On 29 Jul 96 at 9:41, john wakefield wrote:

> 
>   "It is common knowledge among us who are on the list awhile that Fram
> filters are unsuitable for Vanagons."
> 
>   I offer this speculative response to observations that FRAM oil filters 
> used in Vanagons result in lower oil pressures:  Lower particulate 
> threshold passing media combined with lower total media surface area.
>   In particulate passage tests, FRAM has shown up as a top performer for 
> years.  This indicates to me that they have elected to use a finer pass 
> media than most competitors.  As to whether the cost per unit area of 
> this is higher than coarser media, I don't know that either.  But I did 
> find it interesting to see a FLAPS point of sale product demonstration 
> supplied by WIX, who's product box seems to claim WIX is an Original 
> Product Manufacturer for quite a few others marketed labels.  The demo 
> consisted of a FRAM and WIX oil filter apparently from identical 
> application specifications.  Each was cut around its circumference to 
> allow easy inspection of its media.  Just guessing based on what I saw, 
> I'd think the accordion folded media had about twice the unfolded surface 
> area in the WIX compared to the FRAM.
>   There are so many assumptions integrated into this speculation that I 
> offer it only as a first conjectural comment.  I could be completely 
> wrong.  If someone knows of a person who wouldn't bias their comments to 
> favor a company's economic interests, and who could address this anomaly 
> well, please do a little arm twisting to get their explanation posted as 
> to why the ordinarily considered excellent Fram product apparently 
> performs so poorly in Vanagons.
>    
Add to this all other w/c VWs - I've recorded lower oil pressures 
with FRAM in: 85 diesel, 82 1.7l, 89 16v 1.8l, 88 turbo diesel. In 
all these cases, a VW filter resulted in improved hot oil pressure of 
5-10 psi using 20w50.
Shawn
'88 Westy 332k (Kyra)
'85 Jetta TD 350k (Jenni)