I had to buy a FRAM air filter while I waited for the NAPA Gold (Wix) filter to show up...

So today when I did my first oil change after my rocker/lifter rebuild at 1500 Miles (I was going to do it at 1000 miles but had a surprise trip to Memphis pop up), I checked the FRAM filter versus the WIX filter.

The FRAM was convenient and I needed a filter that day. Strange I feel so guilty about it, right?

The FRAM filter had 75 pleats, and the NAPA GOLD (WIX) filter had 100 pleats.

The NAPA Gold is $14 and is part # FIL 2329

The FRAM is $13 at AutoZone and is part # CA 8817 (As if you'd buy this turd now that you know)

I thought I would share my findings so we'd all be more knowledgeable.

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Silver 2006 KJ 2.8L CRD Limited:
GDE ECO Tune / Fumoto Valve / E-Tecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs / 2nd Gen Fuel Head / Mishimoto RED Hoses / Rockers/Lifters @ 114k / Hayden FC + 11 Blade Nylon / Sears P1 Battery / Transgo 45RFE-HD2 Reprogramming Kit / Timken Front Bearings

I think either are fine. The FRAM air filter seems to be of a decent design, and AFAIK they are made in the USA and Canada (have seen and bought both) for our Jeep. I *usually* run NAPA gold air filters, but have ran a few FRAM air filters in a pinch. I change them often whether they need it or not. I do the same with fuel filters, usually the fuel filter gets replaced around 10-12K, and the air filter between 7500-10K.

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Mike Rausch
Bear, Delaware
2006 Liberty Sport CRD 253K

Napa or AC Delco are regarded as the best options I would stay away from anything Fram.
I would never get the filters shipped nearest Autozone Orieleys Napa or Wally World can get them fast.

the bosch filter that racertracer mentioned is awesome and you can get it at walmart with your rotella

the bosch filter that racertracer mentioned is awesome and you can get it at walmart with your rotella

On oil filters, not air filters (which the OP was referring to) AC Delco is made by Champion Labs, same company that makes M1 filters. If you get the old design, they are good. The newer e-core design seems cheap. I use Purolator Pure One oil filters on my CRD, and usually Purolator P1 or Synthetic filters on most everything else. I opened and compared a P1 to a Mopar oil filter (search my old posts for pictures and details), they are very similar and both of excellent quality. Back to air filters, I think Fram air filters are fine. As for their oil filters, the only decent one IMHO is the Ultra. I have one for my wifes new Outback, which will go on this week. They are the only ones, so far, that make the correct filter for the '13 Outback. Probably because Fram makes the Subaru oil filters anyhow.

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Mike Rausch
Bear, Delaware
2006 Liberty Sport CRD 253K

I have used Fram oil and air filters at times over the years, although it's been quite a while. At that time my circle of friends and I had the opinion air filters were all fairly similar middle of the road quality. The oil filters on the other hand the group opinion was that it would keep rocks and small rodents from circulating in the oil passages but not much more.

I will always try to buy the better quality filters and in the past Fram didn't cut it.

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2005 Red KJ CRD, TOTALED 12-21-11

2005 Blue KJ Sport CRD, GDE, Magnaflow muffler, Destination AT, Amsoil filters, Fumoto, Timing belt and waterpump @ 99,600, 11 blade nylon fan, 2905 hayden fan clutch, EURO TC




Arguing about whether the glass is half full or half empty misses the point: the bartender cheated you.
Unknown

Napa? AC Delco: NO WAY Its bad enough i own a Chrysler. The thought of any GM parts

I like the K&N! In the CRD for 40k now. I have them in all my cars and never had any issues. My

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05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

NAPA Gold is Wix KJJET, I was using K&N prior to switching to Wix. The K&N has even less pleats than the FRAM filter. While I believe the K&N Filter is a good one, it's simply difficult to believe that the media performs that well over time even with the recharging of the oil in said media.

I don't think we need an air filter conversation similar to the oil debate that's going on, but more pleats = better filtration to a point where you create too much resistance and limit air flow, which is unlikely in this application anyways.

I just wanted to point out that the Wix filter has 25% more pleats, or much better filtration surface, than the FRAM.

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Silver 2006 KJ 2.8L CRD Limited:
GDE ECO Tune / Fumoto Valve / E-Tecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs / 2nd Gen Fuel Head / Mishimoto RED Hoses / Rockers/Lifters @ 114k / Hayden FC + 11 Blade Nylon / Sears P1 Battery / Transgo 45RFE-HD2 Reprogramming Kit / Timken Front Bearings

I just wanted to poke fun at the AC delco.

To be honest: I believe a good Quality clean paper filter is hard to beat. YES..WIX is a good one. But these CRD's get the filters plugged up quickly and the turbo requires lots of airflow. So i use a cleanable filter and clean it at every oil change. It also costs less to use.

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05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

Hello,
I am the technical manager at FRAM Filtration. WIX filters have more pleats than FRAM for one simple reason- They use plain cellulose fibers for filter media. We use cellulose and synthetic glass fibers for better capacity and efficiency as well as better resistance to humidity.

For the guy using a washable type filter, look up the air filter test on the GMC truck forum, they paid an independent lab to perform a real engineering based test. The washable filters passed the most dirt into the engine and had the least capacity of all nine tested
And for those jumping on the "I hate FRAM" bandwagon, take a look at these videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFVNESOwLyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cttLaWepdL0
And then make your own decision based on science, not hearsay

I like FRAM filters and use the FRAM oil filters. Like i said, a good quality paper type air filter is hard to beat. But they plug up quickly in our CRD's and cost more in the long run than the K&N. Yes..the K&N dose not filter the air as well. So pick what you want.

Thats

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05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

FWIW, I think the FRAM Ultra filter is a fine filter. The orange ones, however, I have had issues with. Two leaked, and two failed internally and ruined two ford engines; a 2.3 and a 302, both in 1980 Mercury Capri's. This was back in the late 90's/early 00's. FRAM was of no help whatsoever. I disassembled the engine and found the filter had come apart. In both cases, disassembly of the oil filter had proven this. I had two others that exploded, and in one case caused engine damage as a result. This, again, was on a Ford 302. All were stock engines in which I changed the oil every 2500-3K. I only recently started to use FRAM air and fuel filters, on occasion, and the occasional FRAM air filter in a pinch. I don't have much choice on my wifes '13 Subaru Outback. FRAM makes the oil filters for those for Subaru, and they are the only company that offers an "aftermarket" oil filter for it. I am using the FRAM Ultra on it. Disassembly of it shows it is a good quality filter. However, once Purolator releases the filters for the Subaru, I will switch to them. I am still bitter about my previous experience and lack of a resolution on FRAM's part, even if it was 15 years ago...

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Mike Rausch
Bear, Delaware
2006 Liberty Sport CRD 253K

Well either your web search program that looks across forums for trash talking of your brand is working as intended, or you're a forum troll.

How can you talk about better capacity for something that has that much more surface area?

If your filter is 10 inches across and each pleat is .75 inches then with just this example:

10 x .75 = 7.5 inches of surface area per pleat x 2 because each pleat has 2 sides

75 pleat FRAM has 1125 square inches of surface area

100 pleat Napa Gold has 1500 square inches of surface area


Disregarding media, that's a lot more CAPACITY.

If you do a bit of google searching for videos not MADE BY FRAM, you will find several that show fram filters being mis-sealed, under pleated, and other issues.

It's pretty obvious to anyone with an IQ above 80 that if you didn't have a public image problem because of your shoddy products, you wouldn't have a search engine running across internet forums looking for people "BESMIRCHING YOUR GOOD COMPANY NAME" and running an anti-badmouth campaign.

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Silver 2006 KJ 2.8L CRD Limited:
GDE ECO Tune / Fumoto Valve / E-Tecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs / 2nd Gen Fuel Head / Mishimoto RED Hoses / Rockers/Lifters @ 114k / Hayden FC + 11 Blade Nylon / Sears P1 Battery / Transgo 45RFE-HD2 Reprogramming Kit / Timken Front Bearings

Good Call!

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05 CRD Sport Dark Kahki

RRO: Adventure Rack/Rails ** MOPAR: Skids/Renny Flares & 255/75r17 (32.1) BFG M/T on JK wheels ** ARB: Bumper/IPF lights/790/948/shocks ** GDE: TCM/Hot Tune ** ROCKLIZARD: Super Sliders/Komodo Bumper

My Build Thread
US Army Infantry

Haha! I think you hit the nail on the head here...

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Mike Rausch
Bear, Delaware
2006 Liberty Sport CRD 253K

For the air filters and the comparisons between them here is what was pointed out to me

http://www.dieselbombers.com/chevrolet- ... post214366

and the AC Delco A1618C did pretty good there.....

Go to a local Oreilly and ask them if they have the two cut opens oil filters on display. I witnessed a Wix rep walk over to the shelf and grab a fram filter and a Wix filter right off the shelf and cut them open in front of m and the difference between the two was astounding. The fram is so ridiculously cheap and just plain garbage. I never recommend anyone running a fram oil filter.

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OME 2790/2948 Rancho all around
JBA strut plates with clevis lift
2 extra rear upper isolators and one extra lower
Front sits 23
Rear sits 22 3/4
265 75 16 Maxxis Big Horn MT
GDE Hot Tune
Bumper trimming up front

Go to the head and do a through #2 job before you educate yourselves on Fram filters, so you don't mess your pants laughing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRRgw4B7R-I

Some of the Gun Forums like to use them for target practice, a much better application.

I use Amsoil filters.

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2006 Pearl Green CRD
Magnaflow 2 1/2" Cat Back
KJ Extra Leg Room Brackets, Carter Lift Pump, V6 Airbox, ORM
Fuel cooler, Oil Separator, Progard 7
Gauges EGT Boost Trans Temp Oil Pres, Michelin LXT AT2 245 70 R16
7,000# Draw Tight hitch, PML EX Deep Trans Pan
Centrifuge, SunCoast, Transgo, RAM TCM, InMotion Stage 2
Wife's 99 TDI VW Beetle