evil fram

[Audi Dude]

Just for reference here is the copy of the official Fram response to my
initial correspondence.  Of course I have already dissected the filter
and thrown it away.  Poor judgment on my part.  Oh well.

Mr. Walker:

Thank you for the e-mail regarding your recent experience with the Fram
PH2870A
oil filter installed on your 1990 Audi
90 2.3L engine. We welcome the opportunity to be of service.

Our Fram Product Evaluation Team requests the opportunity to examine
your
filter. Please use the attached Product
Evaluation Form to assist you with the return of the filter. Upon
receipt of the
filter and its examination, a member of
the Product Evaluation Team will reply to you with the results of their
findings. If you have any questions regarding
replacement, warranty, the return of the filter, compensation, or
concerns over
the return/evaluation process, please
contact the Fram Product Evaluation Team directly at the toll free
number
1-877-250-8361 for further assistance.

Please note. The Catalog/Technical Service Department only assists the
Product
Evaluation Team by expediting the
product/quality claim procedure on their behalf. Please direct all
further
correspondence and communication regarding
this issue to the Fram Product Evaluation Team (1-877-250-8361).

Thank you for choosing Fram filters.

Cordially,

Scott Jacobs
Catalog/Technical Service Representative
Catalog/Technical Service Department



-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of S J & I Santoliquido
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 8:27 AM
To: Audi Dude; quattro at audifans.com
Subject: evil fram

You should check for blockage at the internal check valve in the oil
passage
to the head. It showes up as part # 077-103-175-B on Pictures. And it is
accessable by removing the oil pressure sending unit, reaching a 6mm
allen
wrench into the passage, and unscrewing the valve. You can then inspect
the
passage for blockage. Incidently, That passage is fed from the supply
side
of Main bearing #3, which in turn is supplyed directly from the main oil
gally.
Steve

----- Original Message -----
From: "Audi Dude" <audi-dude at hotpop.com>
To: <JShadzi at aol.com>; <santoliquido at cox.net>; <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 1:18 AM
Subject: RE: evil fram


> Basically - the same here.  The filter media imploded and bits of it
> were in the waste oil after the change.  It was a disheartening mess.
> The car STILL ticks longer than it should.  I tried to pass it off as
> vacuum pump but that only solved part of the problem.  I knew it was
the
> filter as soon as I heard the engine clamoring.  I am not sure that I
> will ever be happy with the car after this.  I have a telephone number
> to Honeywell that I am going to start calling first thing in the
morning
> to voice my opinions.  I hope everyone who has experienced the same or
> are just mad as myself will call it tomorrow and waste some of the
> resources that may go to more hype and ultimately to more damaged
> vehicles.  I believe litigation is futile at best but a good old
> fashioned jammed phone line in a corporate environment gets the
message
> across and affects pricing in the end.  If the Fram division is
spending
> earnings answering complaints from mad as heck consumers, it has to
have
> some effect.  In my theory it works at least.  The number is
> 800-890-2075. Option 2. Option 3.
>
> The only technical info on the fram site states that oil pressure
damage
> ruptures oil filters and even eludes to the idea that the problem is
in
> the engine.  Not a flaw with the media.  My filter did not explode
> outwardly - the engine tried to suck the filter media up into the
> engine.  Wonder why they don't give that scenario?  Possibly because
> someone in R&D keyed in the wrong filter in the cross reference
manuals
> or the designers neglected to prioritize the anti drainback valve or
it
> was just total negligence.  More likely it was a cost savings ploy -
> paper filters are cheap to build and sell well because of the price
> point.  If anyone is interested in a possible class action suit I
would
> not snub my nose at the idea.  Like I said before I am not sue happy
and
> have never been involved in a lawsuit but after all the aggravation
and
> incurred costs I have had to absorb and the fact that this one
incident
> took many miles off my car, I would seriously consider it.  Who knows
a
> lawyer that will take on a giant such as this?
>
> Sorry the post is long.
>
> Ben
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com]
On
> Behalf Of JShadzi at aol.com
> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 10:44 PM
> To: santoliquido at cox.net; quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: evil fram
>
> Wow, so the filter media just came apart?  Unbelievable, I've never
seen
> anything like that.  Does Fram make a post oil-filter filter??  ;)
>
> Javad
>
> > I noticed when changing the filter that the filter media had
collapsed
> and was torn and protruding from the housing. Over the next two weeks
I
> noticed increased lifter noise. Then one fatefull day I got the low
oil
> pressure warning light accompanied by a sharp increase in lifter
noise.
> BTW no oil pressure gage on the '87 CGT (a design flaw soon to be
> remadied).
> > I dismantled the engine and found filter media packed in behind the
> anti-drain check valve in the oil galley to the head. All other
passages
> were clear. Final damage assesment; Minimal. But I did source a
recently
> worked NG head at a reasonable price. So; in it goes.
> > Steve
> >
> >
> >
> > Can you guys who've had failures explain exactly what
> > happend to the filter=
> > , what appeared to fail, how so, etc.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Javad
>
>
>