Wix vs Fram oil filter Visual comparison

[Jim Henderson]

The LS is relatively new to me so this may be very boring to old hands...

Just went shopping this weekend for oil filters for my V8. Went to Autozone, Pep Boys, Kragen. Only Autozone had any filter at all for my car, and it was a Fram Extraguard 5618. In the mean time I had previously ordered some Wix 57302 filters from Rockauto.com.

The Wix cost me $5.51 plus shipping of about $7.76Fedex ground for 4 filters. The Fram I think cost $7.99 plus tax.

I have read reviews of the various filters and have heard negatives on the Fram and OK's on the Wix. Also have heard very good reviews on a another web for the Wix.

When I got the Wix today from Fedex, I compared it to the Fram. The Fram is about an inch taller, but otherwise dimesninally they are about the same.

What was interesting is that the Wix weighs more than the Fram even though it is shorter. The weight was 269 grams for Wix, 261 grams for Fram. The crimp around the gasket on the Wix looked more rugged and had one more and much larger crimps. The rubber seal just under the oil holes, guessing antidrain back, was flush against the holes in the WIx, which I assume means a better seal that the Fram which had a gap. The inside of the filters was different. The Wix had all metal insides with a metal spring and bypass. The Fram had what I think is a silicone bypass.

The following comment is based upon very limited visibility but the Wix looks like it may have more pleats in the filter element. More pleats is usually considered to mean more filter media. Even the picture on the Fram box seemed to show a rather small density of pleats. But then the Fram claims it is using special media.

Overall the Wix seemd to be a more well made product than the Fram, even the paint job was better. The only cheapness I saw in the Wix was that they use a 1 size fits all box with the filter rattling around, plus the shortness of the filter, hmmm.

I'll probably use the Fram in my up coming oil change since I am changing with only about 1,000 miles on the dealer installed oil and since I am switching to a syn, I consider this first oil change more of a flush and with low miles I can ignore the risks real or imagined with the Fram.

I figure I will use the Wix until the 4 I bought runs out and then see if I can find a steady supply of my favorites, Purolators, or maybe the Motorcraft. I used to use Frams all the time since the 70s and never had a problem, but have been scared away by various comparisons that say the Frams aren't as good as they used to be.

Oh well, just some info for those of us willing to turn a wrench now and again.

Jim Henderson

 

[DLS8K]

The LS is relatively new to me so this may be very boring to old hands...

Just went shopping this weekend for oil filters for my V8. Went to Autozone, Pep Boys, Kragen. Only Autozone had any filter at all for my car, and it was a Fram Extraguard 5618. In the mean time I had previously ordered some Wix 57302 filters from Rockauto.com.

The Wix cost me $5.51 plus shipping of about $7.76Fedex ground for 4 filters. The Fram I think cost $7.99 plus tax.

I have read reviews of the various filters and have heard negatives on the Fram and OK's on the Wix. Also have heard very good reviews on a another web for the Wix.

When I got the Wix today from Fedex, I compared it to the Fram. The Fram is about an inch taller, but otherwise dimesninally they are about the same.

What was interesting is that the Wix weighs more than the Fram even though it is shorter. The weight was 269 grams for Wix, 261 grams for Fram. The crimp around the gasket on the Wix looked more rugged and had one more and much larger crimps. The rubber seal just under the oil holes, guessing antidrain back, was flush against the holes in the WIx, which I assume means a better seal that the Fram which had a gap. The inside of the filters was different. The Wix had all metal insides with a metal spring and bypass. The Fram had what I think is a silicone bypass.

The following comment is based upon very limited visibility but the Wix looks like it may have more pleats in the filter element. More pleats is usually considered to mean more filter media. Even the picture on the Fram box seemed to show a rather small density of pleats. But then the Fram claims it is using special media.

Overall the Wix seemd to be a more well made product than the Fram, even the paint job was better. The only cheapness I saw in the Wix was that they use a 1 size fits all box with the filter rattling around, plus the shortness of the filter, hmmm.

I'll probably use the Fram in my up coming oil change since I am changing with only about 1,000 miles on the dealer installed oil and since I am switching to a syn, I consider this first oil change more of a flush and with low miles I can ignore the risks real or imagined with the Fram.

I figure I will use the Wix until the 4 I bought runs out and then see if I can find a steady supply of my favorites, Purolators, or maybe the Motorcraft. I used to use Frams all the time since the 70s and never had a problem, but have been scared away by various comparisons that say the Frams aren't as good as they used to be.

Oh well, just some info for those of us willing to turn a wrench now and again.

Jim Henderson

I would use Motorcraft........just because it is aftermarket doesn't always means it is better (not saying motorcraft is the best..........but i've never had problems with them). Plus, all you have to do to get a filter instead of stopping at 3 different part stores and then finding an "ok" or "decent" filter is to take one trip to the ford store and be done with it.

 

[eL eS]

I've stayed with motorcfraft as well.

 

[2k2ls]

the hastings filters are nice. I work at an autoparts store and let me tell you motorcraft hardly ever has defects, fram has 2 or 3 a week, hastings 1 or 2 every two weeks, filter pro 1 out of 10. oem is usually the safest choice. plus the price is reasonable

 

[Jim Henderson]

OEM in my opinion has always been a good choice. But most of the times OEM is made by someone else anyway.

Motorcraft changes jobbers every once in awhile. For awhile they were using Purolator, essentially the same except with correct anti drain back. I think they still use Purolator but who knows. So OEM is not always the same every time you buy it. But at least they should meet spec all the time.

Purolator also makes several store brands which are the same filter minus the "correct" name and cost a few bucks less. For example Powerflo at GI Joes in the NW, take a really good look, identical in all respects except price and name.

Autolite used to be considered a Ford type brand or even OEM. Their filters were being made by Allied Signal a few years back, maybe still are under Honeywell who bought AS. AS made the Fram so the Autolites were essentially repackaged Frams.

Looking at the Wix, I think they are pretty decent as far as quality of assembly and heft. Only thing bothers me is they are a little short, so am I loosing filter capacity in favor of a heavy can, or is there just more good stuff in there?

Just my opinion,

Jim Henderson

 

[slagburn]

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

 

[Jamler3]

Purolator Pure One! Its the best out there!
The key feature is a spring-loaded metal bypass and a silicone rubber anti-drainback valve. The valve is also properly located at the base of the cartridge.

May cost a buck or two more, but we're talking OIL folks. Your cars BLOOD!

 

[Fastbird]

Purolator Pure One! Its the best out there!
The key feature is a spring-loaded metal bypass and a silicone rubber anti-drainback valve. The valve is also properly located at the base of the cartridge.

May cost a buck or two more, but we're talking OIL folks. Your cars BLOOD!

The problem with the Pure One is that it's so filtrative (is that a word??) that it is actually restrictive. It has caused a pressure increase on EVERY vehicle I've tried it on. Now the regular Purolator, those are great!! I swear by those.

I've heard that the K&N Filters are outstanding, but you pay for the name.

If anyone is familiar with aquarium stuff, you'll know what I'm about to say. We need to find a way to adapt the diatom filtration media to an oil filter. Filtration down to 1 micron.

 

[Jim Henderson]

"If anyone is familiar with aquarium stuff, you'll know what I'm about to say. We need to find a way to adapt the diatom filtration media to an oil filter. Filtration down to 1 micron."

So, you want to micropolish your oil eh?

Only problem with diatom filters is that they do clog up relatively fast, ad do you really want that dust circulating in the oil the first pass?

Still, it would be neat if we could really clean our oil without causing backpressure and removing additives.

Jim Henderson

 

[Fastbird]

Ok, so I didn't give it much though. The idea just ran into my mind and I thought "cool, I bet that would work."

Just the idea of a "super filtration" for the oil is what I was thinking. Not an actual diatom filter, merely an adaptation which would not cause pressure increases and have clogging issues.

 

[Jim Henderson]

Ok, so I didn't give it much though. The idea just ran into my mind and I thought "cool, I bet that would work."

Just the idea of a "super filtration" for the oil is what I was thinking. Not an actual diatom filter, merely an adaptation which would not cause pressure increases and have clogging issues.

The age old solution for what you are looking for is a bypass filter. They run off the oil filter mount and take something like 10-20% of the engine oil and pass it thru a very fine filter which essentially pulls all the dirt out of the oil. I forget what the specs are but they can do a good job. BUT, they are typically about the size of a large can of coffee, and where do we have that much room under the hood. They used to be fairly common on big rigs, don't know if they are now. Here is a web page of one that popped up on google that filters to your 1 micron dream... http://www.puradyn.com/products/elements.html
It does look like they cater to trucks tho. The Pft8 is their smallest at about 6x7 inches.

Heck Amsoil also has one that claims 1/10th micron filtering. This one looks like it would work better in a car. But I think it may be larger.

So it looks like there are plenty of bypass filters available. I believe in regular oil changes and good Oil, but a bypass could be good, if you don't use it with absolute faith that you don't need to change oil.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

[unstoppable]

I've posted this before but I'll post it again for this forum.
A buddy of mine's mom used to work for the department of energy and they conducted a huge dollar test to see what was the best oil and filters to use in their extensive fleet of vehicles.
Well, as expected the fram filters tested the worst.
Puralator were okay but the Wixx was the best filter they tested.
I personally have had good success with Motorcraft as well but if I can find them I buy Wixx every time.
I dont think Amsoil made filters at the time of the test.

 

[SoonerLS]

OEM in my opinion has always been a good choice. But most of the times OEM is made by someone else anyway.

Autolite used to be considered a Ford type brand or even OEM.

Autolite was the name of Ford's in-house parts company (as I recall, Fram was another Ford brand, but I'm less than positive on that count). That's why you'd see things like the Autolite 4100 "Crackerbox" 4bbl carburetor on FoMoCo vehicles.

Back in the '60s, Ford was forced to divest themselves of Autolite, et al (some sort of anti-trust thing, I think), so they were spun/sold off.

 

[kleetus]

I agree that fram filters are junk... Wix, Napa Silver or Napa Gold, which are repackaged wix are pretty good. I ran one hastings in the LS and every time I started it up it had the dry engine sound. I wasn't impressed.

Bypass oil filters are good stuff... I have looked at several.

http://www.oilguard.com/

http://www.gulfcoastfilters.com/

http://www.wefilterit.com/

Personally, I like the oil gaurd units, they seem the most reasonable. There was one manufacture, they were French, not that we should hold it against them (although I do...) that actually used a roll of toilet paper as the filter!

As mentioned previously, keeping the same oil for a year in your engine, sounds unreal. I'm not sure to be honest. I've heard several people talk about the oil additive packages and that they become depleted over time, regardless of dirt content. I would think though, whether you change your oil once a week or once a year, a lack of fine dirt in it has to help.