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Re: Fram Oil Filters

To: rocky@tri.net, mdebusk@vt.edu, autox@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Fram Oil Filters
From: "Larry Steckel" <lorenzoscribe@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 23:33:33 -0500
No Rocky. The point is, when you buy an oil filter,  you expect it to filter 
oil. If the dirty oil is bypassing the filter element because there is a 
leak at the joint, or if it is sneaking past the glue between the filter 
media and the paper end cover, it isn't doing you or your expensive engine 
one bit of good.

So, even if you change the oil filter four times a year, why buy cheap in 
the first place?

Larry


>From: "Rocky Entriken" <rocky@tri.net>
>Reply-To: "Rocky Entriken" <rocky@tri.net>
>To: "Larry Steckel" <lorenzoscribe@hotmail.com>, <mdebusk@vt.edu>,   
><autox@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: Fram Oil Filters
>Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 19:46:09 -0600
>
>IMHO, you've made my point. Fram does a lot of things which cost less than
>the processes of its competitors. Hmmmm, the thing still works. Might be
>nice to own the Lamborghini, but the Chevy still gets me to work in the
>morning.
>
>Fram doesn't have as many pleats as some others. Do I recall on that oil
>filter study a mention that too many pleats can end up clogging more 
>easily?
>Fram tucks the end of a pleat over another instead of gluing it. Like,
>where's it gonna go? Maybe it's nice that some other brand glued the ends,
>but did they need to for it to work? (and, in so doing, did they introduce
>some foreign material, the glue, that really did not need to be there?) 
>Same
>with the bypass valve not spot-welded on but held in place by the end of 
>the
>tube and a spring ... where's it gonna go? (No little weld bits to break 
>off
>either.)
>
>Looks like, some of the other brands when you cut the end off, you have to
>disassemble them. With the Fram, If you cut the end off the internals will
>just fall out. Got a solution for that. Don't cut the end off!  :-)
>
>Something else I like about the Fram .. it's right there on the Wal-Mart
>shelf when I need it. No mail order. No 10-day wait. No schlepping over to
>that specialty speedshop on the other side of town (or the nearest big
>city). IOW, I don't feel I need the Lamborghini, so I'm not going to bother
>with the hassle of getting one.
>
>And as Bradakis noted, we are getting exercised about the durability of a
>unit that should be frequently replaced anyway! Certainly on my race car I
>don't get anywhere near 3000 miles between filter changes!
>
>--Rocky
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Larry Steckel <lorenzoscribe@hotmail.com>
>To: mdebusk@vt.edu <mdebusk@vt.edu>; autox@autox.team.net
><autox@autox.team.net>
>Date: Sunday, January 21, 2001 2:55 PM
>Subject: Re: Fram Oil Filters
>
>
> >An oil filter is only as good as the parts used inside and how those 
>parts
> >are assembled.
> >
> >There are a lot of different grades of filter paper available. Fram uses 
>an
> >inexpensive one due to the volumes involved. Therefore it does not filter
>as
> >well as the paper used by some other makers. Second, the pleating of a
> >filter is there to increase the surface area. Fram does not pleat as much
>as
> >others. Where the two ends of the filter element  meet to create a 
>cylinder
> >of filter paper, most makers glue the joint to make sure there is no 
>bypass
> >of the element. Fram simply tucks one end inside a pleat on the other.
> >
> >Most makers glue the cylinder of filter paper into a stamped metal end 
>cap
> >filled with a substance called plastisol which goes in hot, the filter is
> >pushed into it. When it hardens, it is leak proof. Fram glues on a piece 
>of
> >paper card stock that looks like the back of a note tablet. And when 
>there
> >is a bypass valve installed in an end cap, most makers spot weld the 
>valve
> >into the metal end cap, or crimp it at the very  least. Fram simply drops
>it
> >into a hole in the paper end cap and maybe puts a spring behind it to 
>keep
> >it in place.
> >
> >It is the sacrifice of quality to enable a cheap price on the market. Be
> >aware that Fram is one of the largest private label filter makers out
>there.
> >A lot of store brands are made by Fram.
> >
> >Cut open a few different brands of oil filters and see for yourself.
> >
> >Larry Steckel
> >
> >
> >>From: "Michael R. DeBusk" <mdebusk@vt.edu>
> >>Reply-To: "Michael R. DeBusk" <mdebusk@vt.edu>
> >>To: autox@autox.team.net
> >>Subject: Fram Oil Filters
> >>Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 12:24:51 -0500
> >>
> >>I've been running Frams for a long time.  Now it sounds like some 
>knowing
> >>people know a good reason that they're not good.  Would those of you who
> >>possess this secret be willing to enlighten the rest of us?  Or are you
> >>just superstitious about the orange color?
> >>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________________________
> >>I'm on AOL Instant Messanger.  My screen name is Maxtang 96
> >>
> >> 1987 Ford Taurus
> >> 4 cly. 5-speed, FWD
> >> (Yes, I Auto-x that thing)
> >
> >_________________________________________________________________

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