Is Fram Racing Oil Filter OK For HP525EFI
 

I just repowered to the 525. I bought a Fram HP4 filter and Valvoline "max life" synthetic blend 20w-50 oil. Will I be OK? Motor had a Wix filter when I got it but I couldn't find one of those. TIA.

Should be fine.

This should help you make a more informed decision.

http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfi...lterstudy.html

Great post. Fram are terrible. Save yourself headaches and your engines, get something else. Napa filters are made by Wix. Find them or order them online.

Filters To Avoid
The following list of filters have known problems. You will see well-known names here and will probably be disappointed. This is because many of these brands have stopped making their own filters and buy from a common manufacturer.

Fram Extra Guard
Years ago Fram was a quality filter manufacturer. Now their standard filter (the radioactive-orange cans) is one of the worst out there. It features cardboard end caps for the filter element that are glued in place. The rubber anti-drainback valve seals against the cardboard and frequently leaks, causing dirty oil to drain back into the pan. The bypass valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak all the time. The stamped-metal threaded end is weakly constructed and it has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which may restrict flow. I had one of these filters fail in my previous car. The filter element collapsed and bits of filter and glue were circuilating through my system. The oil passge to the head became blocked and the head got so hot from oil starvation that it actually melted the vacuum lines connected to it as well as the wires near it.

Fram Double Guard
Another bad filter idea brought to you by your friends at Fram. The filter itself is a slightly improved design over the Fram Extra Guard, but still uses the same filter element. It has a silicone anti-drainback valve, a quality pressure releif valve, and enough inlet holes for good flow. The big problem is that they are trying to cash in on the Slick 50 craze. They impregnate the filter element with bits of Teflon like that found in Slick 50. As with Slick 50, Teflon is a solid and does not belong in an engine. It cannot get into the parts of the engine that oil can and therefore does nothing. Also, as the filter gets dirty, it ends up filtering the Teflon right out. Dupont (the manufacturer of Teflon) does not recommend Teflon for use in internal combustion engines. Please do not waste your money on this filter.

Penzoil
This filter is a Fram! It is the exact same design as the Fram Extra Guard filter and it is junk. On the up side, it costs $1 less than the Fram version.

Quaker State
This is another Fram Extra Guard that I have seen at K-mart. It used to be a Purolator, but Quaker State is now owned/controlled by Penzoil...

I would not use a fram... Ac delco for me

John

WIX 51060R Great Filters ....no bypass though so change em often ......m

Thanks guys. I put the Fram on but haven't run the engine yet. I'll find the Wix and lose the Fram. Frequent oil changes will be done. This wasn't a cheap re-power!

This was a very interesting and informative study.The only problem is it was done 10 years ago.A lot of things may have changed since then for better and worst. It would be interesting to see the same test done now.

I used the Fram HP4 for six years with excellent results on 500 EFI's.

I run the NAPA Gold series on mine. Heard from a few non Fram likers so I to the careful approach.

Use the HP and you will be fine.....Wix better, maybe; but 8 years on blower motors and never a failure with fram hp. I like the radio active orange.

I don't know what qualifies as "good results" in some peoples minds, but I've got two 575SCi's with 450 hours and have always used Mobil 1 and either Wix or Mercruiser filters.

Never used a drop of oil between 25 to 50 hour oil changes.

When I pulled the heads at around 430 hours I could still see crosshatching on the cylinder walls (meaning little if any cylinder wall wear).

Pesky Varmint

Who makes the Mercury Racing filter for the 525? Why not use it?

Good info. I don't know who makes the merc filter but I don't use it because no one stocks it locally. I had to mail order my fuel filter and the part was around $10 but was $30 w/shipping!

+1

I always run Wix filters on my boat engines. However I do run the Fram Extra Guard on my truck and the Mustang. Now that I've read this thread I'll change them over to Wix also. Thanks guys!

I wouldnt put a Fram filter on ANYTHING !!! Always used AC Delco's without a single problem in high horespower motors, and everyday motors. Trying the K&N filter on my warmed up 502 MAG right now. I like the nut welded on the bottom of the filter for removal.

I have used nothing but fram filters in all my vehicles and boats and never had a problem. My daily vehicle is driven 2400 miles per month and never seen an issue. I would like to see some updated tests done on the filters of today

I've never had any problems using Fram HP filters. I would recommend the hp4 for a 525.

Why not just buy the Merc. Racing filter? They are not that expensive.

Curious, anyone know who makes the Merc filters? I highly doubt they are manufacturing them.

I use Mobil1 filters. Never had a problem with Fram, but have heard the horror stories so I choose to stay away.

NAPA Gold is a Wix rebranded
Wix are supposed to be good; they have a regular line and a HP line
Fram HPs are supposed to be different than the other Frams. I've used HP4 for race car with no issues. Still have one left over.
A buddy blew a motor last month. He had a Fram. The Inlet hose to the remote filter housing blew at the hose fitting. Factory Volvo hoses. He hasn't cut the filter open yet but I'm betting it was the filter that clogged.

How much you wanna bet the Mercs are made by Fram?
Or maybe Wix...

Given all the bad stories on Fram, why risk it?

I paid $12 something for the Mobil 1, and have no worries about it.

One of the biggest differences between a standard Fram and the HP series fram is the relief valve pressure and micron rating.
Most standard Frams (PH5, PH30 , etc) have a 20-25 micron rating and as stated in prevoius posts don't have the best glueing techniques and thus the cardboard joints can fail.
The HP series have a 18 micron rating and also has a filter relief valve in that if the filter media becomes plugged, then the relief valve opens and the oil still gets filtered through an steel screen.
You will pay about double for an HP4 over a PH5 but it is well worth the money. It is a different breed of filter than the standard Frams and not a really good compariosn. I have been using Fram HP series for 15 plus years and have yet to have an oil related failure in 50-60 BBC engines.

Just my .02

I use the Merc racing. Pay about $14/each. Small price to pay for a once a year oil change. I figure they know what they are doing since they build the motor. That being said, I bet they are built by a filter manufacturer not in-house.