The Fram PH2870A is designed for VW engines. The largest one it used on is the 6.0 liter W12 found in the Audi A8. If it threads up and doesn't leak, it works to a certain extent. However there is more to it than that. It's better to use a filter designed for the application.
The full size filter I recommend is the Wix 51515. The Motorcraft FL1 is good, too. If you have to have a Fram, try the PH8A and its upgrades.
The short filter is the Wix 51085 or Motorcraft FL842. The Fram equivalent is the PH16.
My personal favorite is the Fleetguard LF3313. Fleetguard is a subsidiary of Cummins. Used to work in parts for a while. Never saw any junk out of Fleetguard. I usually have to go to a "big truck" store or an Ag equipment dealer to get them.
Not everyone likes Fram. This probably the most reasonable treatment I have read regarding Fram oil filters.
Controversy (from Wikipedia)
An engineer started a website called "Oil Filters Revealed", for which he bought several brands of oil filter, dissected them to find out the quality of the internal components, and posted findings and photos on the website. Of the Fram oil filters, the following was said: "Years ago Fram was a quality filter manufacturer. Now their standard filter (the radioactive-orange cans) is one of the worst out there. It features cardboard end caps for the filter element that are glued in place. The rubber anti-drainback valve seals against the cardboard and frequently leaks, causing dirty oil to drain back into the pan. The bypass valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak all the time. The stamped-metal threaded end is weakly constructed and it has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which may restrict flow. I had one of these filters fail in my previous car. The filter element collapsed and bits of filter and glue were circulating through my system. The oil passage to the head became blocked and the head got so hot from oil starvation that it actually melted the vacuum lines connected to it as well as the wires near it."
Fram oil filters are also a recurring point of contention on automotive message boards, where many people have shared first hand bad experiences with Fram oil filters. Most of them report the observance of lower or fluctuating oil pressure; an issue that is resolved when a higher quality filter is reinstalled.
For the full article;
http://www.knizefamily.net/minimopar/oilfilters/index.html
