out in 1983 and ceased being the Fram we grew up with. Unfortunately Fram is no longer Fram, and may be on its way to becoming is just another bought out and watered down private equity holding. This was part of the aquisition by Allied Corp which brought down Bendix and dropped Honeywell a few notches also.

[max49]

It's not the few dimes I save using Fram, But I just think Fram is as good as the rest of them. If you sell a million filters and the next guy can only sell 500,000, you can afford less mark up than the other guy.
It does'nt seem fair that people can write and put on the internet that Fram filters are inferior with out a single or a few documented cases of engine destruction because of Fram Filters. Fram is a big company and lots of lawyers would like to sue them if they had a case.
Is'nt that the same as writing that Workhorse or Ford or anything is inferior and not offering a single documented failure.
It's no big deal, I have no stock in Fram, I don't think.
Now what is an anti drainback valve and if that is impotant, would'nt they want to brag about it on the box? Or do they? Just sitting here and trying to figure out why we need an anti drainback valve baffles me. Our oil filters sit vertical ( can be pre filled before installing) so the oil can't drain out of it; so do we need an anti drain back valve so oil does'nt run into the filter after we shut the engine down? I mean once the filter is full, it won't hold any more. I think I want it to be full.
Come on now, please explain an anti drainback valve and what it does. Does WH say we need an oil filter with an anti drainback valve? If so which brands have them? Oh, I hope WH does'nt decide to make us buy another 1 of kind oil filter for $60 available to order from a WH svc cntr, like their fuel filter.
Driver, don't get mad at me, I'm just being me

BTW, If I went to the autoparts store and they said they had the Fram in 1 qt but they had the AC Delco, or what ever in the 2 qt, I'd buy the 2 qt.

Oh I forgot, a Fram 2 qt filter cost alot more than an AC Delco or Napa or whatever 1/2 qt filter, so it ain't the money.
IMO. Fram can sell their filter a little cheaper because they sell so many. A great example is if you only sell a few you have to charge a ridiculous amount for it. Even the filter companies are'nt interested in making a WH fuel filter because they sell so few. That's why we pay so much for that WH Tagawas fuel filter, not because it is well made, it's the best made because it's the only one made.
Can any one post a link of a single news report that Fram is being investigated or sued because someone's engine seized, blew up or otherwise the owner was hoping Fram would pay for it? I'm serious, if I ever heard that, I may re consider whether I wanted to trust my engine to Fram oil filters.