Ford Focus Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

great cutaway of a fram vs. other filter

Jump to Latest
101 - 120 of 171 Posts
#101 ·
BLUE_02_ZX3 said:
hocky, dont get pissed, im asking a question. how do you know the fire started at the filter? I ask not to prove a point, just curious. I cant get my head around an oil filter causing a fire, i mean, as long as it had an oring on it, and was tight, it would have had to had overpressure, and fractured, if thats the case, a better filter should have been used, the basic fram is made for a regular joe, that drives in his regular car, at regular road speeds, and changes it at 3k miles.

One thing I can say is, you dont see a Wix guy on here do you? Ive been waiting for years to find a company that gave a flying f**k, now one does, and hes not exactly treated well.

I am not doubting you, I just think you cant blame the filter, it wasnt made for a high performance engine.
Click to expand...
That was hardly a high performance engine... it probably made 300 horsepower. lol. How could he tell the fire started at the filter? I don't know, maybe because that is where all the damage was and the only spot the was leaking a flamable fluid? Not really that difficult to narrow down.
 
#102 ·
well considering the original motor probably made half that, Id call it high performance, its irrelevant, people are always gonna say fram sucks. I always used the motorcraft filters on my focus, I used fram on all my other cars, I always got the tough guard, I was aware of the cheapness of the basic ones, but I still think theres something else to that story that you dont know, and maybe the guy who owns/owned the car didnt know. Mechanically just doesnt seem possible without some kind of misshap.

That being said, I never knew the supertech filters are made by bosch, anyone ever cut one of those open? lol
 
#103 · (Edited)
Yes people are always going to say Fram sucks.

Fram used to be a high end filter. But that was 50+ years ago. Now Fram makes inexpensive filters. In 99.99% of the cases you'll be just fine running Fram filters on your vehicle as long as you follow recommended oil/filter changes. I won't say that I've never run a Fram filter because I have. And in several cases even cheaper filters.

But the old addage of "you get what you pay for" is also true. You buy cheap, you get cheap.
 
#104 ·
Hocky said:
$19.95... I wish. I haven't ever been out of an oil change place for less than $85, and that is just basic oil change, no extras. Oh well, it beats having to do it myself.
Click to expand...
You're kidding, Right?
That's like paying someone 5 bucks to tie your shoe and then saying, "Oh well, it beats having to do it myself.".
:what::confused::screwy:
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#106 ·
Around here, guys that drive Corvettes don't know how to use turn signals. So if the simple up for right and down for left movement of the signal stalk escapes them, it stands to reason that an oil change is way beyond them.

In case anyone misses it.

:p
 
#109 ·
OmniFocus said:
I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". :thumbup:
Click to expand...

unless we are talking microsoft of course, in which case...your wallet gets pwnd every time.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#112 · (Edited)
While the pictures do say 1000 words, you really have to question the overall intelligence of whomever wrote up what the OP posted. As the FRAM rep mentioned, he/she doesn't even understand the basic parts of a filter assembly. That spring has nothing to do with the bypass valve (at least directly). It's only there to hold everything in place.

For all you die-hards, if you REALLY want the 'best' filter out there, step up from any filter with cellulose media to those with a fiberglass/synthetic filtration media. Generally speaking, this type of filtration media blows cellulose out of the water in terms of efficiency AND capacity, especially those that use spun-bond nylon (or similar) media upstream of the filtration layer. Of course, these filters will cost more because of the additional materials, the cost of those materials vs cellulose, and the increased difficulty of manufacture. Is all this overkill for a DD? Probably. But if you're willing to shell out the cash for synthetic oil in hopes of protecting your engine, why would you skimp out on the filter?

Mike
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#113 ·
Hocky said:
Well, being that the fire ORIGINATED at the filter, I don't feel bad saying that the filter was the cause.
Click to expand...
Why are you saying it orginated at the filter? I mean if there is conclusive proof that this is true, you certainly would have grounds for a warranty claim. Put the car owner in touch with me, 248-808-4551, Jay.Buckley@honeywell.com. If your worried about giving out his contact information, let him contact me.:cool:
 
#115 ·
Dukman said:
Yes people are always going to say Fram sucks.

Fram used to be a high end filter. But that was 50+ years ago. Now Fram makes inexpensive filters. In 99.99% of the cases you'll be just fine running Fram filters on your vehicle as long as you follow recommended oil/filter changes. I won't say that I've never run a Fram filter because I have. And in several cases even cheaper filters.

But the old addage of "you get what you pay for" is also true. You buy cheap, you get cheap.
Click to expand...
I just cant get over what is supposed to be a bunch of enthusiasts who just repeat and believe everything they hear or read. I am sure that many of you would rather hear facts about filtration and so i am here. Our least expensive filter, ExtraGuard is 96% efficiecnt at removed particles in the 20 micron range. This is using the latest ISO testing, not outdated SAE testing. We put the numbers right on the box. WIX does not, no claims whatsoever on the box. When it cmes to dirt holding (Capacity), we are always within 1/2 of one gram of a premium WIX filter. And, we do make high end filters, four different models that are better than the extra guard you see in many stores yet we are constantly having our standard filter compared to others premium filters. I will be getting a cut away fo our best filter in the mail tomorrow, will be posting photographs and specs for it.
 
#116 ·
Motorking said:
I just cant get over what is supposed to be a bunch of enthusiasts who just repeat and believe everything they hear or read. I am sure that many of you would rather hear facts about filtration and so i am here. Our least expensive filter, ExtraGuard is 96% efficiecnt at removed particles in the 20 micron range. This is using the latest ISO testing, not outdated SAE testing. We put the numbers right on the box. WIX does not, no claims whatsoever on the box. When it cmes to dirt holding (Capacity), we are always within 1/2 of one gram of a premium WIX filter. And, we do make high end filters, four different models that are better than the extra guard you see in many stores yet we are constantly having our standard filter compared to others premium filters. I will be getting a cut away fo our best filter in the mail tomorrow, will be posting photographs and specs for it.
Click to expand...
Sorry, this just popped into my head.

Why would someone put a guarantee on a box? Hmm, very interesting.

Go on! I'm listening.

Here's the way i see it, Ted. A guy puts a fancy guarantee on the box 'cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside.


- Yeah, makes a man feel good.
- Of course it does. Why shouldn't it?

You figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come down and leave a quarter, am i right, Ted?

What's your point?

The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy. Well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. Next thing you know there's money missing
off the dresser and your daughter is knocked up. I've seen it a hundred times.

But why do they put a
guarantee on the box then?

'Cause they know all they sold you was a guaranteed piece of ****.

That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it "guaranteed", i will.
I got spare time.

But for now, for your customers' sake,
for your daughter's sake you might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.
Click to expand...
 
#117 ·
BLUE_02_ZX3 said:
hocky, dont get pissed, im asking a question. how do you know the fire started at the filter? I ask not to prove a point, just curious. I cant get my head around an oil filter causing a fire, i mean, as long as it had an oring on it, and was tight, it would have had to had overpressure, and fractured, if thats the case, a better filter should have been used, the basic fram is made for a regular joe, that drives in his regular car, at regular road speeds, and changes it at 3k miles.

One thing I can say is, you dont see a Wix guy on here do you? Ive been waiting for years to find a company that gave a flying f**k, now one does, and hes not exactly treated well.

I am not doubting you, I just think you cant blame the filter, it wasnt made for a high performance engine.
Click to expand...
No worries, I have a very thick skin. I am a hot rod shop owner, mechanic, auto teacher, answer an ignition hot line for Autolite, use to answer a brake hotline for Bendix, speak with over 40,000 professional mechanics a year. They do not call cuz they are happy, they call because they have a problem and the customer is in the waiting room. I am more than happy to be on these forums helping people, its a really cool job for a guy who loves cars.:hump:
 
Discussion starter · #118 ·
^you have to post some of your rides up b/c they are probably sick. Next thing is I would like to learn a little more about how the oil filter actually works with all it's components, I just know that it does. Not sure of the entering/exiting of the oil and the bypass.

The other question is on your cheaper filter. How did they design it to work properly w/o the spring? Are all your filters w/o a spring?
 
#119 · (Edited)
boostedzx3 said:
Next thing is I would like to learn a little more about how the oil filter actually works with all it's components, I just know that it does. Not sure of the entering/exiting of the oil and the bypass.
Click to expand...
not saying they ALL work like this, but this should give you a gist:

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/297.cfm

boostedzx3 said:
The other question is on your cheaper filter. How did they design it to work properly w/o the spring? Are all your filters w/o a spring?
Click to expand...
if you look at the cutaway, you can see that the 'spring' is a stamped piece of metal rather than the typical coil-wound unit we all think of when someone says 'spring'. i would guess that stamped piece is actually made of spring metal and for all intended purposes does the exact same thing. that spring's only purpose is to make sure everything below it butts up to the baseplate below.

Mike
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#120 ·
Motorking said:
I just cant get over what is supposed to be a bunch of enthusiasts who just repeat and believe everything they hear or read. I am sure that many of you would rather hear facts about filtration and so i am here. Our least expensive filter, ExtraGuard is 96% efficiecnt at removed particles in the 20 micron range. This is using the latest ISO testing, not outdated SAE testing. We put the numbers right on the box. WIX does not, no claims whatsoever on the box. When it cmes to dirt holding (Capacity), we are always within 1/2 of one gram of a premium WIX filter. And, we do make high end filters, four different models that are better than the extra guard you see in many stores yet we are constantly having our standard filter compared to others premium filters. I will be getting a cut away fo our best filter in the mail tomorrow, will be posting photographs and specs for it.
Click to expand...

Jay,

You're going up against public consumption here. And that's a big animal to fight against. I'm sure you know that already. What public consumption has learned, be it true or false is that "Fram sucks" So for the last 25+ years I have heard words to that effect over and over.

You say that Fram makes an upper range of filters. But the average Joe is not likely to ever see or know about them. Since I consider myself an average Joe, I never knew about any other filter beyond what is carried in my local automotive stores. So if I walk into my local Checker or Autozone (I don't know if NAPA carries Fram) I am not going see the 5 tiers of Fram filters, I'm going to see the lowest and least expensive tier.

Being somewhat of an automotive enthusiast, I tend to shy away from "cheap" and "inexpensive". Following the adage of "you get what you pay for". Also being somewhat of an automotive enthusiast, I tend to remain brand centric. I.E. since I am currently driving Fords, I replace all my filters with Motorcraft items. When I had the Mopar, I used Mopar oil filters. I had my Chevy so long ago, I don't remember what oil filters I used, though I can remember buying Fram fuel and air filters. And also, I would hope you would understand that most enthusiasts are quite loyal to whatever brands they've adopted. So you could come in with whatever filter you want, but if the person in question is convinced that BrandX is the best for their vehicle, then you will not easily change his or her mind.

And for what it's worth, Fram is a large employer here in my area. We have a large manufacturing plant here. So many of my neighbors can thank Fram for their employment.
 
101 - 120 of 171 Posts
About this Discussion
170 Replies
55 Participants
Last post:
cbutch
Ford Focus Forum
posts
3.6M
members
67K
Since
1989
Forum community dedicated to Ford Focus owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about RS/ST performance, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
TEAM Pit Stop Ford SVT Focus Headquarters Forced Induction & Nitrous MK I Tech New Member Introductions