[fusseli]

Fram XG vs. Mopar oil filter for KL 3.2L Pentastar

The Fram Tough Gaurd (TG) and Ultra (XG) are finally available to me locally so here's a comparison of the regular Fram CH, TG, XG, and the updated Mopar AB. Close up photos are the Mopar (AB version) vs. the Fram XG.

The XG is very desirable in other applications so I would assume it is for this format also. The white media surprised me. It is a soft cottony texture unlike all of the others, and in the zoom in shot you can see a plastic mesh they have on the inside of the filter supporting the media.

The regular Fram CH appears to have the same ribbed paper media as the Mopar, and the same pleat count of 60. However, both the Fram TG and XG only have 50 pleats. (The K&N had 48 pleats.)

I don't know what to say about the TG other than it's somewhere in the middle. It has fewer pleats but is yet a different media than any of the others. Build of the plastic frame on the TG is similar to the Fram CH; the XG and the Mopar are all different.

The Mopar is the only filter where the center piece of the filter is fixed solid, in all other filters (all three Frams and K&N) the center piece can spin freely.

 

[mreg376]

Sorry guys, I'm trying, but I just don't get it. Especially with the lower frequency and therefore lower expense of oil changes in the Cherokee, and modern cars in general, I can't fathom why anyone would not use the Mopar filters. I know that "enthusiasts" sometimes like to change things just for the sake of changing them, but to deliberately throw a wild card into their warranty coverage, for a benefit no one can clearly identify, is beyond me.

 

[fusseli]

Sorry guys, I'm trying, but I just don't get it. Especially with the lower frequency and therefore lower expense of oil changes in the Cherokee, and modern cars in general, I can't fathom why anyone would not use the Mopar filters. I know that "enthusiasts" sometimes like to change things just for the sake of changing them, but to deliberately throw a wild card into their warranty coverage, for a benefit no one can clearly identify, is beyond me.

You can't beat Mopar for warranty purposes :laugh:

I personally find it fascinating how the build can vary so widely on oil filters, and how motor oil can also vary so widely in add packs and blends for the same grade. If you provided oil change records and receipts with the right grade oil and a new filter, I doubt you'd lose a warranty claim for engine failure.

This latest comparison is interesting in how similar the cheapo Fram CH is to the Mopar, how similar the Fram TG is to the K&N, and how unique the Fram Ultra XG is. The XG may be the first unique design that greatly exceeds OE for this application. Mind you, this particular filter design/application was new in 2014 so these new filters are just starting to roll out. K&N was the first aftermarket.

 

[jeepreaper]

I wonder if other XG filters come with the same white media.

 

[iwfur25]

Well this K&N cartridge looks better than any of their canister filters that I've seen the guts of. Most of those flow real good because they don't filter very well. They tend to have way less pleats and that means there's no way they flow enough without sacrificing filtration. Either that or it's in bypass all the time.

Still, as pointed out, this cartridge has less pleats than others. Screw that. Just stick with a known good... Mopar, Wix/Napa Gold, Purolator, maybe the higher end FRAMs like the XG.

 

[mmahamm]

Sorry guys, I'm trying, but I just don't get it. Especially with the lower frequency and therefore lower expense of oil changes in the Cherokee, and modern cars in general, I can't fathom why anyone would not use the Mopar filters. I know that "enthusiasts" sometimes like to change things just for the sake of changing them, but to deliberately throw a wild card into their warranty coverage, for a benefit no one can clearly identify, is beyond me.

If it didn't meet the specifications, they couldn't sell it. FCA cannot require you to use their filters. These manufacturers have been making automotive filters for a very long time. They are experts. From time to time one or the other of them is actually the source for Mopar filters.
I have no problem with using another brand of filter, and I do not consider doing so to be tantamount to jeopardizing my warranty.

 

[SS_Syndicate]

Or you can buy Champion Labs filters they most likey make the oem filter
http://www.champlabs.com/

The Mopar is a Wix

 

[mreg376]

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[/CODE]

If it didn't meet the specifications, they couldn't sell it. FCA cannot require you to use their filters. These manufacturers have been making automotive filters for a very long time. They are experts. From time to time one or the other of them is actually the source for Mopar filters.
I have no problem with using another brand of filter, and I do not consider doing so to be tantamount to jeopardizing my warranty.

That's because you're an "enthusiast." Over the years I have used many aftermarket filters that met the specs, and some were crap. Usually whether something meets the specs is certified by the manufacturer. Mopar is the only one that really has any skin in the game to make sure that the specs are met.

 

[SS_Syndicate]

While Mopar is owned by FCA it is a separate company and is viewed in the same light as any other aftermarket supplier by FCA. I personally know someone who ran a Mopar CAI and when they had engine issues FCA denied the warranty claim and said it was caused by the CAI. After a long legal battle, this was eventually reversed because neither the dealer or FCA could prove the fault was a direct result of the CAI.

So, in order for there to be a warranty denial, there would need to be proof that the filter was at fault. If there is, the liability immediately falls to that manufacturer and/or the installer.

My main point is: Using Mopar parts doesn't automatically offer more protection when it comes to a warranty claim investigation.


Ad for the filters... I think there are lots of quality ones out there. Fram is a customer of mine so I know their processes very well. I have also worked with Wix. I always find it humorous when I see someone saying on brand is better than another or better yet when one of those brands has a commercial and spins their superioress after seeing them made on the same machine.

There are pictures in this thread that if you inspect closely you will see that there are essentially two filter types. Try not to look at the paper colors as that is just a die or post treatment for aesthetics.


I should add, that things like molding depth, pleat count, and crimp depth are all adjustable on the fly and just because two things are made on the same machine doesn't really make then identical. The rub is what is really better? Doing what I do, I've heard engineers from every company tell me why theirs is better.... They are all really compelling but one of them has to be lying....

 

[Bighorn2500]

Been running the Wix WL10010 on the wife's jeep the last seven changes.

That Fram Ultra XG11665 is supposed to very good as well from what I've read over on BITOG fourm, may look at those when I use the last of the Wix on the shelf.

The Mopar are good, but I know Chrysler also goes buy contract bid on their Mopar replacement parts, at one point some Mopar oil filters (not these specifically, but Ram truck oil filters) were Purolator brand filters, and the Cummins diesel truck filters are actually Fleetguard brand, they just paint them black or grey and slap a Mopar label on them just like Napa Gold filters are typically Wix as someone previously stated.

 

[fusseli]

If it didn't meet the specifications, they couldn't sell it. FCA cannot require you to use their filters. These manufacturers have been making automotive filters for a very long time. They are experts. From time to time one or the other of them is actually the source for Mopar filters.
I have no problem with using another brand of filter, and I do not consider doing so to be tantamount to jeopardizing my warranty.

Oh boy, specs. I agree with you there and no doubt modern era specs are actually tight enough in the right places such that corners can't be cut like they used to. The problem is what is or isn't included in the spec. This cartridge filter being a new design for 2014, and the long factory OCI of 7.5k-10k miles, was part of my interest in the first place! Personally, I think all of them look pretty good. I find the variation fascinating, just like how motor oil blend and quality can vary widely, and @SS_Syndicate nails it, they are all different and cost different yes, but which is truly better?

There are hundreds of canister filter tear downs on youtube. Some of them are downright scary. Surely they meet some "spec." I'm talking media that isn't fully glued or has gaps, cardboard end caps and supports, you name it. There's also probably a reason why the old Fram orange cartridges are called the orange can of death.

BITOG is great. Back when I bought this Jeep there was zilch on these filters, so I just started this thread here.

 

[Jeepster1]

Actually trying to buy a quality filter is the way to go. We are changing oil generally less than in the past. That just puts more stress on the filter. A filter in these vehicles on the extreme, might actually have to filter properly for 10k or 12 months. That's a lot of contaminants to collect out of the oil and keep functioning properly. Just do not want to skimp on the filter.
For myself the way I look at it, I may now only change every 6 to 8 months when I am at 20-30%. That's working out 2 per year at most vs 3x year past vehicles.
So I am using Pennzoil synthetic (always used conventional in the past) and Mopar filters. Would not have an issue using a different quality brand of filter though.

 

[sciond]

The Mopar is a Wix

Then a Champion labs filter would be an upgrade

 

[Alpaca]

Bobistheoilguy has lots of threads on filter comparisons. Mopar is made by one (or more) vendors to their spec and is of course fine ... is there something better ? Maybe. In general most filters will not have problems if you change oil on schedule - but the cheapest fram filters generally don’t fare as well in some of these comparison tests. Napa gold, wix, champion labs typically get good reviews - but can vary from application to application.

If engine is still under warranty there can be advantages to go oem in the unlikely event there is an issue ...

 

[fusseli]

Here's the Mobile 1 M1C-456A, rated for 20k miles. It looks strikingly like the Fram TG, and has 50 pleats like the Fram TG and XG. Note the Fram XG is only rated at 15k miles, but I read elsewhere Fram XG filters to a lower micron level (higher efficiency) than the M1.