Fram air filter: MX vs USA?

fourpointzero

fourpointzero

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I went to Walmart to pickup an air filter for my 01 and noticed that Fram had two different boxes for the same model filter. However, 3 different variations of the same filter in each box. My guess was that one was older than the other. Upon inspection I noticed one had an orange border and it was made in Mexico. It also had a metal mesh one one side. Another, thinner box, (all the same dimension filter) with also an orange border but no metal mesh -made in Mexico. Then there was a USA made filter but with a white border instead of orange and no metal mesh.

Anyone ever encounter this, or know which is the latest version? And please, before you trash Fram, I get we all have our preferences but Im simply interested in feedback regarding those differences. Had Amazon not canceled my shipment for a Purolator One filter I wouldn't have been buying a Fram.

✌️
 
Mr. Bills said:
Walmart is large enough to negotiate "Walmart Only" versions of products, usually with fewer features or cheapened in some way, to keep the retail cost down.

Perhaps that is the case here. Just guessing.
Click to expand...

Valid point. I used to work in the garment district in New York City and Walmart was getting licensed T-shirts w multiple colors to market at unheard of pricing.

Yeah, but why would the USA made products be different? I guess it could be said that the last updated US version was the cheapest to manufacture thus having a white border banding and the missing mesh but Im completely speculating. I might go to Walmart later today. That said will take photos of what they have to show a visual of the differences and post them here as an update.
 
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fourpointzero said:
I might go to Walmart later today. That said will take photos of what they have to show a visual of the differences and post them here as an update.
Click to expand...

I looked up the Fram part numbers for your '01 TJ. The product differences you noted don't have anything to do with date of manufacture, place of manufacture, my guess at Walmart only specifications, etc. The differences are the different grades of the same product


Pay close attention to the prefix before the part number and compare with the differences in construction you noted in post #1.



Fram Drive FDA8205

1717960346928.png



Fram Extra CA8205

1717960457076.png



Fram Ultra XGA8205


1717960782277.png
 
5632 said:
Reread them.
Click to expand...

Here ya go, cous. Same number on the boxes, different size boxes. All filters labeled "8205" but the markings are all different. The two on the left don't have the metal mesh. The one on the right does. I purchased one w the mesh. All the boxes depict and image of a filter w the metal mesh.

And yep, correct @JEEPCJTJ 👍

IMG_3690.jpeg


IMG_3691.jpeg
 
Last edited:
fourpointzero said:
I went to Walmart to pickup an air filter for my 01 and noticed that Fram had two different boxes for the same model filter. However, 3 different variations of the same filter in each box. My guess was that one was older than the other. Then there was a USA made filter but with a white border
Click to expand...

Go with USA and a white border. 🤫 🇺🇸
 
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fourpointzero said:
Here ya go, cous. Same number on the boxes, different size boxes. All filters labeled "8205" but the markings are all different. The two on the left don't have the metal mesh. The one on the right does. I purchased one w the mesh. All the boxes depict and image of a filter w the metal mesh.

And yep, correct @JEEPCJTJ 👍

View attachment 533492

View attachment 533493
Click to expand...

If I'm not COMPLETELY off base it looks like the manufacture dates are 21, 23,and 05 left to right. Last two numbers of top row SHOULD be year.
 
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TerryD said:
For what value it may offer, this test sold me on AC Delco air filters for everything I drive.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html/amp

But I've seen the non-backed filter suck in after getting hit with water (bad driver, deep puddle, WHEEGOSPLASH, DEAD Hemi) so the added protection of the metal screen has merit in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Same here, there was also a thread about the AC Delco filter a while back. What I'm seeing in the filter world though is what is true today may not be true tomorrow. Manufacturing seems to be jumping around and some of the products we are used to have changed without us even noticing. A perfect example is the Motorcraft oil filters, they use to be the best due to the location and durability of the bypass valve but they changed all that and now use the same flimsy bypass valve as everyone else, located in the same place as everyone else. I don't know if they cheapened the entire lineup including the racing products, or just some of them.
 
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B1Toad said:
Same here, there was also a thread about the AC Delco filter a while back. What I'm seeing in the filter world though is what is true today may not be true tomorrow. Manufacturing seems to be jumping around and some of the products we are used to have changed without us even noticing. A perfect example is the Motorcraft oil filters, they use to be the best due to the location and durability of the bypass valve but they changed all that and now use the same flimsy bypass valve as everyone else, located in the same place as everyone else. I don't know if they cheapened the entire lineup including the racing products, or just some of them.
Click to expand...

I would think that the filter would still have to pass the same performance tests to get the seal of approval from each company. Even though only some NAPA Gold oil filters are made by Mann+Hummel now, NAPA requires the other manufacturers to meet the specs for filtering performance and bypass operation.

With an air filter where the bypass isn't a thing, I bet the Delco filter media still meets the specs that were shown in that test.
 
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