Phaedra.

I used Fram filters for years.  I read about Fram being cheapened and I
still used Fram.  Finally I experienced oil drain back indicating a bad
valve in the filter ... something that Frams are supposedly famous for.
 Then I switched to Pep Boys house brand which are really Purolator.

One thing that I always noticed with my Vanagon since new was that close to
oil change time, if I just ran the van for a minute or two, like moving it
in the driveway, the next start often had lifter noise for about 5 minutes.
 I accepted that as normal.  In the two years since I have changed to
Purolator, I have never had the noise.

Mike  '84 GL  Phoenix AZ

PS: Please see http://members.nbci.com/minimopar/oilfilterstudy.html