Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: earlyre
one last post from me on this topic, and then i'll **** and leave it be. the only time the filters cost ford continual money, is in the factory.
it looks like Very few "Current" engines still call for the fl-820.
It's Mostly engines that have been phased out, or just gone out of production.
My Prime examples will continue to be the Duratec 3.0l, and 3.5l v6's.
The Ford Lima engine Plant, used to make the 3.0 Vulcan engine, before the Vulcan went out of production, they started making the Duratec 3.5l. Both engines used the F-400s. The equipment @ the factory, that delivers the filters to the assembly point,was set up for that size of filter.
(keep, though know plenty of folks who work @ the engine plant, i have no conformation of any of this, just speculation on my part that makes sense to me @ least.)
after the Vulcan went out of production, they switched the filter mounting to the metric threaded stud, from the 3/4-16.
around the same tie they came out with the new filter(fl-500), that is being used on more of the newer engines.
this filter, with the metric threads, and the same can size as the fl-400, can be used with the same racking and distribution system in the factory as the old one (one less thing to have to re-tool)
at the same time i'm sure some engineer, tested the newer filter(Fl-500), vs the old (fl-820), on the engines where the 820 was specd, and found no ill effects with the newer design, so they passed it along to the dealer networks, whose bean counters would be happy, b/c they could add the new filters, and eliminate stocking the old ones, for a nearly net zero change in their costs, vs the cost stocking yet another model of filter.
Remember, Ford Doesn't make the Motorcraft Filters directly, they have it farmed out, and that manufacturer builds to ford's spec, and pays ford a licensing fee. (Just like the Current Mopar Filters are made by Wix)
They(whomever actually makes the Motorcraft Filters), are free to continue to make the older design if they want, as some folks will stick with the design they know, and there are alot of motors still on the road that originally spec'd the old filter.
Like every Panther[Crown Vic, Grand Marquee,Marauder, Towncar], Mustang GT, and (v8 powered) f-150, from the late 90's until the Coyote came out.
Your wrong about the fords. The 4.9,5.0 and 5.8 all took the same oil filter. The 4.6 and 5.4 took a different filter.
The Windsor filters were longer than the mod filters.
I don't see where he mentioned the Windsor engines at all Clevy, he spoke specifically of the Modular, which took the FL-820S. The last engine from Ford to take the larger FL-1A was the 302 in the Explorer up to 2001, and it was the only vehicle I know of that persisted with fitment of the Windsor beyond 1995 when the Mustang got the 4.6L starting with the 1996 MY.
