Has anyone else had trouble fitting the Fram filter over the nozzle in the back of the filter chamber?  I actually had to tap (pound) it on with a block of wood and a hammer.  The old filter was of a different/unknown brand and slipped on with just moderate pressure by hand.  Is my experience with the Fram typical?  Are the Frams just poor quality?

Fram filters have degenerated to marketing only - they are generally pieces of crap, and I wouldn't run them in any vehicle I own.

Quote from: heentHas anyone else had trouble fitting the Fram filter over the nozzle in the back of the filter chamber?  I actually had to tap (pound) it on with a block of wood and a hammer.  The old filter was of a different/unknown brand and slipped on with just moderate pressure by hand.  Is my experience with the Fram typical?  Are the Frams just poor quality?

I posted on this previously, but it's been awhile.  You got the wrong filter.  There were some filters with a different mfg no # put in the wrong boxes.  The current Fram and STP filters are identical and the mfg # marked on the filter itself  is the same.  A good quality Korean made filter that is packaged under various brand names.  I got a few filters last year from both Fram and STP that had the wrong filter with the smaller hole and exchanged them for the correct ones. You should have taken that one back and got the right one.

I agree completely with KevinC.  Fram is complete crap.

ASLAM.

So KevinC and aslam if you both feel the Frams are crap, then I think you are both saying the identical STP filters are also crap?  Both are used by many here and the small hole problem was a mistake made by the Korean mfg that affected all brands supplied by them.   :dunno:

How about some positive dissent in the matter.  Are you reccommending Suzuki dealer supplied filters only, or do you have others that are easily available that you feel are better than the Fram and STP filters?  Gotta get me a look at the Suzuki brand filters to see if maybe they are from the same Korean mfg.  

Thanks for the info and opinions.  I should have searched the forum more thoroughly.  I guess I'll be changing my oil again pretty quickly to get that POS filter out of there...dangit.

http://www.twocreeks.net/toby/oil_filters/index.shtml

I trust K&N.  There isn't necessarily any science behind my choice, but the products they make are generally superior, IMHO.  In truth, I've never had a problem with any specific oil filter, but there is alot of bad gouge out there on FRAM.

I certainly wouldn't put it in my motorcycle or auto.

ASLAM.

The fact that FRAMs are held together with cardboard end-pieces is a little bit frightening...

So is all other filters... and Suzuki filters are also made by someone else. Before you start hammering away at a filter maybe a visual check should be made.
Cool.
Srinath

Literally or literarily hammering?  Just kidding.  I should have trusted my instincts when I found the damn thing didn't fit.  But, like gsJack said in his old thread reply about this, it's frustrating when you've got the bike in pieces and the filter that came in a box with the right numbers doesn't fit.  I think that's the last money I spend on Fram, more to avoid this issue again rather than because of quality issues.

There are probably only 3 or 4 companies that make all the filters. The STP ones could well be FRAM, but are usually WIX. STP doesn't make filters. I wouldn't use STP either, just because their main product is snake oil, and I wouldn't trust anything coming from them.

There is lots of stuff about FRAM filters on the web. They've cost reduced their filters so far they are questionable functionally. FRAM uses cardboard caps on their filter material in their canister filters. The better filters are still metal. FRAM anti-drainback valves don't seal.

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/

There are better filters out there. The Suzuki filters are made for them by someone else of course but I'd trust them more than FRAM. The K&N stuff seems good, but stupidly expensive. Purolators seem OK.

The K&N filters are about $7.00.  I wouldn't say that's stupidly expensive even if they're twice as much as a competitor if you change your oil even every 3,000 miles on the button...

ASLAM.

I have been using Emgo oil filters in my TLR and now in my GS. They were only $3-4 for the GS.

yes i too have been using the emgo filter's for years with on prob.            see ya.

I got a couple of Emgo's for the SVS and both had a note in the box:
NOT TO EXCEED 1,500 miles.

Just marketing and legal cya BS

er ... So....how many miles do you go between changes with the emgo on???


Kinda worries me when I am taking a 2000+ mile trip on the bike in May.

I'm a little surprised that some people are so defensive about the FRAM filters.  For many years they have been widely regarded as low quality.  Just because many people use them does not mean that damage is not being done.  If you read on the following site, you will see that the FRAM filter allows dirty oil to drain out.  This site also shows the internals of several popular filters.

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

Now granted, these are automotive filters, but I believe that the companies' motorcycle products would remain of fairly consistant quality.  The damage from a poor filter will not be apparent until too late, so a good, quality filter seems like cheap insurance.

I'm convinced...I got the Fram out this morning.  Bought the last two OEM filters a local dealer had for a little over $4 a piece and put one in with all new oil again.  No sense in risking it for me.

-golf clap-

ASLAM.