The Fram Ultra is a great filter and the quality is on par with it's competition.
They have synthetic media and wire backing for strength. Where other filters have collapsed from oil pressure (Bosch) the fram ultras hold together and when I tear them down after an oil change seem to still be good for another couple thousand miles.
The whole grippy-textured surface at the top so you can hand tighten and loosen them like you're supposed to is brilliant.
Fram makes GM oil filters. At least they used to. Compare the black (factory) filter or the AC blue filter next to a Fram. Same dimples beneath the grip on the Fram. IIRC there are two companies that make most of the normal oil filters. Even the expensive Mobile 1 filters, though those just use higher micron elements is all. Wix is the other company. Not sure who makes Subaru's but I'm sure it's the same story. Been personally using them for decades, never had an issue. Wife rolled her Honda over 500K using them every 5,000 miles.
There is that possibility, I have had a Fram filter that self disintegrate inside due to age of the filter ( I had them for a while before use).... when I finally took out the filter and shakes it, it was definitely loose. It was causing that same oil filter light intermittently.
Wix are a pretty high quality replacement per my experience. Wix are certainly good enough to validate that behavior is not unique to the STP filter.
Yes, the Mobil1-301, the Mann W940/25, the Purolator L30257, and the Fram PH3569 are all equivalent in capacity (though most people say the Fram is not equivalent in quality).
If you heard strange noises, then you must have been using FRAM
my experience was on my monte carlo ss, the oil pressure flickered and went through the roof, something happened with the filter and almost caused me to blow my motor, i tried another one for about an hour or so and sure enough it happened again. changed to a different brand, worked fine. my buddies dad who is an avid car collector and builds race cars told me after the incident occured that those filters are crap.
Fram makes a decent filter for everone else but not for VWs. Something about the cold start bypass valve not working well, or something.
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