The Dissection Of Fram & Super Tech Filters!

[Smoke1991]

To see the other tear downs:
The Dissection Of Mobil 1 & K&n Filters!
The Dissection Of An Oem Hyundai Filter!

This time around to took apart a Fram Extra Guard PH 9688 and a Super Tech ST3593A. Both filters are similar in price and I would consider value line type. The Super Tech is a Walmart filter and costs less than 3 dollars




The bottom of the Fram is completely different compared to the other filters I have done so far. The Super Tech bottom looks identicle the Mobil 1 and K&N filters.



Shot of them cut open.



As you can tell from this shot, both filters share nothing similar in construction.



As you can see, both filters have a different spring setup to retain the internals. Also the fram incorperates there pressure valve in the leaf spring. the valve it self is a peice of brittle plastic with a coil spring applying pressure. The Super Tech filter has no form of bypass valve, unless the retainer it self somehow works as a bypass. It does have a hole in it.

Both filters use a rubber anti drain back gasket, the Super Tech's gasket fit snug against the filter, while the Fram was very loose.

Below you can see how the gaskets are assembled on the filter media.



The filter media on the Fram it self is thicker compared to the Super Tech, but is held together by Cardboard end caps. It is complete sh*t IMHO.
The super tech filter has many more uniform folds but the media is much thinner than the Fram. One plus is that it has full metal caps like a filter should have.





Cutting open the Fram filter was a joke. I actually cut one side of the filter media and the metal support on the inside fell out. Complete crap...
The Super Tech filter came apart with the same difficulty as the previous filters I have done. Once I got it apart I actually had to Dremel out a center support to get a clear view of the internal folds.






The thickness of each fold is on par with the other after market filters I have done. Both filters have the pros and cons.

The Fram has thicker media and has an actual by pass valve. The Super Tech has metal end caps, better fitting anti drain back valve and is overall better construction.

I would recommend everyone to stay away from both of these filters (and just stay away from Fram in general). For a value line filter I would recommend a Purolator. And for a few dollars more, get an OEM filter (which I still consider being the best of all the filters I've done so far).


Special thanks to Aquafresh94 for covering the cost of the Super Tech filter. I hope you show this to your old man and rub it in his face.

I still have to do the following filters:
Bosch (black Standard)
Bosch Distance Plus (premimum)
Purolator PURE ONE
WIX (black one)

If you would like to see a specific filter dissected, shoot me a PM!

[ken99]

Originally Posted by Smoke1991

If you would like to see a specific filter dissected, shoot me a PM!

Smoke1991 - Here is a short list of 35503 substitutes for you to work on...

[Smoke1991]

Originally Posted by ken99

Smoke1991 - Here is a short list of 35503 substitutes for you to work on...

I have the same list already, im not going to tear down thousands of dollars worth of oil filters lol. Nor do I have the time.

This started with the Hyundai OEM filter. The others messaged me asking if I can do other filters. and they paid for the filter they wanted torn apart.

[ken99]

[QUOTE=Smoke1991;971689This started with the Hyundai OEM filter. The others messaged me asking if I can do other filters. and they paid for the filter they wanted torn apart.[/QUOTE]

I apologize. I was actually going to make the point that since 4 or 5 companies make most of the substitutes, you reallly shouldn't have to cut apart too many more. And the truth is construction is not the issue on most filters, but the filtering characteristics of the media which nobody that cuts open filters for these sort of postings seems to be able to tackle.

[Fox Mulder]

This is great but the image files are ginormous and some may have trouble loading them all at once. Actually crashed my tablet.
Might want to resize or use the thumbnail links.
Fram filters have long been regarded as crappy and now we see why.

[Smoke1991]

Ken99: Im aware of that, and i also agree about your point about filtering characteristics. But the other components of the filters are just as important as the media it self. EX: the pressure relief valve in every Aftermarket filter ive taken apart so far do not have the same spring tension characteristics as the OEM filter. Which in turn will effect the operation of the filter. Ive actually taken samples of the M1, K&N, and OEM filters and threw them under the scope to take a closer look at the design and layout of the media to get a better idea. Just having a close visual without using a scope give the average reader a good idea how good each filter is. The average joe can compare the filter media from the OEM filter to the others based off the pictures and draw a semi accurate conclusion. Even though only a hand full of companies makes these filters you also need to factor in the quality level of each filter.

Fox: Haha, sorry. The forum does automatically re size the images after they are fully loaded. I chose to leave them at the max res for anyone who wants to view the images in closer detail.

[lovemysantafe]

Fram used to make a great filter many years ago but then the corporate ownership changed and they chose to skate by on a name making a shoddy product and line their pockets with the difference. I'll never buy a Fram filter...EVER.

[Bearcats]

Originally Posted by lovemysantafe

Fram used to make a great filter many years ago but then the corporate ownership changed and they chose to skate by on a name making a shoddy product and line their pockets with the difference. I'll never buy a Fram filter...EVER.

Just a note: They were shoddy prior to the corporate merging. You must be talking about filters over a decade ago.

And I would never, ever, EVER use a Fram filter.

[Smoke1991]

Originally Posted by Bearcats

Just a note: They were shoddy prior to the corporate merging. You must be talking about filters over a decade ago.

And I would never, ever, EVER use a Fram filter.

[Aquafresh94]

Hey Smoke I appreciate it sir! Glad I know that there's no relief valve, now I'm just gonna stop by the dealership and get myself an OEM filter.

Oh and my dad said he could careless about the relief valve and such. As long as he pays less than 5 dollars for a filter... LOL!

Still, its my car and it's going the OEM route. Atleast for the oil!