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LarryBible
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In the eighties, I saw a Fram and a WIX cut apart at the auto store. This peaked my curiosity, so at that point I started cutting apart old filters to see how they were constructed.
I have not seen one in several years, but the Baldwin was by far the best. It is a ball of string and extremely well constructed.
My second choice is a WIX. I am sure that the K&N and Mobil One are far superior, but I'm not sure if they are worth the 4X upcharge.
BTW, I was doing my cutting on Ford filters in those days. A Ford filter has the bypass valve in the filter. The Fram bypass valve was the flimsiest and the main reason that it was far inferior. There is a bypass valve above the filter on a Chevy block, so I assume that a Chevy filter has no bypass valve in the filter. If this is true, it makes the Fram not quite as bad on a Chevy.
That said, I wouldn't use a Fram unless I was really in a pinch and couldn't find anything else. I believe the OEM brands (AC for a GM, Motorcraft for a Ford) to be adequate, but not the best.
I try to use WIX when I can (NAPA brand is WIX) and I wish I could find someone selling Baldwin, they may not be in business any more.
If I had to buy a Fram or spring for the K&N or Mobil One, I would pay the extreme up charge for the premium filter.
My $0.02,
I have not seen one in several years, but the Baldwin was by far the best. It is a ball of string and extremely well constructed.
My second choice is a WIX. I am sure that the K&N and Mobil One are far superior, but I'm not sure if they are worth the 4X upcharge.
BTW, I was doing my cutting on Ford filters in those days. A Ford filter has the bypass valve in the filter. The Fram bypass valve was the flimsiest and the main reason that it was far inferior. There is a bypass valve above the filter on a Chevy block, so I assume that a Chevy filter has no bypass valve in the filter. If this is true, it makes the Fram not quite as bad on a Chevy.
That said, I wouldn't use a Fram unless I was really in a pinch and couldn't find anything else. I believe the OEM brands (AC for a GM, Motorcraft for a Ford) to be adequate, but not the best.
I try to use WIX when I can (NAPA brand is WIX) and I wish I could find someone selling Baldwin, they may not be in business any more.
If I had to buy a Fram or spring for the K&N or Mobil One, I would pay the extreme up charge for the premium filter.
My $0.02,