I think JohnnyO makes a good point that we should look to buy better filters to insure that they filter the oil properly for the full change interval and perhaps a little longer. However, a higer price does not necessarily mean the filter is doing a better job at filtering the oil.
The liNK that TrainTrac posted has been around for quite a while now and they guy has cut open a lot of filters to see what they have inside. From an engineering point it is good information, but he lacks the ability to actually test the flow and filtering capabilities of the filters. He tends to only speak in terms of the filter's construction materials rather than it's a bility to do the job.
With the exception of Caymen (who always has an exception), Truethfully, how many of us has experienced and engine failure that can be directly attributed to the use of an inferior oil filter??? I don't mean that you blame the failure on the filter, but can prove that the filterwas the direct and only cause. The only reason an enigne failure can be attributed to the oil filter is if the bypass valve fails and the engine is starved of oil. This condition is very rare and can happen with any filter.
If the filtering media cannot hold anymore contaminates the bypass valve will allow unfiltered oil to the engine to prevent catestrophic failures. This usually only happens when someone does not change the oil and filter often enough and the filter media becomes clogged. The filter media, the number of layers or pleats that increase the filters capacity to hold contaminates are what makes the newer filters better for extended oil change intervals. In my opinion, anyone who claims to have had a catastophic engine failure caused by an oil filter, most likely did not change their oil and filter often enough...but getting someon to admit that is probably next to impossible.
Fram did not get as big as they did by making inferior filters. They manufacture filters that are relatively inexpensive and do the job sufficiently if you change your oil and filter within the recommended intervals. If you want to extend the oil change interval, you will need to step up to a filter capable of traping and holding more contaminates and still continue to function for the duration of the oil's life.
Most of the bad press about Fram stems from back about 20 years ago when the cheap counterfit Fram filters were being smuggled into this country via Mexico.
...Rich
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