I have serious doubt that Fram is the OE manufacturer of any of those brand's oil filters. I also seriously doubt that Honda installs Fram oil filters or oil filters made by Fram. Try reading one of the oil filter tests on what has been found by those who have cut open Fram oil filters sometime, you'll quickly lose your love for Fram's junk.
I have cut filters apart - a year or so ago. Still have the pieces.
Cellulose fibre end caps, used on some Frams (not on the Xtended Guard), aren't bad. The only purpose of the end cap is to seal the ends of the filter media pleats to prevent oil passage there. Since oil is already passing through a cellulose/ cellulose composite filter, having that cellulose glued to cellulose end caps, versus metal end caps, isn't a stretch. The glue likely adheres better cellulose to cellulose than metal to cellulose.
Heard somewhere that some Toyota oil filters just have the ends of the pleats glued to seal them, no end caps. Haven't cut one of those apart but that technology isn't a stretch either.
Champion filters have fibre end caps and a plastic core tube in their Ecore design. I believe Champion makes AC Delco filters now, AC Delco not making filters anymore.
I have no particular love for Fram, just being a devil's advoate when it comes to bashing in general. Those on the Toyota and Honda 4WD sites think Jeeps are junk and use Consumer Reports for backup to that thinking. They bash but they are polarized and misinformed in their thinking. Same here as to Fram. Fram isn't a mickey mouse company.
Over the years I used a lot of Motormaster oil filters and never had a problem. I found out a year or so ago that they are made by Fram. Today it's Mopar filters which I can get for $2.50 each. $ talks.
Oh yes, the Honda oil filters. Have seen, on different occassions, that Honda oil filters are made by Fram (Honeywell). One occassion was from a Minivan Forum I'm on and the Poster was a Fram representative. Also see this BITOG
Post.
The way to tell if a product is bad is to check out the lawsuits. An oil filter company can't afford too many of those before they start making changes in design. How long have the cellulose based end caps and filter media been around. Lets say
over 45 years.
The filter media, which in some cases feature metal screenbacks for additional protection, is held in place inside the oil filter canister by end caps and a special adhesive. Most end caps are made of metal, however, several FRAM filters feature cellulose fiber end caps.
Fiber end caps are a logical alternative to metal end discs. Like the fibrous filter media, they provide an excellent bonding surface for the adhesive providing a very robust seal. They have proven durability in FRAM filters for more than 45 years.
45 years .... that's longer than most of the Fram bashers have been around.
