Ok I use the Fram tough guard on my 2002 Dakota no probs, the Tough guard filter has the anti drain back valve, screen inside and silicone gasket, is this Tough guard worth using in the WRX or should I stick to the OEM which is made by Purolator? I see no problems with the Fram tough guard since it is better than the plain orange ones they make, or what about people who take there wrx into the monkey lubes, or Quaker state, pennezoil lube shops? Anyone use the Fram???

who freakin' knows?!?:confused:

I think doing oil/filter changes on a regular basis is by far more important than what oil/filter brand you decide to go with. I by half a dozen OEM filters from my dealer to the tune of ~$6 a pop. Seems like a reasonable price to me, and it is hopefully doing a great job of keeping my engine's oil free from debris.

I heard Fram had quality issues a while back - just the same I have been using Fram filters and Mobile dyno in my '02 WRX for 60,000 miles with no problems...

i use puralator in all my vehicles...they seem to work great for me. hell, if memory serves me correct...they invented the current oil filter

Pure now, Pure later. Purolator. Haven't you seen the commercial :) . Nothing but Purolator for me, but I've heard Fram has fixed their quality issues. Just remember to shake the new filter before putting it on to see if anything rattles. If it does then I don't care what brand it is, take it back, throw it away, whatever, but don't put it on your car. Purolator is O.E. so there must be a reason for that, and I think it filters better. Like 94-96% single pass.

-Charles-

A couple of years ago I guy I worked with showed me a research paper he found on oil filters. The gist of it was that run of the mill Fram filters, etc. are average (at best) and the ones Wall World sells are almost useless.

The more expensive models, like Amsoil, are a much better design, but you pay for it. Kinda like a K&N air filter, I suppose.

However, before I make any more claims/allegations etc., I will try and track down that report. If I can find it I will post a link so y'all can read it for yourselves.

Something I just thought of - the tolerances designed into the engine may allow for the use of a filter like Fram or Purolater. The Chevy Beretta I drove for 11 years before buying the Sooby did just fine with the filters that the quick-lube shop put on. In that case, BlingBlingBlue has a very good point about the frequency of oil changes being more important than the brand of filter.

Subaru claims they plug up and leak, and will void your warrenty if they find one on your car if the engine blows...

I too have always used Fram. But it looks like I will have to use the Purolator filter or Subaru OEM (Same thing) if I wish to keep that precious warrenty.

Disposable filters? What are those? I just installed the mother of all oil filters on my scoob, a Canton/Mecca Racing replaceable core billet 6.5" filter. Supposedly, they filter better than anything else on the market. I was going to install the 4.5" one, but I ordered the wrong size, but bigger is better, right?

www.cmfilters.com

Originally posted by Trvlr5
A couple of years ago I guy I worked with showed me a research paper he found on oil filters. The gist of it was that run of the mill Fram filters, etc. are average (at best) and the ones Wall World sells are almost useless.



I remember seeing that report. The construction of the Fram oil filter is sub par. The Purolator which is OEM has the valve in it, filters better, has a better construction, and won't void your warranty. I have used Pure One Purolator filter scince I've owned my car.

I just did my first oil change on saturday and I used a fram (orange one right?) oil filter....

I don't want to f my car up.

-Nigel

Fram filters aren't very good. If you don't want to get the adapter for running the Mobil 1 filters, the K&N or OE are the next best bets.

hmm.... I just changed my oil on saturday..... Can I just change the filter then? Or would all my oil spill out? Also what K&N oil filter part number do I get, and would an Advanced Auto or Autoparts store have it?


Thanks,
-Nigel

You will lose some oil maybe 1/2 a quart by taking off the oil filter. Your car will be fine though, your not going to f-it up unless your a total dumbass that revs the crap out of your car. I get the Purolator Pure One filters from Fred Meyer, which you can get at almost all parts places, just look through the partnumber book by the filters for the proper one (I can't remember the number offhand).

I think this is the one I was thinking about:

http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfilterstudy/oilfilterstudy.html

Currently using a Bosch Filter. Seems pretty good so far on a WRX 02.