From: eliot@chutney.rtp.dg.com (Topher Eliot)
Subject: Summary:  Caravan/Voyager oil filters
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 19:24:20 GMT
Reply-To: eliot@dg-rtp.dg.com
Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC

As promised, here's the summary of replies to my query about oil filters
on Caravans.  First, my posting:

>I've been told by a local mechanic that I should use only Mopar filters on my
>92 Caravan, as he has had personal experience and heard from other mechanics
>that other brands tend to leak and/or fall off.  Has anyone else heard such
>a thing?  What brand do you use on your van, and have you had any problems?
>Please send me email and I'll post a summary if I get enough to merit it.
>If I hadn't heard any different, I would have used Fram, just because I think
>Consumer Reports once said it was a little better than the others they
>tested.

Foolish me for not mentioning that I have a 3.3 liter V6; I doubt that
experience with any other motor really means much.

I use Fram exclusively. At one time I heard Fram made filters for
Mopar years ago, but I don't know if it is true. I've had no problems
with any Fram on any of the 8 chrysler cars. I've heard people
had problems with Puralators on the earlier 2.2 engines.
****************************
I use only Fram (tm) on my 89 Voyager and have had NO TROUBLE with
leaking and/or falling off. (The very idea!)
[Which engine do you have?]
I have the 2.5 l. 4 cyl. engine.
****************************
  Just make sure any filter you buy says "Meets or exceeds the pressure
  requirements of the Chrysler corporation".  Most FRAM Wearguard filters
  bear this label.
****************************
I have used Fram and Wix without any problems at all.  I like the
construction of the Wix filter a bit better though.  -virgil
[Which engine do you have?]
Sorry, the 2.5 liter.  -virgil
****************************
I've used Fram oil filters on my '90 Voyager (3.0 V6) with
no problems...
****************************
Chrysler lists a smaller filter for passenger vehicles, which the oil 
companies use. And a larger one for truck use.
But quite often, other filters will fit, for example,
if the same engine is placed in a truck it will come with a different
heavy duty filter. Larger mainly, since truck fleets changes the oil
later. So either in the dealer or factory they use what ever is 
'laying around' as long as it fits in the engine compartment. Since
I use Mobil 1 and change the oil between 5000 and 7000 mi, I need 
a filter that will filter longer. It is very confusing if you
didn't know this because when you buy a filter, it is sometimes
alot smaller than what you are taking out.
****************************
     I have an 88 Caravan and have heard the same thing including from
a newspaper column that answers car questions. When we got ours 4 years
ago, it was said that the aftermarket brands had not had time to develop
a proper filter that fit exactly, and not to trust them. I have bought
the Mopar filters from the dealer for my own oil changes and have not
had any problems. I have seen the Mopar filters at general auto supply
stores recently though. I have been talking about the 3.0 V-6, by the way.
****************************
Well, I have an '89 with the Mitsubishi 3.0L V-6.  The only MOPAR filter that
it has ever had is the one that came from the factory, and it wasn't even 
MOPAR.  It was a Mitsubishi part.  Since that time it has had Purolator and
Fram filters on it, primarily Fram.  I buy what's on sale.  Once upon a time I
wandered through a K-Mart automotive section that was selling the Fram filter
for $1.  Bought all they had, although it was only five.  I buy brand name
filters and change them every 3,000 miles with the oil.
****************************
A member of the Milwaukee SAAB club did a study of oil filters.  he bought
a bunch of different brands, cut them open, and compared construction.

The FRAM was actually one of the cheaper-looking ones, construction-wise.
This was about 5 years ago, so I don't know if they have changed, but I
wasn't impressed (I had been using FRAM until then).  Now I use the real
SAAB filters (at $6.00 each) rather than bargain filters (at $3.00 each).
If you plan on keeping the car, IMHO, why not use the reccomended filter?

It would be interesting if someone would re-do one of these studies.  About
$30.00 and one could test a whole bunch of filters & see how they are building
them today.  
Well, I just did the first oil change on my '92 Grand Voyager (3.3L), and
I put on a Fram.  I haven't heard of any problems like you mention, but I
haven't asked around either.  So far, ~300 miles and no problems.
****************************
I use Fram exclusivly on my Mopars, both normally aspirated and intercooled 
turbos with no problem. I wouldn't use anything other aftermarket brand 
though.  I once talked to someone who was told by a Mopar service advisor 
only to use Mopar brand. 
****************************

-- 
Topher Eliot             Data General DG/UX Systems Administration Development
(919) 248-6371      eliot@dg-rtp.dg.com       {backbone}!mcnc!rti!dg-rtp!eliot
Obviously, I speak for myself, not for DG.
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"I opened an STR on myself and I had to reject it."  -- Paul McGrath
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