Well fellas, I have some encouraging news. My local Wal-Mart had a total of (8) FRAM XG2 filters on the shelf, all with the newer box style referencing the "
Perfect Seal Gasket" in place of the old "
Durable Metal Screen". I opened each of the boxes to take a look down the center and check the date codes. All eight filters had the typical wire mesh backing that I've become accustomed to, with the typical light pink/purple synthetic microglass media visible (see photos).
I also compared the FRAM XG2 to the cheaper PH2 and TG2 filters. The PH2 and TG2 filter media looked similar to one another, but the XG2 media was distinctly different in appearance. The TG2 was only slightly heavier than the PH2, but the XG2 was significantly heavier than the TG2 — I'd guess by a factor of 2–2.5x.
The build date codes on the FRAM XG2's are where things get interesting. There were a total of four distinct build codes in the batch of eight filters. I was able to find
build code decoder instructions for FRAM oil filters over at BITOG, so I've translated each of the four codes below:
(1) A21801 — 06/29/2022
(1) A22491 — 09/06/2022
(1) A23391 — 12/05/2022
(5) A30321 — 02/03/2023
This appears to indicate that even FRAM XG2 filters manufactured as recently as February, 2023 still contain the wire mesh and pink/purple microglass media.
Once I got home, I weighed each of the filters on my surprisingly-handy baby scale (I'm Dad to three urchins 5 and under!) and found that regardless of build code, the filters all checked in at exactly
.98 lb. (15.68 oz.).
I believe the weight to be significant because in the 7/30/2021 Whip City Wrencher YouTube video
comparing a FRAM XG2 filter to the Amsoil EAO11, he found that a FRAM XG2 w/
Build Code A11231 (05/03/2021) weighed 15.7 oz. (.98125 lb.), virtually identical to the filters I just purchased which were manufactured February, 2023.
Conversely, in the 08/20/21 Whip City Wrencher YouTube video
comparing the redesigned FRAM XG10575 to the original, he found that the redesigned version of that filter which was lacking the wire backing (
Build Code A11733, or 06/22/2021) weighed
12.6% less than the original (
Build Code A03153, or 11/10/2020).
So what's the story here? Has FRAM's much-maligned revamping of the media in the XG filter line simply not yet reached the XG2's? Seems somewhat unlikely given that the change was first reported/identified as of 06/22/2021, and XG2's are still being made in February 2023 with what appears to be the original design.
Did FRAM simply never intend to roll out this change to ALL XG-line filters, one of the exceptions being the XG2? Or did early negative feedback from users such as those here play a role in halting the change before it was fully released? Interested to hear everyone's thoughts on this.