Last summer, as some of you may remember, I was all hot about chopping my oil filters. Well, summer got busy, my lil boy popped out ^_^ which took all my free time :P , I took my pictures and still did the chops, but I have a bunch that I have not posted here yet.
Sooo, The long awaited review, FRAM OIL FILTER!
It's been a while since I chopped this one, so I cannot go into as much detail as I could have when I did the chop (last June for this one).
Start off by saying, I was already not too happy about this filter before I even got it off.
Removing the filter, which was hand tightened on, required multuple wrenches, and instead of the filter coming off, it un-screwed part of the oil system on the car.
Car for this filter review is a 1991 Honda Accord.
Still can't explain why it caused so many problems, I will let the pictures show for that, however, I confirmed, filter was correct number!
Only reason, and I repeat, ONLY reason I used this FRAM Filter, was because my grandfather had stocked up one year when they were cheap (Around $1 each) so I figured, I'd just use it for 2k miles just to get rid of the last one.
Ok, so back to the review. I'm not going to talk any more about the problem getting it off, you can just look at the pictures for that. In the end, to get that tube out of the filter, I had to put the filter in a vice, and use a 3/4 socket with a breaker bar to get it out.
Now, cut off the top of the filter.
Cheap stamped cap, still has many sharp burs on the threads, poorly constructed, relitively thin metal. The Super Tech Wal-Mart (which so far has been one of my Favorites) has approx double the thickness of this one.
Inside, you see the rubber gasget, with the innards their. Rubber gasget was HARD AS A ROCK! Even had trouble sliceing it with a razor blade. I've had filters on the shelf for 5-10 years and are still soft, this one was on shelf for 1 year, and hard as a rock.
Inside, rather thing inner-wall of the filter. Not very many holes as you can see, to let the oil through, and their not very big as well. Not impressed.
End cap, is.... You guessed it, CARDBOARD! Not just that, but IT CRUMBLED AS I PULLED THE FILTER OUT OF THE CAN! The Glue was stronger then the filter! This should be METAL! METAL METAL METAL! Not flimsy cardboard!
Now, the filter medium. It sucks....
That as well crumbled just by holding the filter. At this point, I was suriously scared that a chunk of cardboard was stuck somewhere in my engine!
I streched out the filter metiup, to measure its surface area. at this time, I cannot remember the surface area of the medium, however, I to remember it was much much less then the Supertech, and Valvoline filters I've done (less by around 1/3 less area). On top of that, it was very difficult meaturing, as the filter kept breaking apart and crumbeling as we were streching it apart.
The Supertech and Valvoline filters, we yanked on rather hard, no brakeage at all.
The bypass valve, I rate as "Fair", It took a rather firm pressing on with both thumbs to get it to open just a little bit.
And lastly, the can. Horrid once again. The gan, I could easially dent with a thumb and index finger. Very very filmsy once insides removed.
With the other filters I've chopped, the can was very rigid, held it shape well, and just, overall sturdy, what you'd expect to be able to handle the preassure of the oil.
Overall, I'd rate FRAM As the Poorest filter I've ever seen. Funny thing is, I've auctually seen some "illegal knock-offs" since I tested this filter, on some Chinese vehicles I've imported, and their built stronger then the REAL FRAM!
Yes, I confirmed this one was a real, not knock off fram.
Save your money, get a super-tech that is built much higher quality for $1-$5 less then a fram.
Sorry for not spell-checking, my head hurts like someone smacked me with a bat (because my lil boy hit me with a mini-baseball bat), so I dont feel like spell check. Maybe later.
