[Vwdiesel] Fram oil filter quality revealed

Thu May 26 22:17:46 EDT 2005

I found a reference to this letter on a website about oil filter 
comparsions. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't read it.

link---http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html

letter
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Russell,
I obtained great satisfaction from reading your oil filter survey.

I worked for two years as the oil-filter production line engineer in
an Allied-Signal FRAM facility and I can confirm every bad thing you
have said about FRAM automotive filters. That's from the horse's
mouth, as it were.

I'm also a quality engineer and can confirm that FRAM applies no
quality control whatsoever to any of the characteristics for which we
buy oil filters.  I frequently saw filter designs which were barely
capable of meeting J806. Many of FRAM's designs will block and go to
bypass after trying to filter very little contamination. There were
often leakage paths at the paper end discs when these were not
properly centered on the elements. Some designs had the pleats so
tightly packed against the center tube that they would block off in no
time. I had discovered that the FRAM HP1 that I had been buying for
about $20 Cdn was EXACTLY the same as a PH8 inside - the only
difference being a heavier can - no advantages in flow capacity. The
paper filtration media was of apparently poor quality and the process
of curing the paper resin was very inconsistent - elements would range
from visibly burnt to white. FRAM's marketers admitted that there was
just about no way the public could ever prove that an oil filter
contributed, or did not prevent, engine damage. The only thing FRAM
tested for was can burst strength. Another problem that they have from
time to time is in threading the filter base - often there are strands
of metal left behind on a poorly formed thread.

I have not used a FRAM filter since I started working there. Their
claims are entirely and completely marketing bullshit.

If people really want to protect their engines, a good air filter is
vital (which excludes FRAM from that list as well) and a combination
of one depth and one full-flow hydraulic filter, together in parallel,
will do the job of filtration to perfection.

Thanks for doing a great job in trying to get the truth out! You can
quote me anytime.

[name omitted to protect submitter]

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's 
character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

>From: Milt Kaplan <teacher5257 at yahoo.com>
>To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>Subject: [Vwdiesel] What transmission fluid?
>Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 03:04:37 +0100 (BST)
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>
>81 Rabbit pickup with 86TD Jetta engine. Thanks for info from all those 
>that posted. Update: I got the 17mm inside hex socket for tranny fill and 
>found the bottom bolt to be regular socket 13mm. Problem is when I removed 
>them only 2 drops of fluid came out from the bottom! I wonder how long I 
>have been driving without fluid. Transmission has not been complaining 
>except for reverse gear slipping out sometimes. Can this fluid leak out 
>over time due to a gasket leak? Hate to put in the MTL I got to see it all 
>leak back out in short order.
>
>
>
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