Cheap Fram Oil Filters

orangebluegreen · Jun 25, 2006

I just bought a Kubota OEM filter for the first time last week. I always fill the filter with oil before putting it on to help avoid dry starts.

While pouring oil into the center and filing the filter I noticed a bubble of air coming out of one of the “drain back valve” holes (which is supposed to be a one way rubber seal). In many decades of changing my own oil I have never seen any filter bubble air from those holes. Makes me wonder if the Kubota OEM filter will actually prevent drainback? I would think not. Unless designed this way (I couldn’t imagine why) I have serious doubts about the Kubota OEM filter and wondering who might make better ones.

BTW....I bite the bullet and buy $11 Mobil-1 filters on my Honda....you can’t see what’s going on inside them and if they are “bypassing” so I figure the safest is with the oil manufacturer. I figure if I use Mobil-1 oil then Mobil-1 filters are likely to support the quality claims of the oil.

Most of the filter makers do not make oil. If your engine wears who do you blame, the filter maker or the oil? The filter maker would blame the oil, the oil maker would blame the filter. Using a filter made by the oil maker leaves no excuses.

bbse · Jun 25, 2006

phffft said:
I've used Fram's for years. Now that I think I know better, I do not use them anymore. But, they are still the number one seller. I've never heard of an engine problem because of the filter. Are we all just being led by the nose into spending more of our cash? I'll admit I'm influenced by the hype and the claim that Fram is bad & cheap. Does the cardboard piece really make a difference?
Enough blabering, I'll shutup now.

I cannot say that cardboard end caps are causing problems. I can conclude that every other filter opened that I have seen used metal. We are talking about a pressurized system. Anyone willing to lower cost in such a way may think of other ways to cheapen the filter to increase profits. Are they number one because they are good or because of their advertising budget? For a car that gets changed every 3 to 4.5 k miles it probably is not a big deal. But for a tractor, especially in a dusty environment, I would rather go to the better end of the scale.

Sully2 · Jun 26, 2006

orangebluegreen said:
..
BTW....I bite the bullet and buy $11 Mobil-1 filters on my Honda....you can’t see what’s going on inside them and if they are “bypassing” so I figure the safest is with the oil manufacturer. I figure if I use Mobil-1 oil then Mobil-1 filters are likely to support the quality claims of the oil.

I'm DEFINATELY confused?? You use $$ Mobile 1 filters...based on the reasoning that "because you cant see inside them"..."they are doing the proper job"..?? Is THAT what your saying?????

phffft · Jun 26, 2006

bbse said:
I cannot say that cardboard end caps are causing problems. I can conclude that every other filter opened that I have seen used metal. We are talking about a pressurized system. Anyone willing to lower cost in such a way may think of other ways to cheapen the filter to increase profits. Are they number one because they are good or because of their advertising budget? For a car that gets changed every 3 to 4.5 k miles it probably is not a big deal. But for a tractor, especially in a dusty environment, I would rather go to the better end of the scale.

I agree bbse. I buy the more expensive filters also, just to play it safe. I don't even buy fram for the car or truck anymore. Again, just to be sure I'm getting the best I can for my equiptment. From the posts I think that is what the majority here do.

orangebluegreen · Jun 26, 2006

Sully2 said:
I'm DEFINATELY confused?? You use $$ Mobile 1 filters...based on the reasoning that "because you cant see inside them"..."they are doing the proper job"..?? Is THAT what your saying?????

Not sure how you come up with that interpretation, but no, I use the best I can find based on what research and experiences are available. That site linked to in another post in this thread has been around for years, pretty interesting. Actually what I said is the exact opposite of your interpretation of what I said. Since you cannot see what’s going on inside any filter you have to pick some other criteria for making a choice. I made mine for that particular vehicle based on the filter media supposedly being better at catching dirt and allowing flow without restriction, and the fact that if Mobil-1 makes any claims on the quality of their oil it would have to be supported by the quality of their filters as well.

Sully2 · Jun 27, 2006

orangebluegreen said:
Not sure how you come up with that interpretation, but no, I use the best I can find based on what research and experiences are available. That site linked to in another post in this thread has been around for years, pretty interesting. Actually what I said is the exact opposite of your interpretation of what I said. Since you cannot see what’s going on inside any filter you have to pick some other criteria for making a choice. I made mine for that particular vehicle based on the filter media supposedly being better at catching dirt and allowing flow without restriction, and the fact that if Mobil-1 makes any claims on the quality of their oil it would have to be supported by the quality of their filters as well.

AHA!! Now the way you stated it here makes sense to me..lol That why I posted the question previous. It SOUNDED like ...since you cant see whats going on inside...you just "blindly" chose that filer.. Kinda like a crap shoot sort of thing. IM with ya now..