While getting service done and the dealership, the service rep told me they noticed I was using a FRAM air filter (sorry, no fancy intake yet on my car). She went on to tell me that they have had some major issues with people using non-nissan brand air filters, 'all these people going to Jiffy Lube for service are getting these air filters and they don't fit correctly allowing damage to the intake system'.

Is this a bunch of BS or what? Not that the stock air filter cost any more but it this just another ploy to scare people into having the dealer service their car?

Later!
NitDawg

 

Who knows. Either way, FRAM sucks, I wouldn't use them anyway... and I DEFINITELY wouldn't use their oil filters.

 

Their oil filters are great. What are you talking about. It's has superb filtraton.

 

I sure as hope you are being sarcastic....

Fram oil filters have been shown to literally fall apart inside the metal container. They use plastic bypass valves that are GLUED to the endcap and cardboard endcaps. I have YET to see black and white tested facts that they have decent filtration. Its all marketing and zero performance. Plus its a Allied Signal/Honeywell product...el shiitah

 

different air filters wont damage anything.. but fram does suck..
nevertheless.. the service person was talking out of her ***...

 

Never had problems w/ Fram products and I've been using their oil filter for almost 200k on my other car.

There are worse products out there.

 

I was even told by the autozone guys (as I was buying my mobil 1 oil filter) that they have seen and heard of fram oil filters collapsing on themselves. This could be so bad that your engine could lock up due to lack of oil. just pay the extra amount and get mobil 1 and a CAI or WAI.

 

I also use fram oil filters....This one for that matter..

 

So maybe the FRAM oil filter sucks, but what about an air filter? What are people using for stock air intake replacement filter??

 

I have it in my stock airbox cause it's going to the dealer again this tuesday.....they needed more time to look at the problem of my car...

ANYWAY the fram, like most other filers, is a good replacement air filter......
The dealer you.......you can put in any filter you want.....(although some dealers say that K&N voids the warranty that is total ) THESE ARE DIRECT REPLACEMENT FILTERS.

 

If I was stock, I would use the OEM filters they are not expensive and easy to get (for me). But I have a PR intake with a K&N and I use Mobil 1 synthetic, so I stay true to the brand a use Mobil 1 filter as well.

And the reason service mgr told you not to use anything other than OEM is because of MAF problems usually because of oiled type filters.

 

When my first maf went out, my dealer told me that he was getting alot of people coming in with there maf going out with fram air filters.

 

My service tech showed me a list that they had been compiling of fram filterering media getting caught in the VTC gear. (oil filters) Their paper air filters are fine as are most paper filters. They generally fit decent. The folks in the mustang forumns have pretty good experience with fram filters going bad. The fram double guard is actually the same filter as their regular one, with a stonger more solid feeling outer shell. Same crappy plastic and cardboard innerds.

 

Probably because people remove their intakes and replace with stock and a fram filter before going in for warrantee work! LOL.

BTW, does anybody know who makes the Mobil 1 oil filters? My Grandpa used to work for Mobil and stays pretty up to date with things, he was telling me that he can almost guarantee that Mobil does not make the filters. They better be a good filter because thay are twice as expensive as any other filters I have seen.

 

The FRAM air filters should'nt make anything different. It's a direct replacement. Crazy dealers!

 

here is a nice oil filter study to look at, i'm shure some ppls have seen this b4.

click here - > http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/

 

Bill1999gxe. *paging paging* Fram filters arent quality. Do yourself a favor and use Mobile 1 or get Nissan OEM from Dave B at a cheap price.

 

PLEASE, DO NOT USE THAT FITER IN YOUR MAX, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S FRAM, BUT BECAUSE TEFLON HAS NO PLACE IN THE ENGINE!!!

Teflon will work great for gears, like a rear diff in an f150, but it will breakdown at high temps in you engine and it WILL clog up the oil lines.

 

what about courtsey nissan air filter

 

Thank you for posting that link Now I no longer have to wonder who makes the Mobil 1 filter and if it is quality. Im so glad I have not been wasting my money paying $10 for my filters.

 

hah I used FRAM for a decade with no problems. The first time I use a K&N oil filter it gets clogged. Going to get fram again next time... There's a reason Fram is the top-selling brand...and I doubt that's because it sucks....

 

it is widely known that fram oil filters suck. im not going to say use this or that.....but please dont use fram...do it for your maxima.

 

...although this was a thread about air filters...doh!

 

Based on many people that actually use Fram oil filter, including myself, we have experienced absolutely no problems with them. I don't see why others would have problem using their filter.

 

so after reading that link I wont be buying fram again...Puralator maybe

 

They are made by Champion Labs which also makes many brands to include the almost identical K&N. The K&N filter has more filtering media, but for some reason the Mobil 1 filters show slightly better filtration and I do mean slight.

 

Fram used to be good, but now they are made in china or somewhere. Company got to big to support its demand.

 

Man dont do it...dont do it....I will send you 10 bucks...go get a Mobil 1 filter and a Fram filter and then cut them both apart...you wont EVER buy a Fram POS filter again. Trust me...Frams are POS and its all marketing hype on how good they are. There is nothing in black and white fact that supports them as a good filter.

As for using an air filter, I have found MANY air filters that really come really close, but dont quite fit 100% correct. I use the OEM Nissan Air filter...yeah..I pay about 5 bucks more...but I dont have to worry about fit. I have found this also to be true in my wifes Ford Focus....the filter just doesnt seal quite right.

 

Teflon has the highest thermal stability of any plastic. It's melting point is about 500^f. It can survive just fine @ a continuous operating temp of 400^f. If your engine's oil is getting above 400^f, you've got other problems the least of which is teflon. Oil temp is typically ~ 230^F which is half of teflon's melting point. Teflon is also extremely stable all the way up to it's melting point and can run continuously without breakdown @ 400^f. When it does break down it releases stuff that is probably dissovable in oil.

When network wires are run in ceilings, the cable must be "plenum" rated which means the jacket is made of teflon. They do that for fire code because teflon has such a high melting point and it will not burn on its own.

I've used all sorts of filters incuding fram over the years and never had a problem with any of them. For whatever reason, Fram has become the whipping boy of filters on the Internet and it's all based on hear-say. I think the rumors were started by Purolator.

 

anyone have a hard time getting the k&n air filter to fit right? getting it back into the air box was a job. no way i am taking it out again till i get an intake

 

BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS! Man I am so tired of stupid trained monkey Nissan service advisors pulling some ignorant $hit out of nowhere. I had a K&N filter while my car was knocking and pinging (it was the infamous coilpacks) They told me it was the oil in the K&N and that the K&N didn't fit properly allowing dust particles to pass the filter and strike the MAF. I said "so you mean to tell me this $30,000 car is that picky over an air filter?" Get real. What is funny is the factory Nissan filter is oil impregnated! Now how does that oil stay off of the MAF, but yet the K&N's oil doesn't? Man here's some cheap advise, don't ever listen to what the Nissan service advisor says. Get on the ORG, at least you'll get some honesty. I had one tell me the other day that it was going to cost $60 to turn my SES light off ( I did a radiator flush and started the car up with the electric unplugged) He told me thats the only way that light will go off. I posted an add on the ORG was told to leave the neg terminal off of the battery overnight, and what do you know the light was off. Well at least I know if I fail at everything else in life, I can always be a Nissan service advisor and hand out BS excuses all day. By the way I use the napa Gold filter, with the anti drain back valve. I use Mobile 1 and change the oil every 5,000.

 

Yep, thats because the filter that is for our car is for a bunch of others as well. To fix this K&N now comes with some foam to seal hold it in place (and added a -2 to the model number)

 

My 1988 2.5 liter Dodge shadow with over 190,000 miles on it with no rebuildand still running strong....has had nothing but fram oil filter and air filter in it in the last decade...... nuff said

 

2002 nissan maxima, here buying air filters from courtsey nissan parts.. good filters or should i go to the dealer, damn it.. i have a farm air filter in the maxima.. i dont care if farm is good or bad, i need a replacement air filter where do i get it, where i buy, whats the website. how much.. solutions people , solutions.. i have a farm. i need help!! lol

 

IMO the biggest issue with the MAF deal is not from stock K&N installs but people cleaning/re-oiling their filter and not letting it dry out first or using too much oil. Also, some El Cheapo (tm) eBay's Best (tm) intakes come with crappy, junky "pre-oiled" filters that I wouldn't put on a lawn mower.

All air filters pass dirt, no air filter is 100% efficient at blocking particles (if it were, it would block all airflow, period!) The amount of dirt that "slips through" the air filter is too small and too light to be causing serious damage, and it's almost always blown out the exhaust valves well before it can settle into the cylinder and possibly slip by the rings.

I'm far more worried about what damage that damn throttle plate screw is going to do when it falls out and tanks my VQ...

If I ever see a legitimate case of engine failure linked directly to using a cheap air filter I will change my mind!

With drop-in K&N i have had zero fitment or MAF issues. It fits perfectly and a visual of the MAF after 10k miles revealed no oil or sludge that I could tell.

As an aside, Hot Rod flowed K&Ns etc. awhile back and found that they do let more dirt into the engine than OEM filters. Increased air flow = less filtration efficiency.

 

That's why teflon isn't good for the engine. It doesn't get hot enough to "coat the engine" like they would have you believe.

 

Did you ever stop to think it's getting clogged because the frams you were using weren't doing their job?

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

 

Great link Virus! I've been saying this same thing for years, its nice to see some really good test evidence to support my position!

 

I have oem air boses on my vehicles and use K&N stock replacement filters with no problems.

I also drove a Buick Regal wagon for over 200,000 miles over 14 years using Fram filters & never experienced any problems.

Mr. P