FRAM Extended Guard XG7317 oil filter

[tedski]

Hi, I recently installed one of those FRAM Extended Guard filters on my 2003 CR-V EX and was wondering if others have used them and what they thought of them.

[2RedV's]

Hi, I recently installed one of those FRAM Extended Guard filters on my 2003 CR-V EX and was wondering if others have used them and what they thought of them.
Welcome!

:)

Without having an oil analysis done before you switch and again when you change the oil the second time, it's anyone's best wild guess as to whether or not it actually does anything good or bad for your engine.

ps - Fill out your location in your profile so we know where you are.

[ScottyDsntKnow]

Get that fram off your engine right now. Fram filters are complete trash, I know people who have lost engines to fram filters. The reason is that they use cheap cardboard for their filtration material and glue to hold the insides together.

Use OEM Honda, Purolator, WIX or K&N. Certain Motorcraft filters fit our cars too I think, but I've only ever heard of people using those in a pinch. Again, never, EVER EVER use fram. I can link you over to a thread all about this on a mustang forum I belong to.

[Black Pearl]

OEM Honda Filters are made by Honeywell Canada, proud owners of Fram.

[ROMAN]

My V is about to reach its first 3,500 and I'm sticking to
what is being recommended like the 5w-20 oil and HONDA
filter. In my opinion any deviation from what is being
recommended might void the warranty. Dont you think so guys.:D :D

[Badgerland]

My V is about to reach its first 3,500 and I'm sticking to
what is being recommended like the 5w-20 oil and HONDA
filter. In my opinion any deviation from what is being
recommended might void the warranty. Dont you think so guys.:D :D

So are you saying that you will be changing the oil at 3500 miles or still waiting for the MM to tell you when the wrench comes up at 15%?

[ROMAN]

:) I don't think I can wait for the MM to show up. Its been
my way of taking care of oil change since the beginning.:D :D

[Badgerland]

It's your choice and your vehicle. Just remember that by not following the MM system you may miss out on some codes and will still need to reset things once the wrench shows up. I hear you on that's the way it's been done...but I can tell you I feel very comfortable with allowing the designers to make a vehicle that has so much technology in it, why implement practices that were used for vehicles decades ago. :confused: :)

My experience with this honda has been very positive and I'm sure glad I have only had to do 3 oil changes instead of the 11 that I would have done using "old school" thinking principles.

[ROMAN]

:) I see your point. I guess its just my instinct telling me
just to do it. This is the reason why I joined this club.
You weigh all opinions; pros and cons; but ultimately
discussing things intelligently. Thanks badgerland.

[ScottyDsntKnow]

OEM Honda Filters are made by Honeywell Canada, proud owners of Fram.

They're made to a different spec than the Frams are. Regardless, I always use Wix filters in everything except my Cobra where I use Motorcraft. Both are well made filters that aren't known to just implode internally and shoot a bunch of crud right into your oiling system as a number of Frams have.

[Badgerland]

They're made to a different spec than the Frams are. Regardless, I always use Wix filters in everything except my Cobra where I use Motorcraft. Both are well made filters that aren't known to just implode internally and shoot a bunch of crud right into your oiling system as a number of Frams have.

I keep "hearing" these stories about the exploding and bad filters that Fram has made; has anyone here ACTUALLY had it happen to them or is it one of those urban legends that keep perpetuating itself through forums like this? I have used fram filters on my work truck since 1987 and have not yet ever had one leak or fail. :confused:

A true working link or photo would help my non-believing eyes. ;)

[Black Pearl]

X2 Badgerland. When I was a child, I knew that I was going to die in spontaneous combustion--seemed to be a problem back in the 50's--people just bursting into flames and dieing horrible deaths for no apparrent reason. I am on the doorstep to my 7th decade and I have yet to see anyone go up in flames, any engines blow up, or read of anyone finding that 200 MPG carburetor and those dead scientists that the oil companies dumped in the Indian Ocean.

I am sure that a tour of any junkyard in the US would reveal thousands of cars with rods blowed out the side of blocks and an orange oil filter.

[ScottyDsntKnow]

I keep "hearing" these stories about the exploding and bad filters that Fram has made; has anyone here ACTUALLY had it happen to them or is it one of those urban legends that keep perpetuating itself through forums like this? I have used fram filters on my work truck since 1987 and have not yet ever had one leak or fail. :confused:

A true working link or photo would help my non-believing eyes. ;)

They don't explode, the insides come apart and shoot a bunch of crud into your oiling system leaving you with 0 oil pressure and a shot motor unless you have a good aftermarket gauge and shut dowm IMMEDIATELY. Even then...

Here (http://www.knizefamily.net/minimopar/oilfilters/reference.html) is a big filter comparison and if you read the Fram section you'll understand how what I'm talking about can(and has) happened.

[Black Pearl]

Here is a cut a way of Honda Filter:

http://www.crvownersclub.com/forums/t971-10/ post 97.

It uses similar cardboard endcaps as the Fram.

In the link you sent above the negative commentary seemed limited to small filtration surface and leaky anti-drain back valve. The the high mileage had the goo container, and one had teflon which was objectionable, another had PTFE treated seal which was OK.

There is no doubt that the low end Frams are a cheaply built filter and their price reflects it. I am not sure why Teflon is objectionable but PTFE is OK. Same substance, you buy it from Dupont it is Teflon, everyone else PTFE. Although to be fair, one is in reference to particles? the other to sealing ring. I totally agree with the author's goo assesment.

I didn't see any commentary on the filters coming apart.

If you are concerned about the Fram filters, then Honda OEMS are probably just as unreliable. It seems odd that a company that designs it's own anti-freeze would go to the most unreliable filter manufacturer on the face of the earth and have filters made for every vehicle in their line up except the S2000. But maybe that is one of those things that slipped through the cracks.

I will say this Fram certainly has a notorious reputation on the Internet. Google Fram Oil Filter Failures and it seems that every car forum in the world has a recommendation against Fram filters. Now Google lawsuits due to failed Fram filters and you find far less information. The only concrete suits I found (admittedly a quick look) was a Justice Department probe for price fixing and threats of Honeywell suing the author of an oil filter study. There was another threat against Chrysler (of all people) because they had a TSB recommending not using Frams on some of Cummins diesels in Dodge Rams.

There is an old saying about where there is smoke there is fire. There is no doubt that the interiors of Fram filters look a lot cheaper than some of the other brands. The filters with the steel endcaps that have a flange extending down the side of the filter media would appear to be a far more reliable filter. But is it really necessary? I don't know. I would say this. If you don't change your filters very often go for the metal endcaps. But even metal endcaps have to be attached to the filter media in some fashion.

My own opinion was that I wanted to use OEM filter because I thought they would be properly designed for Honda to provide the best performance for the vehicle. I have been involved in enough filter procurement (involving water) to know that filtration is no simple task. You can buy filters that are too good and create failures. A filter that clogs in a month because it is super micronal bla bla bla is not doing you much good.

I find it hard to believe that Frams are as lousy as everyone would have you believe, but then again I would not use one. Yet when you look at the Honda filter cut away, it sure looks like a lousy old Fram.

I do know this, I change my filter every oil change, and I am going to continue that practice. When I see a TSB come out declaring an immediate desist in using Honda OEMS, I will quit using them. I still have this odd faith that Honda designed the filter for the best overall performance on their vehicles. But who knows, maybe if you scratch the blue paint, you will find orange!

I am not sure why a good aftermarket gauge is going to detect zero oil pressure any better than the idiot light. It will do a far better job of detecting marginal oil pressure, but zero? Give me the light I'll see it sooner.