My girlfriend used to get her oil changed for free when here dad was working nights at his buddy's shop, but he quit that job, so I'll be taking over her oil change duties. Anyways, I looked up her car at walmart, and it called for a fram ph3614, same thing as my jeep. I know for a fact that a Motorcraft FL-400s will work on my jeep, and was wondering if it will physically fit on her car (01 Saturn SL2 dohc). I havnt had a chance to look at it yet to see where its located and if there is room. I'm planning on either going with that motorcraft filter, or the purolator pureone that it calls for and will probably use Valvoline Maxlife, or PP in it. It gets almost all city miles put on it, and shes one of those that takes off, pedal to the metal before the thing even gets a chance to build up oil pressure.
FL-400s on a 01 Saturn SL2?
- Thread starter afoulk
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The filter is in the back of the motor, with a longer filter you may have clearance issues. I would recommend a Pure One filter in the correct size. I would also use the Maxlife, the Saturns use low tension rings and tend to use a little oil, the Maxlife seems to reduce the useage for some reason. If you want extra protection they make a Maxlife synthetic.
The FL-400S fits fine on a 1994 SL SOHC. Superech 8316 would also fit, but they seem to have been discontinued. I found some for $2.00 each a few years ago.
I have started removing the LH tire and rear splash shield to get at the filter. That may be a little more work, but it's a lot less messy.
I have started removing the LH tire and rear splash shield to get at the filter. That may be a little more work, but it's a lot less messy.
a 400-s is the same size as a ST3600. A 3614 is the same diameter but somewhat shorter. It's the same filter that goes on toyotas and my Dodge Neon. Pretty neat I can now consider a Saturn, based only on my oil change shrine.
Yeah, I know they are the same diameter, I was just concerned about the extra length, I wasn't sure if they would fit or not. And the rings would explain the oil usage as she seems to go through a qt. every oil change, but has no leaks. I would go with the Maxlife synthetic, but I can't find it anywhere in my area. I was thinking the regular semisynthetic stuff should be good enough anyways.
The longer filter fits fine on any Saturn S-series. I recommend the M1-209 or the Pure One PL-20195.
It might be a good idea to run some AutoRx to clean up the ring packs, an FL400s would be good for that.
Some people run diesel 5W40 in the summer to keep the oil consumption down and keep thing clean.
It might be a good idea to run some AutoRx to clean up the ring packs, an FL400s would be good for that.
Some people run diesel 5W40 in the summer to keep the oil consumption down and keep thing clean.
would LC-20 do anything to clean things up? I added a qt. of oil to it today and the baffle in the valve cover looked pretty nasty sludge wise. I have probably 3qts. of the stuff to use up yet and was thinking of using their old dosage they used to recommend of 2oz. per quart of oil and then adding the 1oz. per 1,000miles. If this wont accomplish much though, i'll get some AutoRX. Just trying to save money where I can, but I wanna get her car running right too as its been pretty neglected most of its life.
The valve cover opening is dirty on many Saturn 1.9's. There is a baffle that seems to collect alot of varnish and crud. The engine in mine is clean inside but that baffle always looks dirty for some reason.
Well, i thought of that too, but thought maybe with the mileage, and the way she drives it, something added to clean it out good might not hurt. I think it regularly gets run past its oci.
JTK
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Originally Posted By: afoulk
Yeah, I know they are the same diameter, I was just concerned about the extra length..
If an FL400 or equiv affords you at least an inch between it and the firewall, I'd think you'd be good to go with respect to normal engine movement. Any less and I'd be more nervous and twitchy than normal.
Joel
Yeah, I know they are the same diameter, I was just concerned about the extra length..
If an FL400 or equiv affords you at least an inch between it and the firewall, I'd think you'd be good to go with respect to normal engine movement. Any less and I'd be more nervous and twitchy than normal.
Joel
There is plenty of room behind the Saturn 1.9L. If it were not for that pesky CV shaft a FL1A would fit. 
Well, I guess I don't have to worry about changing oil in it right away. She just rear ended someone today with it, so it'll be a little bit till we find out whats gonna happen with it. Didn't really hurt the car that bad, but both air bags deployed. Shes ok, just a little sore.
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Sorry to hear about the car. Glad to hear that no one was seriously hurt. Air bag refit can total the car ..an 01 might make it depending on book.
I use a FL-400S in my Saturn.
I think its gonna get fixed either way. Either we'll just fix it ourselves, let the insurance company take care of it, or if its totaled, buy it back and just replace the air bags and dash panel. Other than that, it just scuffed the bumper, cracked it at the inside corners of the headlights, bent the bumper support in a bit, and dinged the hood a little. We're not to worried about the cosmetics though, mainly just the air bags. I was kinda hoping it would get totaled though and I could talk her into another Jeep
Also the KN-2009 it serves the wife's toy well. IMO the M1-209 and KN-2009 are the very best constructed in this filter pattern, KN being the better of the two. That's just my opinion.
When I had my 94 SL1, the FL400s fit just fine, as did the QS 3600/STP 3600. With the oversized filter its easier to get a good grab on it come oil change time.
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