Having read the "horrors of the Motorcraft FL820 oil filter," I decided to cut mine open. Hopefully this experiment adds to the growing evidence that these filters are perfectly fine and of excellent quality and a bargain at $4.
Car: 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, purchased May 2020 for $2600 @ 95000 miles. History in brief. Car has had at least 3 and possibly 5 prior owners, records are unclear. The records I have show oil changes at 19k, 23k, 30k, 41k, 45k, 52k, 83k, & ~95k (done Feb 2020, prior to when I purchased it.
The 820 filter is dated January 15, 2020. I wrote my name on it to prove it's mine and I just did this today. I removed the filter it in Jan 2021 @ ~98k or 2,600 miles. I suspect that conventional oil was used, considering cost cutting that sellers do when preparing to sell their car. This is supported by how black the oil appears, suggesting conventional. I happen to still have it in my oil change supplies. This is my first cut open so it's a bit clumsy. I used tin snips. I'm surprised at how difficult it actually was, so immediately felt this is a quality part that's not going to just fall apart.
It's clumsy trying to take photos while doing this messy job. I did my best. The filter media is very rigid and uniform, except in one section that has rolled open a bit. I don't see how this would materially negatively impact performance. I looked in each pleat for any evidence of damage or tearing, and found zero. None. Nada. Not a hint of any damaged media. All material is intact. I wrestled one of the metal endcaps off and it required a bit of strength. The rubber/silicone back pressure valve is in perfect condition on both sides. Cleaned up it could pass as new. The 0-ring is similarly perfect. The spring is in perfect condition. I did not see any metal shavings in the filter, but I have not squeezed it dry or opened it more. I may or may not do that. I see no need right now.
I find the build quality for a $4 part, or even a $20 part, to be outstanding. It is held together very well, no leaks, and the internal parts appear to be high quality springsteel, rubber/silicone. The media did it's job well. No tears whatsoever. Whether the one area that opened wide is important is a question to be answered by the legacy of use.
My car has 10 documented or known changes in 15 years or 98k miles. That's an extremely bad OCI history. Yet the car runs and sounds nearly perfect mechanically. I'd guess that the M820 has been used for the bulk of the life. I'm extremely confident in this filter, and have 40 more on hand for my 2 Ford Panthers. Pictures enclosed.
Car: 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, purchased May 2020 for $2600 @ 95000 miles. History in brief. Car has had at least 3 and possibly 5 prior owners, records are unclear. The records I have show oil changes at 19k, 23k, 30k, 41k, 45k, 52k, 83k, & ~95k (done Feb 2020, prior to when I purchased it.
The 820 filter is dated January 15, 2020. I wrote my name on it to prove it's mine and I just did this today. I removed the filter it in Jan 2021 @ ~98k or 2,600 miles. I suspect that conventional oil was used, considering cost cutting that sellers do when preparing to sell their car. This is supported by how black the oil appears, suggesting conventional. I happen to still have it in my oil change supplies. This is my first cut open so it's a bit clumsy. I used tin snips. I'm surprised at how difficult it actually was, so immediately felt this is a quality part that's not going to just fall apart.
It's clumsy trying to take photos while doing this messy job. I did my best. The filter media is very rigid and uniform, except in one section that has rolled open a bit. I don't see how this would materially negatively impact performance. I looked in each pleat for any evidence of damage or tearing, and found zero. None. Nada. Not a hint of any damaged media. All material is intact. I wrestled one of the metal endcaps off and it required a bit of strength. The rubber/silicone back pressure valve is in perfect condition on both sides. Cleaned up it could pass as new. The 0-ring is similarly perfect. The spring is in perfect condition. I did not see any metal shavings in the filter, but I have not squeezed it dry or opened it more. I may or may not do that. I see no need right now.
I find the build quality for a $4 part, or even a $20 part, to be outstanding. It is held together very well, no leaks, and the internal parts appear to be high quality springsteel, rubber/silicone. The media did it's job well. No tears whatsoever. Whether the one area that opened wide is important is a question to be answered by the legacy of use.
My car has 10 documented or known changes in 15 years or 98k miles. That's an extremely bad OCI history. Yet the car runs and sounds nearly perfect mechanically. I'd guess that the M820 has been used for the bulk of the life. I'm extremely confident in this filter, and have 40 more on hand for my 2 Ford Panthers. Pictures enclosed.
