FRAM and Champion Labs Affected by First Brands Bankruptcy

[g2020]

Update on June 21, 2026:
This is already old news, but the AMSOIL Oil Filter, product code EA15K19-EA, has also been affected by the pause/shutdown of Champion Labs. Apparently, Champion Labs was the supplier and AMSOIL says that they are "managing" their remaining stock to prevent hoarding (a lesson learned during COVID). Also, rumor has it that AMSOIL is honoring their lubricants warranty, and possibly the (supplemental) Signature Series motor oil guarantee, with the use of a WIX or WIX XP filter as a stopgap measure. AMSOIL is reportedly in the process of switching to a new supplier. Of course, the proprietary filament and machinery are used in more than just the EA15K19-EA, so resolving this issue may take some time. Please note that, although AMSOIL SS motor oil is their flagship motor oil product line, it is API compliant but not API licensed.

For a list that includes links to all three filters mentioned above, see Section 1.6 in Links to Prices.

Original post:

I hoped that somehow the bankruptcy of First Brands, the parent company of FRAM and Champion Labs, would not significantly harm these two brands (among many under the First Brands umbrella). However, the FRAM websites have been taken down, and, according to a Reddit post, there have been layoffs at Champion.

The bankruptcy started in September 2025. I'm sure a lot has been written about this on the web. Here is one such article.

Back when many cities had only four VHF stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS, the last of which didn't really count), the FRAM slogan was: "You can pay me now....Or, pay me later", which first aired in 1971.

At the retail level (namely, Walmart), I did not notice anything out of the ordinary when I bought a FRAM filter in January 2026. After I wrote this post today, I visited my local Walmart. The FRAM shelves were down to remnant & damaged stock. While this situation is being sorted out, I have placed a notice, shown below, in each of my posts related to FRAM.

If you have more info on FRAM and you think that I am being too cautious, let me know and I will edit the notice in each of my posts.

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[rharr]

Fram is nothing special, they are just the orange brand of the autoparts house brand.

and champion plugs are for lawn mowers and mini bikes.

 

[Renegade]

I noticed the Fram oil filter bins at my local Walmart mostly empty last week. I wondered why…

 

[bleda2002]

That sucks the fram ultra was tested as one of the best filters on the market. No wonder my local Walmart fram stuff has been mostly non-existent for so long

 

[Wageslave]

There was a plant closure and layoffs at the Albion, IL facility back in March. Come to find out, they also hadn't been paying the employees health insurance for the last couple of months before that point. It looks like Fram, and several others under the FIrst Brands umbrella have been bought out by PGI Northstar. Supposedly they are hiring again and there is talk of restarting the previously closed Champion Labs in West Salem, IL as well.

It personally stinks of one Venture Capital company selling off to another Venture Capital company so they can have a turn at chewing on the bones of these businesses, but only time will tell.

 

[g2020]

Fram is nothing special, they are just the orange brand of the autoparts house brand.

and champion plugs are for lawn mowers and mini bikes.

Champion Labs is/was the private label manufacturer of Royal Purple Filter 40-1009 and Super Tech Oil Filter ST11665. These are not the biggest players, but they're in the game.

As for the orange brand, FRAM had one of the most iconic slogans in TV advertising history. Most others can only wish that they achieve such long-term brand recognition. Shelf space for automotive consumables is valuable. I imagine that there are managers at Walmart corporate, not to mention auto parts stores and other big-box stores, who are scrambling to fill the gap.

FRAM ULTRA AIR Premium Air Filter SKU XGA12373 and FRAM ULTRA SYNTHETIC Oil Filter XG11665 were two of my top picks.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

All I'm seeing is good for the market. FRAM filters are nothing special, and their cheaper products actually have less protection thus higher flow.

Until you cut apart all the filters and compare, you'll never understand why cheaper filters are CHEAPER. Can style filters are the bigger offenders, not the paper style like ours.

And Champion making Royal Purple stuff? Glad they went under, RP is garbage.

 

[g2020]

good for the market

I agree that laissez-faire is best for the consumer as long as poor ethics don't enter the picture. Also, the point about Champion Labs was not to put them on a pedestal, but rather to let folks know that they were part of this shake-up.

The FRAM ULTRA engine air filter & FRAM ULTRA oil filter that I installed looked good. Definitely not an inferior design or poor assembly.

There's also the report that the founder of First Brands allegedly "pilfered" (stole) what could be north of a billion dollars from the company. Ethics were the last thing on his mind.

When there are fewer competitors, there is increased risk of higher prices and/or lower quality. FRAM's competitors will fill the void, but not one of them offers a make-it-right warranty (for DIY), as FRAM did, for an engine air filter that fits the Gladiator. Whether or not a warranty is important to someone, this represents a reduction in quality. Update: There are others, such as NAPA (FIL 200841) and WIX (WA10841), that offer an engine air filter with a make-it-right warranty.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

I agree that laissez-faire is best for the consumer as long as poor ethics don't enter the picture. Also, the point about Champion Labs was not to put them on a pedestal, but rather to let folks know that they don't just make spark plugs for lawn mowers.

The FRAM ULTRA engine air filter & FRAM ULTRA oil filter that I installed looked good. Definitely not an inferior design or poor assembly.

There's also the report that the founder of First Brands allegedly "pilfered" (stole) what could be north of a billion dollars from the company. Ethics were the last thing on his mind.

When there are fewer competitors, there is increased risk of higher prices and/or lower quality. FRAM's competitors will fill the void, but not one of them offers a make-it-right warranty (for DIY), as FRAM did, for an engine air filter that fits the Gladiator. Whether or not a warranty is important to someone, this represents a reduction in quality.

Business aside, ANY filter that "flows more" means you're getting LESS filtration and more contaminants. Not worth the issues, especially on engines people already claim (not me claiming) are fragile (must be Italian).

And oiled filters are heavy on maintenance, which most people won't do and actually cost more for the non-existent gains without tuning.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Sadly like most of made in US brands, they get bought out by greedy leader/investors, who bleed the company dry, then either liquidate or send production out of the US, leaving hundreds if not thousands of fellow Countrymen out of work. All in the name of profits.

 

[cb4017]

I took this pic in the local Walmart a few days ago. Pretty empty. Over on BITOG there is talk of Walmarts being restocked with Purolator Gold filters.

Filters now days are a global thing. You can buy two of the same brand and part number filter and they will be made in two different countries. Sad that filters made in Korea, Taiwan and China are looking better internally than USA made filters. I just cut open a pricy K&N off of my daughter's car that had torn pleats after a 5,000 mile run.

As far as filter quality, you take your chances now days.

One of the advantages of our cannister type oil filter is we can inspect before and after use.

 

[biodiesel]

Here's my current oil filter inventory for our 2015 Ram EcoDiesel. For those who don't know, Fram's Ultra Synthetic is the best oil filter on the market for the 2nd Gen EcoDiesel. It's rated for 25,000 miles, has excellent flow characteristics, low micron rating, and has 17.5 grams of capacity. As you can see, I also have the Fram Tough Guard filter. It's rated for 15,000 miles.

 

[Hootbro]

Champion Laboratories had no relation to Champion brand spark plugs.

Plus PGI has bought the FRAM and Champ labs IP and the assests at the Albion IL factory and is working to restart production there.

PGI is better known for their Asian made filters which are of better design and quality. Hopefully they bring some of that with them when they restart the Albion, IL plant.

 

[Rusty PW]

First Brands just got hit with a $280 million tariff bill.

 

[Hootbro]

First Brands just got hit with a $280 million tariff bill.

Blood out of a turnip comes to mind, but the Govt. does get front of the line status ahead of other creditors owed in bankruptcy.

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