Fram Oil Filter Blew Up! - Honda Prelude Forum

jnkoh · 03-04-2002, 06:41 AM

Well, last weekend I was leaving from TGIF, and I was just cruising my way back home. It was raining so, I was driving very conservatively. Half way home, I notice a light flash in my dash. The oil light started blinking like crazy. I pulled over the next spot a I could. I popped the hood and a cloud of burnt oil rose out. I had changed the valve cover gasket 2 weeks ago, and realized I need valve cover sealer(which I didn't have) so I put the old one back on. I thought it was oil burning off from there and maybe I just dropped below the level. I moved my car into a parking spot and called a friend. Well, as I went back to the street to meet my friend I noticed a large black puddle where my car had been. I knew then, it wasn't the gasket. I checked my oil level, BONE DRY! I ended up towing the car to my friend's garage and we checked it out. I filled the car up with oil, cranked it and just heard a loud hissing sound. Oil was just dumping out of my car. I couldn't even tell where the leak was because it was just spraying everywhere! We turned of the car and looked under and realized that somehow the gasket unseated itself and raised out fo the filter!
I am filing a claim with FRAM and taking my car to a garage and see what kind of possible damage there may be. They only take responsibility if they find that it was a defective filter. I hope their tests come out right, because it was definitely defective. The weird thing is, I change my oil about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and the thing blew this last weekend. I hope I get recompensated.
Wish me luck

Prelude1897 · 03-04-2002, 11:30 AM

You should've just bought a filter from Honda. Those are the best ones for your car anyhow.....

Prelude1897 · 03-04-2002, 11:31 AM

Also, I like how you have that mean look to the front of your car. It looks bad ass...

thepreludedude · 03-04-2002, 11:49 AM

jnkoh

same thing happened to me, luckily i noticed the ****ty smell before it got as bad as yours. i had a fram filter also, did the exact same thing with about 500 miles on the oil change, i know it wasn't my falt, i've been doing oil changes since i was like 12 or 13. that really sucks, i hope the best for you. keep us posted.

acb45 · 03-04-2002, 12:24 PM

this also happened to me before....after i finished the oil change, i started the engine and all of the sudden theres like a puddle of fresh oil on the ground..thank god i didnt drive off with it.....i double checked what i did wrong, and i realized that the seal on the OLD FRAM FILTER did not come off and was still stuck on the ring....so when i put on the new filter, there was like 2 seals...and that started the leak...so next time when you guys do a oil change, make sure the seal off of the old filter is taken out. hope this solves the problems...

thepreludedude · 03-04-2002, 01:34 PM

yeah, i always check the seal thingy, i also check under car
after i change the oil, i start car let it warm up and check for
leaks, in my case everything was fine, until about 500 miles
later.

freefaller · 03-04-2002, 03:03 PM

go to www.ntpog.com-they review all the different filters--and basically frams suck-- they are made of cheap material and their cardboard lining can disentigrate real easily. Go with either Honda or deustch (now STP)--- I personally go w/ the deustch/STP.

1sweetlude · 03-04-2002, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acb45
this also happened to me before....after i finished the oil change, i started the engine and all of the sudden theres like a puddle of fresh oil on the ground..thank god i didnt drive off with it.....i double checked what i did wrong, and i realized that the seal on the OLD FRAM FILTER did not come off and was still stuck on the ring....so when i put on the new filter, there was like 2 seals...and that started the leak...so next time when you guys do a oil change, make sure the seal off of the old filter is taken out. hope this solves the problems...

Exact samething happened to me

! Pissed me off. Never buying Fram again. Using Mobil 1 Filter now

. Great filter

2kPreludeSH · 03-04-2002, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Prelude1897
You should've just bought a filter from Honda. Those are the best ones for your car anyhow.....

couldn't said it better myself

Darth Luder · 03-05-2002, 05:44 AM

I used Frams before, never had that happen, but switched out after like 2 uses. I always use Purlator One filters now, excellent filters.

GopedG5 · 03-05-2002, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by acb45
i realized that the seal on the OLD FRAM FILTER did not come off and was still stuck on the ring....

The same thing happened to me as well...twice. The rubber seal seems to get stuck from FRAM filters. Also, I had a very very small leak coming from the FRAM filter as well and would smell (burnt oil) after a long drive. I now use the Honda filters and hasn't given me any of these issues.

jnkoh · 03-05-2002, 09:37 AM

Good tips guys. I don't think I had two seals stuck on. I only found one there, but it had seperated off the filter. I am going to ship the filter out to them today, and hopefully they will do test that show it is their fault. I will let you guys know. I will definetely switch filter brands after this.

H22ATypeS · 03-05-2002, 10:24 AM

Don't be so quick to judge those Honda oil filters.....I had one that the gasket didn't seal properly too and I was leaking oil all over the place....it wasn't as bad though because I spotted it before my engine got damaged......but to make a long story short...within a set amount of products there's always a bad one. NO Matter what brand it is. Oh and yes I do know how to change the oil in my car before someone goes "you must of done something wrong" Don't you guys hate it when you take yer car to the shop and the stupid guy always go..."are you sure you installed it right?" Damn sheesh!

acb45 · 03-05-2002, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by H22ATypeS
Don't be so quick to judge those Honda oil filters.....I had one that the gasket didn't seal properly too and I was leaking oil all over the place....it wasn't as bad though because I spotted it before my engine got damaged......but to make a long story short...within a set amount of products there's always a bad one. NO Matter what brand it is. Oh and yes I do know how to change the oil in my car before someone goes "you must of done something wrong" Don't you guys hate it when you take yer car to the shop and the stupid guy always go..."are you sure you installed it right?" Damn sheesh!

i agree