Walmart - Chrome Fram Oil Filters. They any good?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 1
From: Upstate, SC
The whole 5 micron thing is laughable. The HD Twin Cam filter is rated 5 micron nominal, which means it is 50% efficient at removing particles up to 5 micron in size. That means for every 5 micron particle it catches, one gets through. In automotive or motorcycle oil circuits, a filter with more than 50% efficiency at 5 micron would be too restrictive.
Champion makes most HD filters, including the "5 micron" filter for the Twin Cam. The 5 micron rating is mainly marketing on Harley's part since they don't spec that for the filter. This was verified through a Champion technical advisor who told me that the Champ PH3614 and Super Tech ST3614 are direct replacements for the Harley filter and meet all the OEM specs and requirements--and these are not 5 micron nominal filters.
Champion makes most HD filters, including the "5 micron" filter for the Twin Cam. The 5 micron rating is mainly marketing on Harley's part since they don't spec that for the filter. This was verified through a Champion technical advisor who told me that the Champ PH3614 and Super Tech ST3614 are direct replacements for the Harley filter and meet all the OEM specs and requirements--and these are not 5 micron nominal filters.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
Well, unless Harley acknowledges that there are any other filters that meet their 'spec', I'm using the Harley filter. Really doesn't matter if it's better or not, my bike is still under warranty.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee area
And you know this, how? I know what tolerance is held on the production of HD rocker arm shafts, and it's pretty damn tight. Tighter than some auto engine part tolerances I've seen.
Again, I'll repeat archer's question: We spend thousands on chrome and other accessories, why quibble over a $6 difference in an oil filter?
Again, I'll repeat archer's question: We spend thousands on chrome and other accessories, why quibble over a $6 difference in an oil filter?
Last edited by Grind; Apr 13, 2009 at 08:45 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
amending
my earlier statement, 1 micron is .001 mm which is about .000039 in... either way very small given a human hair is .002 in.... Still in doubt about the need for a 5 micron filter... and to the guys who say its to filter out cam tensioner material , if thats the reason then I say BULL$HI??? to HD and their quality and R&D.....................BTW i love my Superglide!!!!.........................tim
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
I'm not saying Fram is better than HD or vice versa, but are all these things really as critical as these discussions get? The internet age has put everything under such a fine microscope that anything if researched enough will be proven to be substandard.
Think about it. Cars ran just fine for hundreds of thousands of miles on fram filters and cheep oil...
Think about it. Cars ran just fine for hundreds of thousands of miles on fram filters and cheep oil...
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee area
So with that, 5 microns is .000196". The print tolerance for rocker arm shafts is .0005" Without getting deep into statistical process control, histograms, etc, the actual production tolerance is held at .00015".
To put a spin on it (oil filter pun intended):
If they guy (Dave Zein?) that recently turned over 1,000,000 miles on his Evo changed his oil every 5,000 miles, he used 200 filters. At a difference of $6, he would have saved $1200 using the Wal-Mart Fram filters originally mentioned in this thread. Would the savings of using cheaper filters covered the cost of even one rebuild?
To put a spin on it (oil filter pun intended):
If they guy (Dave Zein?) that recently turned over 1,000,000 miles on his Evo changed his oil every 5,000 miles, he used 200 filters. At a difference of $6, he would have saved $1200 using the Wal-Mart Fram filters originally mentioned in this thread. Would the savings of using cheaper filters covered the cost of even one rebuild?
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
auto gas and diesel tech...
What tolerances do they keep on their bulky cast rocker assemblies??? I know most tolerances on autos are down near .0001 or less in critical areas and on diesels even tighter than that!!! Been to the navistar plant and their tolerances on their blocks demensions something like .00005 OR less it has been awhile since Ive been......tim
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
1 million mile evo???
This engine with 1 million miles has never had the heads pulled or the cylinders refreshed?? BTW Im not saying HD builds junk just a little frustrated over the one major weak link in the twin cam the tensioners and the frailty of them.... not gonna touch on the crankpin and the flywheel scissoring...................Are these not issues??? most of us will not see the flywheel issue but the tensioners will be an issue for most...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 8
From: Aurora, IL
Sometimes its not just about money. Sometimes driving to a dealer might be a pretty long trip. Some may not be able to get to a dealer during business hours. My local dealer is closed on sunday and monday and they close at 6 Tues-Friday. Some dont want to support dealers, HD and their price gouging. I am not crazy about the markup on HD parts. I won't buy HD oil's due to the fact that I can get better oil for the same price down the street. I have been using HD filters, but I am tempted to start looking for an alternative.