better filter than Motorcraft FL 820-s ?

97tbird · Mar 3, 2004

I'm using the Motorcraft FL 820-s filter(oem recommended) on my 1997 4.6L T-bird; I'm satsified with it so far(car has 93k miles, and no filter/oil related prob's so far), but:
I don't know enough about filters to determine weather this is the best for my car, OR:
COULD there be e better oil filter for this engine, which can improve oil flow or add more advantages?
if yes, which are those?
---or is the FL-820s good enough?

Thanks in advance for any input.

HOndaGuy · Mar 3, 2004

Stick with the oem. Motorcraft filters are near the top, and plus, they dont cost an arm and a leg. I used to use them when i had my 93 cougar(3.8 v6), and they worked like a charm. You can't get a better filter for less than $3 bucks that is oem for ford.

RF Overlord · Mar 3, 2004

^^^what HOndaGuy said^^^

I'm a reformed FRAM user...with the help of this board I've come to realise that you can't go wrong using the manufacturer's house-brand filters...

JohnnyO · Mar 3, 2004

Motorcraft is a very good filter. The only ones as good or better IMO would be a Purolator Pure ONE (probably the same filter), Mobil 1, or K&N.

Bror Jace · Mar 4, 2004

I agree that these are a great filter for less than $3 each. I use them on Dad's Mercury Grand marquis with the 4.6L V8.

The ones I have seen (bought at WalMart around here) look to be made by Purolator.

To get something significantly better made you'd have to go Wix or Hastings/Baldwin and good luck getting either of those for less than $5 each. I doubt a UOA would show any difference.

--- Bror Jace

Bror Jace · Mar 4, 2004

"The only ones as good or better IMO would be a Purolator Pure ONE (probably the same filter) ..."

It probably varies from application to application but the primary difference between these two filters is just the media ... and the fancy shmancy paint job the Pure-Ones have.

Me? I no longer care for the high efficiency filters. I'd rather have a less-dense media but greater oil flow. The high efficiency media cuts down on rate of flow of oil, all other variables held constant.

When these filters are the size of a shot glass, I'm especially leery of the highly restrictive media.

Check out the UOAs from Bob's Ford Escort 1.9L on this site. He ran it with NO FILTER at all.

--- Bror Jace

MNgopher · Mar 4, 2004

One difference between a Pure One and a Motorcraft FL-820s is the bypass valve. The Motorcraft gets in on the mounting end of the can, the Pure one gets a cheap spring on hte closed end of the can.

Personally, I don't care which end of the can the BPV is on.

For $3, the FL-820s is hard to beat. Some of the higher $ filters may or may not be better, but the best value is on the FL-820s.

FL-400S · Mar 4, 2004

Its what my dad is running on the '96 police interceptor and '01 crown vic civilian interceptor

crossbow · Mar 4, 2004

Here's some X-ref's to the Motorcraft FL-820S

Baldwin b329
SuperTech ST2
AC Delco PF1250
wix 51372
carquest 372
k&n 2010
Amsoil SDF-11
Purolator Premium Plus L24651
Purolator Pure One PL24651
Penzoil (FRAM) PZ-42
Valvoline (Champion) VO-55
Quaker State - QZ-2
Fram (various Lines)- PG2, EG2, TG2
Napa Gold (Wix) 1372
Napa Silver (Wix) 31372
Supertech ST-2
Casite (Hastings/Baldwin Cheapie line) CA-110
Mobil 1 M1-210

The motorcraft filter is a very nice filter. If you felt like having additional flow/easier installation/removal, stick a K&N 2010 on there. Keep in mind though, it'll cost 3x more, and it won't be 3x better.

97tbird · Mar 6, 2004

Hey all,

thanks so much for the great info/your thoughts.
I guess I'm already using a good filter, then.
However I notice more start-up/valve noise in cold weather with syn.oil;
now, this could of course be the oil, and not a filter-related isuue, but I've read that some people got rid of start-up noises by trying a different filter...I don't know weather I should try it or not ???(this noise is ONLY with thinner sun.oils in winter; otherwise the fl-820-s has been great.)

So; a K&N or a Baldwin will provide more flow than a FL820-s??
is that a proven fact with numbers or a statement by the manufacturers?

would you guys advice me try one of those as an experiment? if yes,which one will provide more flow, the K&N or the Baldwin?

thanks again.

97tbird · Mar 7, 2004

bumpig this ' cause I'm curious:

which equivalent of the FL-820/s will provide the higher flow:
--Baldwin or
--K&N

Thanks.

crossbow · Mar 7, 2004

I believe the K&N is one of the highest flowing filters on the market.

Its just 10 bucks, why not give it a try once? If it doesn't improve anything, just go back to the motorcraft.

Hard to beat the motorcraft for the price though...hella cheap quality filter.

T-Keith · Mar 8, 2004

The only thing that bothers me about the K&N is the rubber ADBV. The motorcraft and others use silicone which is alot better IMO.

-T

crossbow · Mar 8, 2004

Schmoe,

In a space which is constricted by the location of exhaust piping, or otherwise difficult to get to, that little nut is a godsend. Its alot easier to fit a rachet/socket into a tight spot then one of those huge filter wrenches, or even your hand.

Schmoe · Mar 8, 2004

Also hard to beat the sevice life. Motorcraft filters have been around before some of us were even born. One comment was the K&N filters were easier to remove???? What???? removal is removal, unless your referring to that nut looking thing made from sheet metal on the filter so you could get a big wrench on it to make you think it's easier to get off..... looking kind of thing.

FordManVT · Aug 25, 2004

Ford is using the silicone ADBV because most of their modular engines that use it have it at a 90 deg angle. without a good working ADBV, zero oil will remain in the filter.

As for the K&N and it's nut....it'll probably make it near impossible to change the oil in your t-bird. without the nut you have to thread it through upside down, go above the mount, and bring it down on the other side of the sway bar. I'd hate to do it with an added 3/8"!

Or you could do what quite afew t-bird owners have done and put in a perma-cool remote kit and mount it under the battery. Uses the FL1A, a good filter for a great price.

boxcartommie22 · Aug 25, 2004

the highest flowing filters on the market is the donaldson, hastings, fleetguard

JustinH · Aug 25, 2004

Stick with the motorcraft 820s.

My truck has it at a 90 degree angle, and its a spin off deal, real easy.

My tbird it is in a very tough spot. My car has no front swaybar due to its drag race suspension, so that makes it so simple you have no idea.

But on a daily driver tbird, just spin them on and off by hand with a piece of sandpaper on your hand, this way you won't have any trouble next time. There is no room to get a wrench anywhere near the filter in that setup.

Bio-T · Aug 25, 2004

I agree that the Motorcraft Full Flow filter will more than satisfy your needs. I use the FL-1995 on both my PSD's, and have since new. They do the job with no problems. On prior Ford gas vehicles I used a Motorcraft or block off plate and did away with the FF and used a bypass filter.

Mamala Bay · Aug 25, 2004

The Motorcraft construction is top notch and filtering like wise. But is FLOW more important. I don't know but with better engines and combution we see today, is filtering an over rated thing. Would Fram fit that bill, lousy construction but good flow for a 3K OCI.

better filter than Motorcraft FL 820-s ?

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