What's the deal with Fram oil filters? I've always used them because the grippy stuff makes them easier to take off, but everyone on here acts like they would rather pimp out their wife than use a Fram. Educate me.

 

Among other reasons, the components they used in the oil filter for the 5.4 3V caused ford to issue this:

SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGES
21049 1997-2010 MULTIPLE VEHICLE - 4.6L/5.4L - ENGINE TICKING AND/OR RATTLE NOISE
MULTIPLE VEHICLE LINES WITH 4.6L OR 5.4L ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ENGINE TICKING OR RATTLE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A STUCK TAPPET (HLA). THIS
MAY BE DUE TO THE DETERIORATION OF AN AFTERMARKET OIL FILTER. VEHICLES WITH THIS CONDITION HAVE LOW OIL PRESSURE AT ONE CYLINDER HEAD
ONLY, WHILE MAIN PRESSURES ARE NORMAL. DISLODGED MATERIAL FROM THE AFTERMARKET OIL FILTER BLOCKS THE CAM CAP OIL PASSAGE, EITHER AT
CYLINDER #4 (RIGHT BANK REAR) OR CYLINDER #5 (LEFT BANK FRONT). FOR VCT EQUIPPED ENGINES, INSPECT THE VCT VALVE BODY AND THE OIL PASSAGES
UNDER THE FIRST CAM CAP. DAMAGE TO ENGINES CAUSED BY AFTERMARKET OIL FILTERS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/22/2009

 

yeah the only thing worse than a fram is no filter at all.. i can link you to some youtube videos of people breaking down of fram filters but id recommend just doing a quick search to see all of the bad reviews... from the ones ive seen the filters collapse on themselves, rendering them useless..

like gator posted, if you dont use motorcraft or better, forget your warranty if something goes wrong.

 

Glad I asked! I've got a 97 with 112k miles so warranties are not really the issue. I just want to keep it ticking without much ticking as long as possible.
Any suggestions for something besides motorcraft?

 

Is there a reason you don't want a motorcraft? They're available at Walmart and are on the low end of the price spectrum.

 

i might not use motorcraft oil but i definitely use a motorcraft oil filter, some of the cardboard crap in the fram might break off and get in the engine

 

yeah motorcraft is definitely the most cost effective filter. i dont see any reason not to use a motorcraft personally.. unless paying 10 bucks for a "high grade" filter is your idea of engine protection lol

 

motorcraft semi-synthetic is relabeled Conoco Clearblend and a damn good quality oil.

 

yea well my trucks been runnin on castrol for years so im not gona switch it

 

I'm just looking for best possible filter. I've used Castrol GTX in everything for years, but was thinking about Mobil 1 in this truck because I think that it will stick around for a while. I've only owned it for a few weeks and have no idea what the previous owner used.
Any opinions on that?