Since the Motorcraft FL-820S looked a little shabby, I decided to gather up a bunch of competing filters and see how they look.
I bought some Champion Labs PH820 from Rock Auto as wholesale closeouts. They sat on someones shelf for a bit over 2 years so there are some issues. Otherwise, a nifty little filter.
Here goes.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#1 Can Label.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#2 Date Code a bit difficult to photograph. Made Jan 15, 2014. A little over 2 years old. This is not good as you will see later.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#3 Dome end spring.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#4 Dome end view shows spot on media and only 4 vertical ribs. This appears to be an old design design. I would be reluctant to use this filter because of the mold/mildew on the media and the window spacing of the cage. For short cleanup OCIs I think they would be OK.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#5 Dome end close up detailing the mold/mildew a bit better.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#6 Dome end close up of the fiber cap. Shows the integrity or lack of integrity of the media to end cap attach.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#7 Nitrile combo ADBV + Relief Valve. This shot clearly shows the ADBV has to seal against the 8 primary inlet holes. They were just smooth. I do not know if this would cause any cold start issues or not.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#8 Inside of base plate 6 small holes relief valve inlets, 8 main inlet holes. The dome end spring now becomes important to the relief valve setting.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#9 Outside of base plate. I am not really sure the extra plate helps during install or not. It is there for a purpose.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#10 Filter side of the combo valve. The combo valve was still pliable and I believe would seal fine when covered with oil.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#11 Nice and even pleat spacing #1. In my opinion, this is the best part of this filter. Pleat spacing is much more even than the Motorcraft FL820S even on the worst pleats.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#12 Nice and even pleat spacing #2. There is that mold or mildew again. Really I am not certain what it is.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#13 Nice and even pleat spacing #3. I wish Purolator would do this.
I fully intend to checkout the newer vintage eCores. The ones with 8 vertical ribs in the cage would have much narrower window spacing to support the media. I have an AC Delco PF1250 on the Ranger as this is being written. The STP S2 looks good also for a sub $4 filter. I called Champion Labs but someone from Fram answered. Not once but twice. He said these were designed to go manufacturer's recommendations for OCI. Of course he was pushing Fram.
I would be reluctant to use these because of the corruption on the media and the huge window spacing caused by the core design.
Here are the reference links to the used FL820S I have already cut & post.
Motorcraft FL820S cut open Date code: 904121217 #3994569
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3996687/1
This is Motorcraft FL820S Date code: 906241527. #3994586
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3994586
This is an unused Motorcraft FL820S Date code: 909031527
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3997575/Motorcraft_FL-820S_Date_code:_#Post3997575
This Firestone TF4651 looked good.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3994624/Re:_Motorcraft_FL820S_cut_open#Post3994624
I bought some Champion Labs PH820 from Rock Auto as wholesale closeouts. They sat on someones shelf for a bit over 2 years so there are some issues. Otherwise, a nifty little filter.
Here goes.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#1 Can Label.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#2 Date Code a bit difficult to photograph. Made Jan 15, 2014. A little over 2 years old. This is not good as you will see later.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#3 Dome end spring.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#4 Dome end view shows spot on media and only 4 vertical ribs. This appears to be an old design design. I would be reluctant to use this filter because of the mold/mildew on the media and the window spacing of the cage. For short cleanup OCIs I think they would be OK.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#5 Dome end close up detailing the mold/mildew a bit better.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#6 Dome end close up of the fiber cap. Shows the integrity or lack of integrity of the media to end cap attach.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#7 Nitrile combo ADBV + Relief Valve. This shot clearly shows the ADBV has to seal against the 8 primary inlet holes. They were just smooth. I do not know if this would cause any cold start issues or not.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#8 Inside of base plate 6 small holes relief valve inlets, 8 main inlet holes. The dome end spring now becomes important to the relief valve setting.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#9 Outside of base plate. I am not really sure the extra plate helps during install or not. It is there for a purpose.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#10 Filter side of the combo valve. The combo valve was still pliable and I believe would seal fine when covered with oil.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#11 Nice and even pleat spacing #1. In my opinion, this is the best part of this filter. Pleat spacing is much more even than the Motorcraft FL820S even on the worst pleats.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#12 Nice and even pleat spacing #2. There is that mold or mildew again. Really I am not certain what it is.
Champ PH820-011514ES1#13 Nice and even pleat spacing #3. I wish Purolator would do this.
I fully intend to checkout the newer vintage eCores. The ones with 8 vertical ribs in the cage would have much narrower window spacing to support the media. I have an AC Delco PF1250 on the Ranger as this is being written. The STP S2 looks good also for a sub $4 filter. I called Champion Labs but someone from Fram answered. Not once but twice. He said these were designed to go manufacturer's recommendations for OCI. Of course he was pushing Fram.
I would be reluctant to use these because of the corruption on the media and the huge window spacing caused by the core design.
Here are the reference links to the used FL820S I have already cut & post.
Motorcraft FL820S cut open Date code: 904121217 #3994569
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3996687/1
This is Motorcraft FL820S Date code: 906241527. #3994586
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3994586
This is an unused Motorcraft FL820S Date code: 909031527
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3997575/Motorcraft_FL-820S_Date_code:_#Post3997575
This Firestone TF4651 looked good.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3994624/Re:_Motorcraft_FL820S_cut_open#Post3994624