My .02 on this:
About six months ago I changed the oil on my daily
driver, a Volvo 240. Cranked it up and heard a
"foomp!" from under the hood. Shut down and took
a look, finding that the Fram oil filter had split
open where the body joins the mounting plate.
I mentioned this to my uncle, who runs the farm I
live on. He said he had a Fram burst on one of
his trucks, so he had switched back to the
admittedly expensive factory filters.
Filed this under "strange coincidences" and really
didn't think much about it. I'd been using Frams
for some time.
Anyway, just last week I noticed some fluctuations
in the oil pressure on that same Volvo (it has the
factory oil gauge, not the idiot light). I wondered
if the sender unit was dirty, if I had a bearing
wearing out, etc. Parked the car until I had a chance
to run it over to the Volvo mechanic for testing.
Sunday I read this report figured I didn't have but a
few bucks to lose, so I changed the oil and filter
on the Volvo, switching to Purolator Premium Plus
brand, available at Advance Auto. Well, all I can say
is that the oil pressure is back to being rock solid.
Was the old oil worn out? Don't think so, I changed
it over the Christmas holidays. If after a couple weeks
I notice more oil pressure fluctuations, I'll take it
in for more thorough testing. Would a faulty filter
affect the pressure? Again, I have no real knowledge.
But for time being I'm going to stick with Purolator
for the Volvo and MANN for the Triumph.
Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC
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