Terry Tan wrote:

  "It is common knowledge among us who are on the list awhile that Fram
filters are unsuitable for Vanagons."

  I offer this speculative response to observations that FRAM oil filters 
used in Vanagons result in lower oil pressures:  Lower particulate 
threshold passing media combined with lower total media surface area.
  In particulate passage tests, FRAM has shown up as a top performer for 
years.  This indicates to me that they have elected to use a finer pass 
media than most competitors.  As to whether the cost per unit area of 
this is higher than coarser media, I don't know that either.  But I did 
find it interesting to see a FLAPS point of sale product demonstration 
supplied by WIX, who's product box seems to claim WIX is an Original 
Product Manufacturer for quite a few others marketed labels.  The demo 
consisted of a FRAM and WIX oil filter apparently from identical 
application specifications.  Each was cut around its circumference to 
allow easy inspection of its media.  Just guessing based on what I saw, 
I'd think the accordion folded media had about twice the unfolded surface 
area in the WIX compared to the FRAM.
  There are so many assumptions integrated into this speculation that I 
offer it only as a first conjectural comment.  I could be completely 
wrong.  If someone knows of a person who wouldn't bias their comments to 
favor a company's economic interests, and who could address this anomaly 
well, please do a little arm twisting to get their explanation posted as 
to why the ordinarily considered excellent Fram product apparently 
performs so poorly in Vanagons.
   
  John
  "Do not look into laser with remaining good eye."