Went to buy my big oil filter and the numbers run out at PH3970

there is no more PH3980 on the shelf?
Not even a price tag on the shelf where it use to sit. Its gone gone gone
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Before the debates starts, I like Fram sure grip filters. PEROID

Only people who ever had a filter blow out problem was on a built up over stock motor and they were racing.
[Who builds up a motor and run $3 oil filters n e ways?]
No V6 under 300hp or running stock oil psi is gonna blow out a filter when most of its use is daily driving. Other wise Fram would be out of business from lawsuites. They do have a performance line, but anyone who blames Fram cause they bought a cheap $3 filter and ruined a $5000 motor, needs a wake up call. Id have a $80 wicks filter, that is re-usable so you can gather n watch junk caught in it.

 

pf52 FTW


Ive had no problems with frams blowing out, but that they crush every damn time I try to take one off

 

Wally World doesn't carry nutin but Fram and SuperTech
might have some motorcraft

Im ok for a while. Oil is already changed and fresh with a new small oil filter.
I just forgot what size when I changed it. Was gonna let it run a few weeks then stick the big one on.

also trying some Rotella 15-40, it has zinc n some other stuff reg oil don't have. Lots of motor builders swear buy it. But Im a few psi off on oil psi over 20-50
Still have plenty but Im greedy about that stuff.

Never run Rotella in a high mile 60* engine. The heavy detergents used in it robbed me of half of my oil PSI. Constant 40+ to a constant 20. And it didn't take long. Not even a full oil change time frame. A quick change back to 20-50 dino didn't help, lucas addtive, no help, all sort of things done but I cannot get back to 40+.

 

yea, walmarts selection blows. The part store I drive by on the way to/from work carrys acdelco, so thats what I've been using for the longest.

 

Im ok with WW selection if they had the 3980 still. They got good oil selection though.

I love WW cept we only have a mini WW for 5-7 years till it can go super. So they close at 11pm and I gotta drive out of my way to pay more. PM is AM for me so I must shop where I can. Though nothing beats WW 1hr before close.
In and out in 30 sec.

 

Dude... Delco PF52 FTW +1!

I will not allow any flame wars over the choice of Fram filters - but Gumby, I will suggest you cut open one of your Frams one day, and cut open a Delco PF52 sometime, to see the difference for yourself.

As far as the zinc content of Rotella - any SL rated gas oil still has zinc - the Rotella, though, has a supremely robust additive package along with zinc, that really makes it shine

There's no ST3980s? That'd be the same thing (tho an e-core )

For anyone curious, Wix Gold (Napa or CarQuest) Bosch (Autozone) or Delco (Autozone + Advance Auto) or Mobil 1 (Autozone) are the only filters I really recommend for our motors.

 

I got two used fram filter from my bird and the subaru, ill cut em both open.

how and where do you cut to see what Im suppose to see???

don't wannt cut the wrong spot or to deep.

 

Slice it as close to the end that spins on the housing - it's thin metal, so don't go haywire! Slide it apart, and see what you see

 

I cut them both open so whats wrong with em besides dirty???

First thing you see is a rubber dount like funnel gasket, then the normal filter element. steel center, steel clips on filter, then a steel end cap. Only thing differen is the subaru filter.

PH3593A, its steel end cap on the filter has a plastic plug and spring as a bypass valve. The PH3980 just has a steel end cap, no bypass valve. Probably because its not smaller. subaru filter is small like the stock v6 filter.

so where this flaw in the design?
All I can see is they did a good job of trapping some crap.

wont have no camera till tomorrow night.

 

I just bought a PH3980, from walmart. No indication that it wasn't there LOL. I had no idea that the FRAM was a bad choice. Guess I'm taking it back. I'll look into the Delco PF52 for sure!


I hate WW more than anything else, and one day when all the local grocery stores go out of business because a super WW opened up and you can get nothing but rotten potatoes and tomatoes that are crushed you'll beg for them to leave.... or you'll move....

Winn dixie down here is on there last legs, albertsons is GONE, Publix took a beating, but found there niche when albertsons flopped.

You would do better to write letters and encourage your local businesses to stay open later. Not gonna solve the problem, but it might help.

Don't you have a Meijer's in Ohio?

 

There is nothing wrong with fram filters.

Just a rumor spread that they have cardboard bypass valves.

Both AC and Fram have had similar quality rumors.
For AC it was a bunch of bootleg filters from mexico that got in the system.
But was obvious from the bad silkscreen job. Have yet to hear of anyone cutting open a sure grip filter and finding any cardboard bypass valves.

 

I will state that I have seen more than a few frams fall apart inside.

And no, these were not on drag or race cars. And the engines were mild, running stock pressures.

Fram's got slammed because they had almost no internal metal structure untill the execs got wind of the rep and changed things a few years back. It has more metal internally now, but still nowhere on par with the other filters listed.

I had a friend of mine had one literally bow out on him while he had his engine on table stand breaking it in. Luckily he had a low pressure cut switch installed that saved the motor. (I ALWAYS RECOMEND USING THESE) 5 PSi active switches, either inline with a relay to the coil wire, or directly inline with the ignition (key switch) wire.

And gumby there was a NAPA store that had a cut out fram that DID have the cardboard internals from years back.

 

most the time it is said that fram filters don't have the same filtering surface area as many other filters. on the rx7 website I go to I have seen pictures of it where they cut open the filter and the fram filter area wasn't quite as large.
with this they due to tend plug up easier, not filter as well, and tend to open the bypass valve a lot easier.

plus the first time I used a fram filter I had my oil pressure shoot up to 110psi which wasn't good.

 

Id bet money that sure it might not of been fixed till corp heard about it.
But I bet the problem was factory level. As most companies pay 3rd party folks to make their stuff. And I bet who ever that was is not making stuff for fram anymore. They could be making stuff for ac now by now.

Most big companies can't produce their own stuff fast enough or even want to. Uncle got rich doing that. Basically asking big companies what they need. Then building a business around 2-3 stupid plastic parts. Get the plant up and running n sell it. Almost worked for a local place that makes only 1 part for a TV. The magnetic shield. But they make the magnetic shield for ever kind of TV under the sun.


Like Andover IN is the only place to get a good coil made. But almost every coil company has the andover plant make a coil or two for them. The rest are made in mexico or china.

 

but then again also most the companies that are making the part are making the part to specs given to them by the product label

do find it funny though with what you are saying. used to work for energy release and they sold an additive for oil. we never made it though it was always made by someone else. though on the other hand we made everyone elses oil additive it seemed.