Fram oil filter

[witt]

Is the Fram oil filter and the MAN fuel filter acceptable for a 1988 Carrera cabriolet ?

CHEERS !
WITT !

[juanbenae]

there were assertions years ago that the fram filters caused an over pressuring of the system causing them to explode every once in a while. try a search for threads on the topic that are 10 years ago or more.

[sixbanger]

Don't know about the fuel filter but I wouldn't use the Fram oil filter.Heard too many bad things.

[mreid]

No, on many forums Fram rhymes with scam and any picture that shows an orange oil filter is ridiculed. Don’t be ridiculed.

[darrin]

Most folks view the Mahle oil filter as the "gold standard" for 911s, as they have a built in pressure relief valve to address the issue alluded to above -- at $10 each, not a huge decision https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/93010776401.htm?pn=930-107-764-01-M67&SVSVSI=811 -- be sure to buy a pair of crush washers for the drain bolts too. Mahle fuel filters are also highly regarded for our 911s, not too pricy at just over $20 from our host https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/92811025306.htm?pn=928-110-253-06-M67&SVSVSI=811

[chrismorse]

The PO gave me a fram oil filter when I bought the 77 308. Subsequent to a major service, I took the car to the track. Half way through the track session. I almost puckered up the drivers seat cushion, noticing the oil pressure had dropped by 30 pounds. I limped back to the pits, let the car cool off- still low. Limped the car home.
Checked with a mechanical gauge, still low, pulled the oil pressure controllpiston and spring, cleaned, reinstalled, still low.
Replaced filter, new Baldwin, magic, normal oil pressure.
Cut open the fram to find cheap construction and a collapsed filter element.

DONT use crap filters.
Chris

[Geary]

[chrismorse]

Here are the two other photos I took.
Scary stuff.

[Cairo94507]

When it comes to oil filters I always use OEM. Not worth the risk to save a couple dollars IMHO.

[Jp-oh]

I had a Fram on the car once and could hear weird gurgling emanating from the stupid thing.
I could hear it when sitting in the car. Mahle FTW.

[T77911S]

NO on fram

WIX gold is best,
mahle an mann, don't know anything bad about those 2.

I use any of the 3 but now the local shop stocks 1 WIX just for me.

[KTL]

Mann is also a very good filter. Mobil 1 filter is also very good. Can't go wrong with the Mahle OC-54.

Just so everyone is aware, and i'm not trying to talk-up a Fram in ANY way, that Fram pictured is a classic example of a full flow (no bypass) filter being overwhelmed by the oil pump. Basically the filter is too restrictive and can't flow enough GPM. Or the oil was cold and heavy but I doubt that mistake was made by Chris.

Plus let's all recognize that the filter pictured is NOT a Porsche 911 filter. It's a Ferrari 308 and 328 filter. If the filter had bypass valve in it, there's no reason the filter element should collapse in upon itself like that. Because once the oil reached a differential pressure level that would push open the bypass, like say 30 PSI in the 911 Fram filter (which coincidentally it's part number is 2842 which is very close to the 308 part number!!!), then the impeded oil would just go around the filter media and exit unfiltered.

Great job by Fram specifying a filter that can't handle the engine they spec'd it for. I don't know why Fram would specify a full flow non-bypass filter but whatever because I don't know diddly about Ferrari engines.

[T77911S]

fram puts some kind of additive in their filters if I remember correctly

I think it is this guy that did extensive testing on oil filters. if not I will look later, gotta go

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

[KTL]

Dropping a link for bobistheoilguy and then saying be back later is like lighting a long fuse to a stick of dynamite.

Those peeps on that forum beat oil and filters to death like nobody else.

[Steve@Rennsport]

I used to keep two large garbage bags of domestic filters I removed from customer cars just to show people what happens. With one exception, they all ballooned and or split at the crimped seam. Internally, they were a disaster.

JMHO, but I see no logic trying to save money on oil filters with a $20K engine. Thats a zero-sum game.

Back in the old days, we used (German) Purolator PC-260's, but now we use either Mahle or Baldwin filters without any issues. Mann is OK, too.

[david.avrahami@]

I read all the answers in this thread and what I can not understand is WHY IS A PORSCHE DEALERSHIP IN TORONTO sells a FRAM filter when I ask for an oil filter for my car? this is very upsetting...

[witt]

Thank you for all the good advise. In the meantime I found original Bosch filters at Amazon for reasonable $$

CHEERS !
WITT !

[darrin]

hate to be "debbie downer," but don't believe Bosch oil filters were OEM and (per my mechanic when i used one a few years ago) don't believe they have the pressure relief valve referenced above. Go with Mahle (and get a few spares) and call it safe

[BlueWing]

I have been using only the OC-54 filter in the 911. But.......... all this Fram hate might be application specific.

I commuted 140 miles round trip daily for 23 years 13 of them were 6 days a week plus service calls regularly. That said I only used up 3 cars. One VW Rabbit coupe and 2 VW Jetta coupes all 3 were diesels.

Every first weekend of every month I changed the oil & filter.

All that over 1 million mile duration I used only Castrol 20w50 and FRAM filters. I never opened any of those engines or had an engine issue to speak of. I still have most of the FRAM carton flaps with the dates and mileages recorded.

This run started in 1985 and ended in 2008 so I must say for my application the FRAM filters never failed me.

That being said I currently use OEM filters as I don't change oil as frequent as pre retirement.

Did something change with FRAM or bad design for some applications?

Terry

[darrin]

Terry -- believe the issue stems from "bad design for some applications" -- namely that the 911 filter should have a pressure relief valve built into it to allow oil to bypass a clogged/partially clogged filter and not starve the engine, while other filters (e.g. your jetta's) don't require this part.