Oil filter Fram or Mahle

OEM is best for the 1.8T, larger filter, more ooil, better flow. FRAM is not good for your 1.8T-problems.

ooooohhh thanks for the tip. oh yeah, mahle oil filter, new cable bushings, new rubber type valve cover gasket seal, valve cover gasket studs, dipstick bushings, oil, and myriad other things are waiting to go in...

motor oil: Valvoline 20W50 dinosaur oil with a Mahle filter

I guess after 24 years and almost 300k miles I should have realized that using Fram filters was a bad idea. I added a factory oil cooler to my GTI to deal with the additional thermal load caused by my turbocharger. I has been very effective in dropping oil temperatures and has not significantly raised my coolant temperatures (I added a cooler fan switch as well), it's a great way to go.

Fram is a good filter, just make sure you get the upgraded one for the car. Use good oil change when scheduled and the filter will do it's job nicely.

Indeed, lack a drain back valve in many applications, poor quality, low pleat count, horrible filtration numbers, general poor build quality.

Fram filters do NOT have an anti drain back valve in them.

If you heard strange noises, then you must have been using FRAM

my experience was on my monte carlo ss, the oil pressure flickered and went through the roof, something happened with the filter and almost caused me to blow my motor, i tried another one for about an hour or so and sure enough it happened again. changed to a different brand, worked fine. my buddies dad who is an avid car collector and builds race cars told me after the incident occured that those filters are crap.

Fram makes a decent filter for everone else but not for VWs. Something about the cold start bypass valve not working well, or something.