This might be a bit of an odd post. Recently when changing oil/oil filters on my two volvos both(Fram)crushed upon trying to remove them with a standard filter wrench. I did buy them both at same time & store. Could it be there was a bad batch ? I have been doing my own oil filter changes and using Fram filters for nearly 20X years. This is first time this has happened to me. Are other brand(Mann ?) Filters Strongers and less likely to crush ? Perhaps this was just a fluke ? Happy Memorial Day To All.

I like the Motorcraft filter. (FL300) It's really good quality. My oil is still slightly clear when I change it after 5000 miles. I have over 215,000 miles with the original engine.

My Walmart quit selling them though. I guess I'll have to go to Auto Zone. Around $4.00.

I never use a filter wrench....only hand tight. Never a leak. The bottom of my engine is spotless. I can remove it by hand if i don't install it with the wrench.

-My Walmart quit selling them though

That's because Ford didn't want to deal with them anymore. Goes against the point of having a premium product selling at cut-rate prices. Makes it tough for dealers to justify charging $4 for the filters to their customers too, seeing how it's sold down the street for $2.67.

FWIW, even at $4, it's cheaper than a Puralator Pure-One filter, which is what it is inside, really.

Anyways, I have like a stockpile of over 50 W917, FL-1A, and FL300 filters. It should last me a few years ... :)

-- Kane
--

While I would never deliberately mislead anyone, take into consideration that any information and advice provided was at no cost to you.

Wow ! I did not know just how strongly folks feel about oil filters. I am now very enlightened about the subject. I promise to repent and henceforth start using Mann oil filters instead of Fram. Hope everyone has had a wonderful Holiday weekend.

Shell thickness of Fram Extraguard = .015"
Shell thickness of Mann W719/5 (VW Filter) = .021" (40% thicker)

Data from: http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy-german.html
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)

If you want a sturdy housing with better guts, either an Amsoil, Mann, Napa gold, bosch will do the trick. The current fram filters are pretty worthless.
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '86 740 GLE turbo diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD for sale

Yeah, the Mann cans are a lot stronger. Much better filter too ... 316 sq.in. of filtering inside that; the Fram PH7328 comes to an estimated 111 sq.in. of filtering.

Similar price, but 1/3rd the filtering equals one major POS filter in my books.

-- Kane
--

While I would never deliberately mislead anyone, take into consideration that any information and advice provided was at no cost to you.

Guess what? Fram isn't what it once was. Long ago, Fram made a good filter. They got a good reputation.

But then they rested on it. Now Fram filters are crap. Ask here, or on www.bobistheoilguy.com

People actually dismantle filters and look inside. Frams have the cheapest, most poorly-made guts inside of them.

It would be no surprise if they were also making their exterior cans thinner to shave a couple more cents off the price.

A Fram is $3 at any chain store. With a little more effort, you can get Mann (for European cars) or Wix (for American cars) for $0.50-$1 more.
--
'73 142, '75 242, '75 245, '80 245, '86 244, '87 745T

The only time I ever crushed an oil filter was when I needed a large flat side to which I tied a tire iron and was thus able to unscrew the damn thing. It was on unbelievably way too tight. BTW - it was on a Ford 390 V8.

Over the years on my bricks I have used Fram, Target, Wix, AC/Delco, Bosch, FoMoCo, Purolator and Mann. None have ever crushed. Now I use Mann only (thanks, Brickboard).

If the filter does not have marks for checking how far it has been turned when installing, I make some. Scratched in with a little flat-tip. Four marks at 1/4 distances around. Marks are I - II - III - IIII. When installing I usually get 1/2 to 3/4 turn on it after contacting the seal surface.

Never a leak nor a removal problem, but a wrench is needed.

I can only think that your filters were on really tight.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

I have a Mann W917 next to a Fram PH2865A sitting on my bench right now. Both are cut open all the way around about 3/4 inch up from the bottom threaded plate with the guts revealed. The case of the Mann does indeed feel stronger. Everything inside the filters looks much much higher quality in the Mann. Side by side, the Fram, IMHO, appears to be junk. A similar comparison might be comparing a Volvo 240 to a Chevy Vega or a Ford Pinto.
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Thanks everyone for all the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, turbo bars and wheels, M46; 86 244, B230, 150k , auto.

I think if you took an old beer can and stuffed it with a roll of toilet paper, you'd have something that I would trust in my Volvo about as much as a Fram filter. Frams may be cheap, but you get what you pay for. And considering the importance of the oil filter, why pinch pennies for this particular product?

Volvo filters are $12 at my dealer, but I wouldn't pay that much for them. You can get the same filter made by Mann (without the Volvo label) for about four bucks from fcp groton. Mann is the OEM for Volvo's oil filters and it's the exact same filter. It's a very high quality filter, and somewhere on the brickboard is a comparison between a Mann filter that was cut open and a Fram. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Fram does put out some decent filters at higher price points (Tough Guard, X2, etc.), but unfortunately the only one they have for the Volvos is their bottom of the line, piece-of-crap filter that I wouldn't put in my brick if you held a gun to my head.

Bosch 72174 is well made, but is tall and requires a lot of clearance.

As for the quality of the filter element and anti-drainback valve, you didn't ask, but I'm sure you'll get a screenful of [unsolicited] advice. Enjoy.
--
Stef -- 1981 245 B21A SU M46 324000km my volvo pages

My advice is to spend the $12 per(cheaper if you purchase it online), and get the K & N oil filter. In my opinion, they are absolutely the best. Have a splendid holiday :)