Wow! What a fun thread! Don, you get all the good conversations . . . Next I bet you're going to say something like, "Since a Fram's oil filtering efficiency is imaginary, you'll need a "j operator" if you're going to use one . . ." (hehe).

Carl, you made an interesting comment: "It's hard to take because they were once a good company, but AlliedSignal apparently 'knows' how to cut costs more than they 'know' how to make a good product." Well. As a 1993 participant of the "Allied Signal Dynamic Employment Opportunity Program" (I was one of thousands who got laid off by Larry Bossidy, Neutron Jack's protege, in the early- to mid-90's), I can tell you that the share holders' interest (read: "cost-cutting") is the number one issue on "their" priority list.

BTW, there is no more AlliedSignal (officially there is no space between the two words). The name disappeared as a part of the Honeywell-Allied Signal merger which was consumated the first of this year. And now GE is a acquiring Honeywell, so in many market sectors, the "Honeywell" name will disappear, too.

As far as the Fram filter question goes, 20 years ago, when I owned a V12 Ferrari 330, it was made quite clear to me NOT to use Fram filters . . . This point has been made to me over the years, from different sectors of the automotive world. Whether it's been hig-revving, oil-pressure-dependent engines (like an Alfa), or torquey slow-burners (like a BB Chevy), it's been the same thing. And to emphasize the point, when I lived in Dallas, I saw (at Point West Volvo in Irving) the difference in the filters - just as others have seen and reported. Specifically, the parts guy had cut open a number of different filters to visually demonstrate the differences. Besides the additional filtration area a Volvo filter has, I believe the most important difference is the check valve (I know some other filters have this feature, too). I'm sure you know, something like 75% (or is it as high as 90%?) of an engine's wear occurs at start-up. So (clearly) the quicker the oil gets in there the better.