O'Rilley Oil Filter

[37chief]

I stopped in to my local O'Rilley auto parts to get a Fram oil filter for my F 150. The parts guy said, O'Rilley is phasing out Fram filters. He said they were having issues with the them. They now carry Wix filters. I think I read on here the Fram filters were not the greatest. Any thoughts? Stan

 

[russ1]

Fram filters are poor quality. Wix is far better.

 

[Russ from MN]

I agree, I quite using Fram years ago after reading the test results on them, and we had a Ford Mustang that would rattle on startup with Fram. In the test they found poor quality check valves, and that would cause rattle. I sure did like the non skid paint on them though!

 

[RESLLS]

Buddy of mine bought a Ford crate engine for his early Bronco. Motor blew after 3 hrs. Ford would not warranty because he had a Fram filter on it. That is when I quit using them. Wix or Napa gold for me now.

 

[johnlobb]

I remember reading on bobistheoilguy.com that guys had cut the Frams apart and found cardboard innards. I also use only Wix. On bitog, there is real in depth discussion on that website on oil, filters and it's real interesting.

 

[jm.]

I have had f 150 s from 1979 and use Motor Craft filters and have no engine issues at all. Usually trade ever two years or 65,000 miles. have not heard a lot of good about Fram filters.

 

[Hobo,NC]

They and all others that have a house brand filter should discontinue those also. Wix is not without issues either...

 

[MPK]

I used to use fram filters and after I saw test results I stopped right then. I wasn't taking any more chances. I was surprised they would put such poor quality into something.

 

[VicS]

You guys. Champ makes Fram and motorcraft. At least half a dozen other brands.

 

[Gambles]

"The parts guy said, O'Rilley is phasing out Fram filters." "He says they are having issued with them." Well, the minions at O'Reillys are not clued in on what the management is and is not having issued with.
O'Reillys has been purchasing their filters from the lowest bidder now for a long time. Depending on when you purchased them, they could have been built by Fram, Wix, or maybe even Purolator.
The model number of the filter stays the same, the manufacturer changes. And BTW, anybody who frequents the "Bob is the Oil Guy" site will tell you that Fram is the new favorite filter on that site. I wouldn't be surprised if Fram pays a few hacks to frequent that site and heaps praises on their filters. Anybody attacking a Fram oil filter on BITOG now gets severely chastised.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I suspect the real reason they're dropping Fram is that Fram filters are carried by Walmart, K-mart and pretty much every other "mart". O'Reilly isn't going to be able to compete on price with Wally World, et al. They'd much rather sell you a Wix, Purolator or other brand with a higher mark-up.

 

[37chief]

Up date on my Fram filter. I developed a oil leak. Right away I was thinking rear main seal. I got under the thing, and found oil leaking from the oil filter where it contacts the motor. I have no idea what was leaking, everything looked good. That filter had around 6 k miles. I installed the wix filter no leak. Stan

 

[Super-H-Mike]

I dont know about lately, but years ago if you cut open a Fram you found cardboard ends sloppy glued to the filter media, and a bent over piece of thin flat metal as the spring, really cheesy looking. BUT , they used to test good at filtering, micron wise. I now only use Napa Golds myself.

 

[Hobo,NC]

O'Reillys has been purchasing their filters from the lowest bidder now for a long time. Depending on when you purchased them, they could have been built by Fram, Wix, or maybe even Purolator.

Yes but to compete with the low bidder they have to cut corners. The only time the builder of the filter comes up is when they have a issue with the filter to make you think its a quality filter.

House brand filters are of the lowest quality no matter who they claim made them for the house...

 

[CenTex Farmall]

Hmm.....Haven't been over there in a while but they used to call Fram "the orange can of doom".

 

[INCase]

filters are made to spec's the customer specifies.

if the customer wants a cheap fram they make one. the same customer may also make a better motorcraft if Ford wants something better. same thing with batteries. sthe same thing with batteries. just because they're made by one supplier doesn't mean they are either good or bad. just made to spec. for example CNH has one spec for a battery that may be ok. wallymart has a different spec that is not so good.

 

[w1ebb]

Its been 10 years or so since I left O'Reillys auto parts as a store manager, but as far as I know, they have carried Wix filters for a long time. You can't go wrong with a Wix filter.

Scott

 

[INCase]

napa filters are made by WIX.

they make all 3 flavors, the base, mid-level and gold napa's. have for years. even the part numbers are the same. just change the 1st digit to get the one you want. 5 for wix. 2 for napa silver drop the 1st digit for napa gold. don't remember the number for the mid grade.

carquest used to be wix too but not sure now that advanceauto bought carquest.

 

[T in NE]

Fram has a "cor" line of filters, the part number on them has TLE right in it. Wonder how much cheaper they are making them for walmart to use in their
Tire
Lube
Express.

I run Cummins Filtration. AKA Fleetguard. And Valvoline oil.

 

[WGM]

Fram Ultra is the favorite filter at Bob is the Oil guy not Fram. Two different filters just like Napa Silver and Napa Gold. I use OEM filters in everything and most usually OEM oils also.

 

[WGM]

This must be an urban legend because per the Magneson-Moss Warranty Act Ford can't do that unless they provide the filters and lubricants for the warranty period. And Fram meets the minimum OEM filtration requirements, therefore warranty claim can't be denied.

 

[GVSII]

(quoted from post at 20:38:08 07/07/16) napa filters are made by WIX.

they make all 3 flavors, the base, mid-level and gold napa's. have for years. even the part numbers are the same. just change the 1st digit to get the one you want. 5 for wix. 2 for napa silver drop the 1st digit for napa gold. don't remember the number for the mid grade.

carquest used to be wix too but not sure now that advanceauto bought carquest.

When did advance auto buy carquest?News to me.

 

[Mike M]

Go figure now on my 1996 dodge Ram 360 gas a Fram filter was the only one that DID NOT cause that rattle at start up ?

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 09:30:58 07/08/16) filters are made to spec's the customer specifies.

if the customer wants a cheap fram they make one. the same customer may also make a better motorcraft if Ford wants something better. same thing with batteries. sthe same thing with batteries. just because they're made by one supplier doesn't mean they are either good or bad. just made to spec. for example CNH has one spec for a battery that may be ok. wallymart has a different spec that is not so good.

Give that man a cigar he knows his parts.

 

[Dan Richardson]

You can't judge the quality of a filter just because it was made by so and so. That's just foolish. Remember Ford made the Pnto and GM made the Corvair.

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 17:59:13 07/08/16) Go figure now on my 1996 dodge Ram 360 gas a Fram filter was the only one that DID NOT cause that rattle at start up ?

A Mopar filter will resolve the issue also 9 out of 10 times BTDT its a fact I have no answer for other than I have had the same experience. 5.2, 5.9 and jeeps 4.0 you will get one like that every now and again. There's one other Chrysler engine I can not remember the engine size off the top of my head.

I have cleared my shelf of house brand filters I stock Purolator's in a Purolator box the real deal and OEM filters as time moves on OEM will phase out the purolator filters. It takes time to suck up the difference in price and accustom my customers to the price increase.

Bottom line I went up a buck on the filter price it cost me 2/4 bucks profit on a service. You pay more but it cost me more I don't need the issues that arise from a cheap filter are cheap oil as far as that goes.

Its not oil filters either you can take that to the bank are in my case I take more but profit less.

 

[dhermesc]

I think we have winner. Going head to head against Wally World on price is a losing position. The only chain that can do that and win is Aldi.

 

[Ron-MO]

Add one more that quit Fram filters many years ago, when I had an engine knock on startup on a nearly new pickup. I had it to the dealer for another issue, and asked them, and he asked what type filter I used. When he found it was fram, he advised to get the fram filter off and put something else on (AC Delco at the time). I have not had that issue since, but try to run a filter with an anti-drainback valve in them when the filter is either on its side, or threaded side down. I currently run the Wal-Mart filters, and believe they are Wix filters but not sure of this, but you can tell I am far from a fan of Fram when I will run about anything but Fram these days. I am not one who believes that higher prices make for a better filter nor that house brand are all junk. I do believe the old saying about a fool and his money.......

 

[ericlb]

fram is junk, the best proof is to cut one open, then cut open a wix, [ carquest or napa is the same], the difference will be very obvious

 

[Hobo,NC]

A fool better have plenty of money if he has to defend a house brand filter in court.

You can get by on older engines with what ever as long as it don't leak its not as easy on modern engines with OHC and hydraulic cam phrases. With labor rates going well past a buck and a haft a min. these days is it worth it to extend the oil life and depend on a cheap filter to do the job.

Let me put it another way can the effect be reversed once the cause is found. Yes it can if you can roll lucky sevens every time.

 

[Meangreen]

(quoted from post at 13:24:39 07/08/16) You can't judge the quality of a filter just because it was made by so and so. That's just foolish. Remember Ford made the Pnto and GM made the Corvair.

My dad has owned several Corvairs. Awesome car to drive. Only GM product I actually like, Ford guy here. As far as filters go I have used Amsoil for several years along with their filters with no issues.

 

[Tennessee Farmall]

I worked in the auto parts field for 30 years and can tell you that all lines of filters are made to different specs and will filter at different rates. Champ makes some Delco, Motorcraft and many different private lines of filters. Each of these companies have their own set of specs and filters are made to meet them.

 

[Elmo]

I haven't used a Fram oil filter since 1972. I changed the oil and filter in my 1966 Nova with a 350 hp engine at the base hobby shop on Loring AFB in Maine. Started it up and no oil pressure. Pulled the filter and changed brands, no problems. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me! I will never use a Fram filter on anything that I own!
Elmo

 

[1206SWMO]

I've used lots of Fram oil filters over the years and have had no problems with them...I change them every 3000 miles...I've also used Wix,AC Delco,and Fleetgards...

 

[dhermesc]

I pretty much use everything too - but I also change the oil at 3000 miles. The biggest issues an oil filter can give me are a faulty drainback valve or just falling apart. Half my vehicles are now element only (welcome to the 1950s) but the drainback valve is part of the car - not the filter.

 

[D beatty]

After personally having trouble with Fram oil filter and air filter and company that I worked for lost 3 DT 466s to Fram oil filters you couldn't give me a Fram filter.

 

[oldtanker]

Yup, me too. Haven't used a Fram filter in years.

Rick

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 19:03:27 07/07/16) Up date on my Fram filter. I developed a oil leak. Right away I was thinking rear main seal. I got under the thing, and found oil leaking from the oil filter where it contacts the motor. I have no idea what was leaking, everything looked good. That filter had around 6 k miles. I installed the wix filter no leak. Stan

Well, I guess you can't blame that one on the filter.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 20:30:58 07/07/16) filters are made to spec's the customer specifies.

if the customer wants a cheap fram they make one. the same customer may also make a better motorcraft if Ford wants something better. same thing with batteries. sthe same thing with batteries. just because they're made by one supplier doesn't mean they are either good or bad. just made to spec. for example CNH has one spec for a battery that may be ok. wallymart has a different spec that is not so good.

Well yes and no. Private label anything is usually made to the reseller's specs. In other words, neither GM nor Ford make any oil filters, they buy from a filter mfg. who paints, labels and packs it as a Purolator or Mopar or whatever. Their own label products whether Fram or Wix are made to Fram or Wix specs. No way they will let anybody else specify how their own brand name products are built.

 

[LarryH]

drop by the filter factory in Grayville ill ad watch 10 brands coe off the line ---you will be shocked at the names

 

[Andy Martin]

(quoted from post at 15:01:20 07/07/16) I have had f 150 s from 1979 and use Motor Craft filters and have no engine issues at all. Usually trade ever two years or 65,000 miles. have not heard a lot of good about Fram filters.

Not being a smart a, but trading every two years or 65,000 miles you are very unlikely to have engine issues, even if you never change or check the oil. The next guy...

 

[Hay hay hay]

Doesn't matter. The guy at the O'Reilly counter could not have found the right filter number, Fram or Wix.