Actual Oil,Air,Fuel Filter Failure

[Mazda]

After reading ridgerunner's post and after looking up that we have over 78,500 members. I would like to purpose a real question about all filter manufactures but especially FRAM filters and people call them (Orange Can Of Death).

1.) How many users on our forum have ACTUALLY HAD A FRAM FILTER FAIL AND DESTROY THEIR ENGINE.

2.) How many users have had other filter brands ACTUALLY FAIL ON THEM.

3.) At what millage was the filter left in when it failed.

Please no stories about "I knew a guy" or "I herd this guy say" or " My grandfathers second cousin twice removed brother in laws 1/2 sister told me"

I personally and my father and my grandfather and two brothers have used fram filters in all of our vehicles with NO FAILURES related to Oil,Air,Fuel filters. Probably over 2 million miles between all of us.

But when I used to tow. I towed a 2008 Frieghtliner with 58,000 on it when the Wix filter blew off the motor. A 1998 Ford F250 that sucked a poorly glued Purolator filter into the intake tube. And also a 1995 Ford Taurus that had a Motorcraft filter split the media and suck up into the motor.

Basically I would just like everyone to be as honest as they can be and tell me about actually failures that happen to them or there family.

Thanks Bryan

 

[adsm08]

Can I count ones that I have seen at work? I personally have never had a failure from one of those items, nor has anyone in my family, but my dad and I both use OEM or Napa Gold line.

On customer cars at work on the other hand....

I have replace the engine in a 2008 Mustang, lube sticker was within the last 5000 miles, had a CarQuest filter on it. Engine failure was deemed pump and bearing failure due to insufficient filtering.

I have replaced two F-150 engines with Frams for the same failure. Owners both claimed that they changed the oil regularly, once it's full of little pieces of engine it gets hard to tell by looking at it though.


I have also cleaned/replaced half a dozen MAFs on Mustangs and one on a VW Rabbit for oil contamination from drop in K&N air filters.

I have at least as many lean codes on Mustangs or F-150s with the "CAI" system and the fuel trims even out once you put a plastic grocery bag with some small holes in it over the filter.


I have never seen an engine failure or part failure on a gas engine that I can directly attribute to a fuel filter, but I have done a few on the 6.0 PSD from not having the filters changed often enough. I have also noticed that the fuel filters that come coated in that black rubbery stuff seem like they have a big rock in them more often than other brands.


This is all stuff I have seen/worked on first hand over the last 6 years at work.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

We just put an shortblock in a John Deere 2630 that spun a rod bearing. It had a 1994 date written on the air filters. It was the oil cooler that died dumping coolant in the oil that hosed the engine though. That is remarkable because this thing has spent the last 40 years running a feed grinder which is basically dust factory, I suppose the filters were blown out regularly though.

So far 4 years at a parts counter at a farm repair shop and I can't say as I have seen a filter cause a catastrophic problem yet that couldn't be blamed on outright neglect. It may help that OEM's are usually cheaper for their filters that anything at a parts store. Most farm equipment being like a rube goldberg contraption keeps them coming in so "while they are there" they get their maintenance stuff too.

I know most of the CAIs for Mustangs that actually improve power also require a custom tune because they put things out of spec for the stock tuning from Ford. The ones that don't require a tune don't really improve anything.

 

[ridgerunner]

I actually use Frams Extended Guard synthetic filters a lot. They are well built and are similar to Amsoil's filter believe it or not! Their "cheap" "orange can of death" I've used yrs ago and didn't have a problem with them either. The only thing about the OCD is that U can buy a better made filter for less $.

 

[adsm08]

Oh, I also saw a Fram Tough-grip leaking under the extra-grip material.

 

[BLOODBANE]

I had a Fram oil filter blow apart on me years ago. On my old 73 FORD. Went out to start it (living in a cold area),start the truck, let it warm up a bit, see the oil pressure drop. Shut it down and get out to a mess under the engine. Never bought one (Fram) since.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I've used Fram for years, on all of my family's cars. Never had an oil related failure, filter or otherwise.

Well over a couple million miles between all of our cars over the decades.

Change your oil and filter every once and a while and you'll be fine. It should be done regardless of brand.

 

[Dune Runner]

I watched two fram filters balloon within 10 minutes of each other. That was on a built HP engine. Replaced the last one with a Motorcraft and it held up to the pressures. I have also seen the anti drain back valve fail on the Frams. You get a hell of a racket on start up when that happens.

 

[Andy D]

Fram filters used to have a very light shell that could split from oil pressure. They fixed that. I have never had a filter fail of any brand. But that is just luck. A stuck open anti-drain back valve can happen to any make. My daughter brings me the oil and filter and I change the oil in her Corolla. It has had lotsa changes in 160 K miles. Most with an Extra guard filter. No problems yet. I use STP filters on my own stuff because they are cheaper and at least as good.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Oh, I also saw a Fram Tough-grip leaking under the extra-grip material.

That stuff gets really funky if oil gets on it too.

Filter problems because of a higher pressure oil pump is kinda unfair to blame a low end filter for. That is a lack of homework on the builder/owners part.

 

[Mac]

I've used Fram for over 40 years without a problem. I did have an unknown brand blow the bottom out a bit but that was on a built motor at a 6k rpm clutch drop. I do have the dealer do my new Mustang cause it's a real pain for me to deal with.
Dave

 

[bmerr98]

The only trouble I've ever had with a filter was due to operator ignorance (mine). My first ever oil change on my first car. I was nor aware that the rubber gasket had to be slicked up a little before installation. As you can imagine, lots of other stuff got slicked up very shortly after I fired it back up! Happy ending though. No damage done since I did at least know to check for leaks. Found it!!!

Maybe I'm lucky.

 

[saskbill]

...
I have at least as many lean codes on Mustangs or F-150s with the "CAI" system and the fuel trims even out once you put a plastic grocery bag with some small holes in it over the filter.
...

Sorry could you elaborate just a touch on this? The perforated grocery bag is used as a diagnostic or a fix? Just curious. I am just smart enough to know there are many things to be learned out there ...

Cheers,
Bill

 

[adsm08]

The reason a CAI cone filter system makes the computer set lean codes is because it alters the flow rate of the system. The MAF doesn't read all of the air coming in, it takes a sample, usually about 10% of the total volume of the intake tube. A higher flowing filter, plus a larger tube, without adjusting the math in the computer means that you are now taking a 7-9% sample and calculating the fuel charge as if it were 10%.

Wrapping a plastic grocery bag with a few holes about the size of a silver dollar cut in it lowers the filter's flow rate to something closer to what it would be stock, making it so that the air/fuel calculation is now correct. This can be seen on a live-data feed in the short term fuel trims since they will go sharply negative very quickly once the air leak is fixed, even without resetting the computer's memory.

The plastic bag is a diagnostic aid. The fix is to put the factory intake system back in.

 

[enjr44]

About 30 or 40 years ago I had a Motorcraft filter pump oil all over the place on a Ford 400 after an oil change. I couldn't believe my eyes. One heck of a mess.

It had a very small crack in the can. I guess it could have been cracked during manufacture, IDK. I just decided that it must have gotten dropped or something on the way to my engine. I wouldn't call it an on vehicle filter failure.

Ed