Blew my 03 V6 engine, then I found this...

After reading reviews about Fram filters and having used them my entire life (25 years of changing oil) I had the same "oh snap" reaction and immediately changed the filter on my 4Runner and my wife's Camry. First I went with Wix but since I always use synthetic oil the next oil change I went with the K&N. The general idea is synthetic oil = a synthetic filter media, like the K&N, Mobil 1, Bosch etc.
 
update

CJ3Flyr said:
Frenchie, where are you??? Update???
Click to expand...

I just got an update from Amsoil yesterday, they are not the quickest to reply as I sent two emails and a voice mail before they got back to me.
The good thing is they claimed my oil test passed (I believe the test was to confirm Amsoil oil was used) and they are now waiting for results on my oil filter flow test. A third party is doing both tests.
Hopefully within the next 2-3 weeks I will get a positive answer!
 
Same exact problem here! I have an 06' Tacoma with 68k and my oil light came on and five seconds after the engine sputtered and died last week. Mechanic determined that the engine was starved of oil and the motor was blown. I got looking into forums and found this one with the same exact thing. I take care of my vehicles and always check the oil so it wasnt neglect. After reading the Amsoil TSB from one of the posts, I called Amsoil and they are sending a kit as well and want to look at the filter too. I purchased the filter a month before the tsb came out but I never received any notifications about it. Let me know how it goes being that we are in the same boat.
 
Quick update.
Still no news after 2 other emails and a voicemail I sent in the past 2 weeks. I figure 2 months should be enough for testing an oil filter so I will be pressuring them much more this week. So far I am not impressed on their customer service and I'm getting a bit worried... Although no news might be good news who knows!
 
Good news!!!

Well pressuring them some more definitely changed things around. A day after sending a [very direct] email, they came back in less than a day and confirmed they would reimburse all expenses as long as I could provide pictures of the damaged bearings/rod bearing. Gee, but weren't the pics of the bottom of the oil pan self explanatory???
So I replied right away asking why, since the filter test was the reason to prove this issue in the first place. Before pushing the send button I also referred to the limited warranty for filters (found on their website) and found out that they require the damaged parts to be available for their technicians to inspect if it was needed. "Well sure" I said, they can inspect it at their own cost then.
So less than a day later I get an other email giving the a go-ahead for my mechanic (which still has my dead motor sitting on his shop floor) to dismantle the thing at their own cost. And as soon as I get those pictures to them they will cut me a cheque. (Now I hope there is no catch to all this, but I am confident that the damage will be clear.)
That's right boys, I am that close of getting my warranty honored! BUT, it's not all said and done yet, I just wanted to share the good news especially with the other unfortunate guys such as waters73.
Anyway I should have a definite answer next week I will get back to this thread when I do.

Cheers
 
dcon said:
This is why I always stick to OEM parts. All of the problems I've encounter on the vehicles that I have owned were caused by so called performance parts. I know I'll take some flak for this comments but its a fact, OEM parts are thoroughly tested and therefore superior to aftermarket. Hopefully things will work out for you.
Click to expand...

Even KN filters?
 
Frenchie,
Sorry for your loss but thanks for keeping us updated. I hope that Amsoil has done more to notify people of this issue. At my last oil change back in May the auto parts guy (a good named place) advised me of using Amsoil exactly as you described. Being uncomfortable of this I did not, unfortunately I might have had the same results as you. Me being kida wary on a 10,000 mile oil change I opted out and am glad I did. Maybe I'd be fine but now I know that 5,0000 is the limit great oil of not. 5000 miles NO MAS (no more)- MAS CERVEZA :) ok amigo; but no more miles!
 
Aquabear said:
Frenchie,
Sorry for your loss but thanks for keeping us updated. I hope that Amsoil has done more to notify people of this issue. At my last oil change back in May the auto parts guy (a good named place) advised me of using Amsoil exactly as you described. Being uncomfortable of this I did not, unfortunately I might have had the same results as you. Me being kida wary on a 10,000 mile oil change I opted out and am glad I did. Maybe I'd be fine but now I know that 5,0000 is the limit great oil of not. 5000 miles NO MAS (no more)- MAS CERVEZA :) ok amigo; but no more miles!
Click to expand...

It was the filter not the oil.
 
Glad you got a response back with some pressure. I'm still waiting! Its been about a month and Im going so start pushing harder and get some results next week. My oil test came back that saying there was normal levels of additives with minimal contaminants and no water or Glycol contamination in the oil. Of course there wasnt, its the filter that did the damage!

I had my engine torn part to send pictures of the damage when I contacted Amsoil initially and the engine is laying on the floor of the dealership with the truck sitting outside in the compound yard.

I hope the filter test proves that it was the cause so I can get my truck back. Being without a second vehicle has proved difficult and frustrating at times and riding a road bike has been good but its getting cold and winter is coming!!!

I hope that we both come out winners on this!
 
Getting closer...

I just came back from the shop, the damage to the bearings is pretty apparent. The races actually spun inside the bearing caps.
I just sent these pictures off to AMSOIL. Lets wait and see...

4RunnerDamagepics020.jpg~original

4RunnerDamagepics017.jpg~original

4RunnerDamagepics016.jpg
4RunnerDamagepics013.jpg
4RunnerDamagepics012.jpg
4RunnerDamagepics007.jpg
4RunnerDamagepics006.jpg
4RunnerDamagepics004.jpg
4RunnerDamagepics001.jpg~original
 
Note to self: Keep changing QHP 5w30 and Pureone or Toughguard filter at 5000 miles. Sorry, but 9000 miles on an oil filter will never happen in my world. Then having to wait several months for Amsoil to pony up on their warranty.

How much money are you saving doing extended drains?
 
This next statement is a bit like asking Mrs Lincoln "other than that how did you like the play?"

The inside of the engine looks really good and basically sludge free. It looks like the oil was doing well and the filter just lacked sufficient capacity...
:cheers:
 
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