FRAM Ultra @20K Miles

[roaniecowpony]

I don't think they've improved & even if they have after having one fail years ago I would't bother using them ever, but to each his own.

Days of yesteryear guys. The company took note. They even got on the BITOG forum to respond to the (due) criticism and worked on fixing their product line. That, my friends, is a company that knows how to change.

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[OllieChristopher]

Days of yesteryear guys. The company took note. They even got on the BITOG forum to respond to the (due) criticism and worked on fixing their product line. That, my friends, is a company that knows how to change.

Fram filters always have and continue to be the bottom of the barrel crap filters.

See for yourself. Standard Wix on the right and moldy cardboard Fram on the left. Let the JL Wrangler members judge for themselves what they want to use. Both these filters are at the same price point around 5.00 each on amazon plus or minus a few bucks depending on vehicle.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Frame filters always have and continue to be the bottom of the barrel crap filters.

Judge for yourself. Standard Wix on the right and moldy cardboard POS Fram on the left. Let the JL Wrangler members judge for themselves what they want to use.

Everyone associates the metal end cap with quality and the truth is they separate very easily--shown time and time again on BITOG and WIX's filtering efficiency is less than half that of FRAM across the entire WIX line which includes the XP.

Totally get it though, easy to stay with what you know...

 

[roaniecowpony]

Fram filters always have and continue to be the bottom of the barrel crap filters.

See for yourself. Standard Wix on the right and moldy cardboard Fram on the left. Let the JL Wrangler members judge for themselves what they want to use. Both these filters are at the same price point around 5.00 each on amazon plus or minus a few bucks depending on vehicle.

I won't argue that their bottom end stuff is ... well bottom end. But the Ultra is a quality part, from what I've seen on the net.

 

[DanW]

My friend got back to me and said that basically the only time you'd see bypass on the 3.6 is under full throttle/high load conditions where oil pressure is VERY high (even with a brand new filter) or if the filter were very much clogged up to the point of causing very high oil pressure.

He said the bypass valves are simple mechanical devices that react solely to high pressure and are similar in the Pentastar to most other engine designs. Under high pressure/high load condictions, first the oil pump bypass would open to bleed off pressure. Then there would be the filter bypass, after that, if high pressure conditions persist. So the high load/high rpm condition is likely only to open the oil pump bypass, which means the oil is still being filtered.

The amount of pressure required to open the filter bypass would be significantly high, but he did not give me a number. He went on to say most filters will make it to 500 hours before becoming clogged enough to worry about it. However, he did say, "Why even go there when filters are $9?"

Keep in mind the media on the Ultra offers greater flow to begin with than a lower tier filter, such as the Mopar. I'd bet it could go beyond 500 hours. But I'm not goign to try it.

I'd also bet that a filter will get loaded up much quicker on an engine seeing lots of cold starts and short trips than one seeing far more miles/hours on an engine that sees longer trips and full operating temp for longer periods of time,w ith fewer cold starts. That's why I think Fram's 20k is probably conservative, and takes into account a worst case scenario. But that's an educated guess based on what I have read of their testing and validation program. They aren't going to stretch it to where they are getting into litigation all the time over failed engines.

I'll bet a UOA on @CarbonSteel 's oil will show the filtration is good, even at 20k.

 

[CarbonSteel]

I'll bet a UOA on @CarbonSteel 's oil will show the filtration is good, even at 20k.

@DanW - The full history is posted above and given that the 3.6L can easily see 80PSI oil pressure under normal circumstances, I would opine the bypass pressure is well north of 100PSI which I would additionally opine is nearly impossible to hit.

 

[srt20]

My 2014 Durango with 3.6 pump bypass is right at 100psi.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Per the Tech Authority Service Manual, the JL has an main system overpressure relief valve set at 145 psi (since this fact is in the oil pump description, it implies this relief valve is within the oil pump assy). The oil filter bypass valve is located within the unserviceable "oil filter adapter", which also houses a water/oil pre-heater (FCA service manual labels as a cooler), and the pressure sensor. I couldn't find any pressure rating for the bypass.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Anyone that keeps their filter in longer than a single oil change interval should know about this caution in the service manual.

 

[DanW]

@DanW - The full history is posted above and given that the 3.6L can easily see 80PSI oil pressure under normal circumstances, I would opine the bypass pressure is well north of 100PSI which I would additionally opine is nearly impossible to hit.

Yeah, I think 80 is as high as I've seen. I'm guessing he doesn't know the number off the top of his head.

 

[DanW]

Anyone that keeps their filter in longer than a single oil change interval should know about this caution in the service manual.

It is easy to crack it open and then retighten it. The last change I did only had 4k on the oil, so I kept the filter in there. It'll be 9k when done, which doesn't bother me for the cup or so of oil left in there. I did not crack it open, but I let it drain for at least an hour and got as much out of it as I normally do.

Interestingly, you can drain a Pentastar for an hour then put a glass under it all night and still get a cup or so of oil out of it by morning. Even with the filter housing open. That's according to my friend at Stellantis, too. There are lots of tight places in the valve train where oil hides in this engine.

My only worry about draining all night would be my wife in the morning deciding to take it out and starting it and driving with no oil in it. So if anyone does that, better hide the keys! Lol.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Anyone that keeps their filter in longer than a single oil change interval should know about this caution in the service manual.

I have measured mine a few times and I typically get between 4.8 and 4.9 quarts out. I would expect that some would remain since the filter is not being changed. As 95+ percent of the oil is being changed, it is not a big deal. Oil will always be trapped somewhere in the engine cavities, so it is not possible to drain all of it no matter how long you allow it to drain.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I have measured mine a few times and I typically get between 4.8 and 4.9 quarts out. I would expect that some would remain since the filter is not being changed. As 95+ percent of the oil is being changed, it is not a big deal. Oil will always be trapped somewhere in the engine cavities, so it is not possible to drain all of it no matter how long you allow it to drain.

Just passing along something I saw in the service manual this morning. Clearly, you could drain half of the oil at every change and still be protected if you use good oil.

 

[mwilk012]

Any of you guys used a royal purple filter to test durability? Synthetic media with 99% at 25 microns and 80% at 10 microns. Seems really good.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Any of you guys used a royal purple filter to test durability? Synthetic media with 99% at 25 microns and 80% at 10 microns. Seems really good.

I wonder who makes that filter? Looks like they're done with selling filters. Just buy the STP if you want the RP.
Royal purple oil filters have gone downhill? | Bob Is The Oil Guy

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