Friends don't let Friends use Frams

[1bolt]

Two dead 258's laying next to each other their only purpose left in life is to protect their useful internals from the weather... Seriously I have no idea if Frams are as bad as most gear heads say they are, but this picture sure doesn't recommend them highly

[IH 392]

In the International circles they are strictly taboo, apparently it's a "will fit" part and them motors DON'T LIKE'M!!, I've used them in the past on AMC, Chivys and Dadges but I prefer "Purolator" filters myself.

[SilverXJ]

The block that I got from 1bolt with a flat cam had a fram attached to it.

[RAPTORFAN85]

Frams have had problems in the past. the internal valving was too restrictive and if they became dirty the could collapse on themselves, starving your engine for oil.
Fram says they have fixed the problem, But just to be safe I don't use them.

[Mgardiner1]

I've used fram filters on my chevy blazer, my honda civic, and my jeep, been using them for the past 12 years with absolutely no issues or problems. Only reason i don't use them on my Altima, the dealer recommended using the factory brand filters while i'm under warranty incase anything goes wrong, they won't blame it on that.

[amcinstaller]

im in the same boat as Mgardiner1. used them on both my amc spirits, both my hondas, my jeep, and my daytona, all with no issues. ive also used pennzoil in all of them, again, without issue. and when i pulled my oil pan for the rear main seal in the jeep, it had 320000 kms with NO sludge. my friends chevy had more sludge and he uses all K&n oil filters.

[1bolt]

The block that I got from 1bolt with a flat cam had a fram attached to it.

Damn too bad I didn't notice that, I could have gotten a shot of all three side by side...

[SilverXJ]

Do you have some attachment to used engines with fram filters attached to them? I'll have to post a pic of that cam. While I was up there with that block we should have compared the blocks.

Here is a good read: http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfilte ... study.html

Also, anyone else running the Ford filter?

[Backwoods Rambler]

Here is a good read: http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfilte ... study.html

Also, anyone else running the Ford filter?

Based on the study you posted, I switched from a life-long Fram user to a Napa Gold 1515 user. I'll never look back!

[Mgardiner1]

I must say, although i've never had problems with fram, after reading that..... i just may pass by the shelves full of orange boxes next time........

[1bolt]

Already compared most of the blocks, no I don't have an attachment to them... I part them out for my own parts supply and sell off anything I don't need, for a little (and I do mean little) extra project money. I just thought the two frams next to each other was worth a chuckle

All the 4.0 blocks are boringly similar... they all mic'ed out and sonic tested to within negligible variances of one another. With all of them (including a renix block I have) appearing to have the same nickel content based on the sonic sound velocity.

There was a thread about this a while back, I was going to do a big old write up but in the end the lack of distinctions between even the renix and last NVH blocks gave me a severe case of Un-motivation... Besides trying to tediously map out just exactly where Mopar lightened the block and where they added material to stiffen it, there's not much to look at.

Now the only reason I collect 4.0's is to look for one with the elusive core shift towards the major thurst side... When I find one it will be the basis for my next (and probably last) stroker...

At some point I'll pull out the scribbles I call notes and add anything that's useful to the block FAQ if I get bored enough.

[SilverXJ]

I found the writeup that gives a bit more info on the Ford sized oil filter swap. http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical/te ... ersion.htm The author states that you should disconnect the starter wires prior to removing the larger filter. In my case (filter horizontal and pointed reward) I haven't had any problems. I can see if you are particularly clumsy and let the filter rest on the starter where ist may be come an issue, but even with my filter magnet on it I haven't had an issue.

And as for the fram filters, it is better to be safe than sorry. Especially with all the effort, time and money we put into our engines.

[SilverXJ]

Here are the pics from the cam from that block. That is probably the worst lifter/lobe, but about half had some form of damage. I tried to find the filter to dissect it, but it appear that I threw it out.





You can see where the lifter was actually touching the shaft on the cam.

[yuppiexj]

HOLY F#$%

That had to sound as good as the Honda some yahoo at my work drives, his engine sounds like 2 golf balls in a dryer.
IF only he spent his money on maintenance instead of chrome hubcaps and stickers.

[SilverXJ]

If it was just one I could imagine the sound.. but will most of them like that.. no way. Obviously this was something that was happening over a while for it to get that bad.