Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: Hallmark
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Ask the dealer to let you see one. If it has 6 oblong inlet holes, 6 crimps holding the gasket, and says "Fabriqué aux Etats-Unis", then it's the same filter.
Hmmm! The Motorcraft FL-820S is as you described, but the FL-500S has seven (7) inlet holes. The latter replaces the former in several engine applications since 2009, e.g. 3.0 Fusion.
The FL-500S does not replace the FL-820S in any application. They just spec the FL-500S for certain apps.
Thanks (seriously), bdcardinal, for your semantic correction...'replaces' may have been an inappropriate word in my previous post. At any rate, my selection of the Fusion 3.0 as an example was to focus on that engine app specifically. Prior to the 2009 model year, the FL-820S filter was spec'ed for the Fusion 3.0 V6. In August 2008, i.e. commencing with the 2009 model year and subsequent 2010-2011 model years, Ford spec'ed the FL-500S filter for the Fusion 3.0.
A review of this forum and other Ford/Fusion forums indicates that the spec change from FL-820S to FL-500S for the 3.0 app has caused some confusion amongst some DIYs searching through outdated retailer's filter catalogs, some issues with lube shops cross-referencing to the wrong aftermarket replacements, and even some Ford dealers reported to be installing both filters interchangeably.
The two filters differ in dimensions but, more inportantly, by-pass pressures and flow rates are not the same.
