Fram oil filters @ Tractor Supply Clearance

[logan_gibson]

Local Tractor Supply had all of their fram filters on clearance, $0.59 to $5.
Not a huge section
.

 

[jd_1138]

Aren't those bad filters? I wouldn't put one on my engines. Maybe my mother in law's. I usually get Napa Gold which are made by Wix. I'm slumming it now with a Ford Motorcraft filter and Walmart synthetic oil.

 

[RAS61]

Aren't those bad filters? I wouldn't put one on my engines. Maybe my mother in law's. I usually get Napa Gold which are made by Wix. I'm slumming it now with a Ford Motorcraft filter and Walmart synthetic oil.

Fram is bad, where did you hear that?

 

[Strouty]

On my GF’s car, a Fram filter will cause the oil pressure light to come on, but NAPA ones won’t. I would say that is “bad”.

 

[97nismo]

Fram is garbage

 

[easyrider13]

There has been a number of bad Fram reviews over the past 15 years or so.

 

[ishiboo]

The regular Frams are not great. I think the Tough Guards or whatever their higher line is scores VERY well.

 

[Motorman55]

I bought my Chevy c1500 V-8/5-spd. P.U. truck new back in 1994. In fact I special ordered it the way I wanted it.

Anyway, I've been using Fram filters since the second oil change (the first one I let the dealer do it.)

Have over 220,000 miles on the engine. No problem. All the Fram oil filters
were made in the USA. Used the lowest to the highest 'Guard' Series.

I try to change oil and filters every 3,000 miles, but have gone as high as 5,000 miles before changing.

BTW...Always used regular Castrol 10w/30wt. oil too...winter and summer.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I’ve never had an issue with the Fram filters. I’m 60+ and have changed a few gallons of oil with wife and kids cars.

 

[71goldss]

I used to use nothing but Fram filters until a few years ago after reading all the bad press on the internet. I never personally had a bad experience with Fram, and I know you can’t always believe what you read, but there is way too much Fram negativity out there to just ignore. I switched to Napa Gold just to be on the safe side!

 

[verbalkint99]

Fram routinely gets the worst scores of head to head tests vs other brands. Wix, NAPA, Purolator are all better at the same price point. I even use Motocraft filters on my Ram because they have comperable/better flow and performance ratings as the Mobile 1 and K&N filters for half the price.

Check this site out for more than you ever thought there was to know about engine oil:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary

 

[Walter_TA]

Fram base filter is junk. If you change oil every 3000 miles you can use anything, no ptoblem. If you change your oil at 10000 you should you a better filter and good synthetic oil. The thing to look for is high flow and particulate filter size. On my ls1 engine that turns 6500 rpm i use a K&N filter becuse it is high flow. My daily driver I uses Moble1 filter. They do a better job on particlates. I don't use Moble 1 oil.

 

[logan_gibson]

I only use fram if its on sale. My '98 C1500 gets the cheapest filter and oil I can find.
Its got 178k and runs just fine.

I've never had a problem with then in any vehicle I have owned, I never go over 3100 miles on a change though, not sure if that makes any difference.

Now that my wife has a newer Honda, I use honda filters and my land rover just gets what Rock Auto has on clearance at the start of the year.

 

[SweetD]

I've used the Tough Guard models several times without issue over the past three years.

They are Made In USA.

My go-to filter is still Napa Gold though...

 

[firworks]

Here's a side by side teardown of a Wix, Napa and FRAM from a GJer:

 

[61scout80]

Check those Frame filters before you leave the store. I had 2 that were threaded a few degrees off. A real hoot when you're home alone with the car half out of the garage door and the oil already drained. Never again.

 

[Sh40674]

Thanks for the post. Millions of people use frams and the only people that say they're garbage usually have never had a problem.

If your girlfriend has a car that has oil pressure issues regardless of the filter, the fram isn't your problem.

As for the threads being off, that can happen with any filter. Just a mistake in the factory.

Would I run one to 10k? Nope. I change mine every 3 or 4k. If you do the same the fram for a buck or 2 is a great deal. I use mitorcraft for my does and wix for my dodge but have used plenty of frams in the past. A cheap fram is better than the used filter that you're throwing away.

 

[Engine]

I've used a lot of fram filters in the past and can't say I've ever destroyed an engine because of it. After seeing the inside of one now, I doubt I'll ever use one again. Why take the chance just to save a buck or two?

 

[jd_1138]

I've used a lot of fram filters in the past and can't say I've ever destroyed an engine because of it. After seeing the inside of one now, I doubt I'll ever use one again. Why take the chance just to save a buck or two?

Amen. Ain't worth it when you can buy a way better filter for a buck or 2 more. I usually get those oil change combos that come with a 5 quart jug of oil and a filter. Most parts stores will let you upgrade to a Wix or another decent brand for an extra buck or two.

I bought a jug of Motorcraft semi synthetic and a Motorcraft filter for my Focus for 20.

 

[RAS61]

I never heard this about Fram filters before. I've probably used Purolator the most over the last 35 years of driving, but have used Fram a lot too, especially the last 10 years or so. I never gave much thought to one brand over the other, thought they were all pretty much the same, and don't have a dog at all in this fight.

I did a Google search and found all the horror stories, but I also came across a review from a Fram hater that got an inside tour of their R&D facility. Bottom line according to this review, most of the negative stories are made up or grossly embellished, their filters are arguably better than the others supposedly better, and this critic is now a Fram customer. It's very interesting, I suggest checking it out:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/e...isit-fram-s-r-d-facility-dayton-ohio-1261517/

 

[97nismo]

Biggest problem with fram is they are hell getting off the car...had to poke a screwdriver through on more than one occasion on friends car and my truck. They seem to seize up even if snug

Never again for that reason alone. Been using purolator for a while now and never had an issue with coming off easily

 

[Sh40674]

Probably being over tightened if you can't get them off. People tend to over tighten them due to the rubber grip on them. Otherwise they're threaded and a rubber gasket just like every other brand

 

[Sh40674]

Fram puts more R&D into their filters than anyone who hates them or amateurs that cut them open and inspect them. I'll trust the millions they put into research and development over someone telling me they're junk

 

[RAS61]

Biggest problem with fram is they are hell getting off the car...had to poke a screwdriver through on more than one occasion on friends car and my truck. They seem to seize up even if snug

Never again for that reason alone. Been using purolator for a while now and never had an issue with coming off easily

I've never had a problem getting a Fram off, if anything they're easier because of the grip - which I love, can usually just hand tighten, no need for a wrench. You must be twisting past 3/4 turn on contact, if you torque 'em as much as possible the grip end will really lead to over tightening. In 35 years of oil changing I never had to put a screwdriver through any filter, no problem as long as you just read and follow the instructions.

 

[RAS61]

Fram puts more R&D into their filters than anyone who hates them or amateurs that cut them open and inspect them. I'll trust the millions they put into research and development over someone telling me they're junk

It really seems like a game or agenda to keep up this myth - oh well, just means less demand for Fram and lower prices for folks like me, win/win for everyone!

 

[97nismo]

If I recall I believe someone on a turbo forum mentioned to never use a Fram on an engine equipped with a turbo...

I have had good luck with purolator and that’s what I currently use. As always I hand tighten every filter, it’s just the Fram ones that give me the most trouble. Idk

 

[jd_1138]

Fram puts more R&D into their filters than anyone who hates them or amateurs that cut them open and inspect them. I'll trust the millions they put into research and development over someone telling me they're junk

Lol, I think their research is more along the lines of getting the cost to build them down as much as possible. Did you watch that video? Even a basic sense of materials science will allow one to see the Frams are not made as well.

The proof is in the pudding. Oil does three things -- lubrication, cooling, cleaning. Why buy an inferior filter? A buck or two savings on a 5k interval oil change is not worth the risk.

 

[Sh40674]

Lol, I think their research is more along the lines of getting the cost to build them down as much as possible. Did you watch that video? Even a basic sense of materials science will allow one to see the Frams are not made as well.

The proof is in the pudding. Oil does three things -- lubrication, cooling, cleaning. Why buy an inferior filter? A buck or two savings on a 5k interval oil change is not worth the risk.

i've taken apart dozens of filters. i know what they're built with, and i have yet to take one apart that has come apart inside. then again i don't change oil every 10k.

the same guys complaining about fram are the same guys saying "yeah it wont last 10k"

you care that much about a filter but the same guys are trying to stretch an oil change as far as they can go?



go to amazon and read the reviews on fram oil filters. hundreds of positive reviews. read the negative reviews.. they are all either a shipping problem, a fitment or damage problem (not related to fram) or people saying "do your research! i saw a video that says they're bad! they're known for problems! they're made with cardboard!"

not one negative review says "i used a fram and had problems related to the oil filter"


millions of happy users, and the only ones that aren't happy are people spreading the same rumor that pennzoil went through. pennzoil is one of the top oils, my preferred oil actually, but yet i still hear people say "it'll gum up your engine!"

if you don't like fram, don't use it. but don't give a product a bad reputation based on zero experience.

 

[Sh40674]

oh, and btw, i'm not a fram fanboy. i use motorcraft in the wifes ford (i use motorcraft everything in a ford, habit) and wix in my dodge truck. the wix has a better valve and filters a little better than say, a fram. but then again it does better than a basic purolator, ac delco, mopar, motorcraft, some of the napa or any other store line, etc...

i've used fram before. would i be afraid to again? hell no i wouldn't.

 

[8mpg]

Here's a side by side teardown of a Wix, Napa and FRAM from a GJer:

x2


.
.

 

[Sh40674]

only thing that video tells me is that fram is about a 3-4k filter and not a 5-10k filter

 

[Walter_TA]

SH Fram base filter is junk. The media that fram uses is poor. Low flow and lets large particulates Pass. The thing to look for is high flow and small particulate filter size. I uses Mobile 1 filter. They do a better job on particulates. I don't use Mobile 1 oil. Most people have no idea what makes a good oil filter, so don't go by that.