Oil filter Fram or OEM Volkswagen

I just completed my first oil change on this car and it was a breeze compared to my MK5 R32. We have a bone stock 2018 SE AWD and I didn't even need to get the car on jack stands. Oil Filter, VW P/N 06L115562B

The Fram Ultra is a great filter and the quality is on par with it's competition.

They have synthetic media and wire backing for strength. Where other filters have collapsed from oil pressure (Bosch) the fram ultras hold together and when I tear them down after an oil change seem to still be good for another couple thousand miles.

The whole grippy-textured surface at the top so you can hand tighten and loosen them like you're supposed to is brilliant.

I typically go with Mobil 1. Fram has been manufacturing filters that use a little flap of tin for the bypass spring which comes on during high oil pressure situations, and at least in Canada i have seen these fail quite early. And not one or two, but closer to 3/10 i have cut open. I should cut more open as my observations are now a bit dated but in my opinion if it has a actual bypass spring inside of it, they will be more effective in the long run since the ones with a actual bypass spring inside of the filter i have personally never seen one fail yet.

And with filter media, you want it to be the vacuum bag. The canister that simply catches the most crap is not exactly the smallest micron rating, but the filter that returns to normal operation reliably when the vehicle hits operating temperature. And if that filter seems too expensive to run, then you really cannot afford to replace the engine.

Edit: Also it is worth checking out your factory supplied oil filter as they usually spring the bypass correctly for the designed engine oil pressure.

I had a FRAM oil filter on my 05 Impreza, I think the part number was #PH6607, I noticed i i was “burning” a ton of oil! I went to do my usual 3K Mile oil change. I noticed the oil levels were alot lower than the time i check a few days prior! I looked under the car and there was oil EVERYWHERE! Mainly built up around the filter!

I used a FRAM oil filter on the car at my last oil change and it turns out it collapsed internally triggering a low engine oil pressure to my ECU. The garage (VW/Audi/Porsche specialized) told me to never use anything other than Mann filters on my GTI since everything else is either gonna collapse or be more expensive than the Mann for no added benefits.

The cardboard construction on a Fram filter would have come apart.

Only filter I’ve ever had fail on me is a FRAM. Never again.

I think I tried using a Fram filter on my '99 truck once, and the filter was designed ever so slightly differently and as a result I lost all my oil in a week.