MC FL-820s | 15,372 Miles | 4 Months | Cut Open

[UNC151]

Houston had some unseasonably cold weather these past few days so I have to empathize with you guys from the north--there is nothing like changing the oil on a very brisk 31 degree morning! So out with the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0W-20 and a MC FL-820s and in with more AFE and a Fram Ultra for this next run. I had planned to only used oil analysis the oil and see where I stood, but the obligatory "play in the snow" trip to CO is coming up and it would have pushed me (I think) over the limit (used oil analysis to be posted when received).

Towards the end of this run, I grew a little nervous about running the FL-820s this long, but after seeing the internals, it would seem my fears were misplaced. This filter looks as good as the one that I opened at 10,020 miles (see that one here) and as good as any that I have cut open. I had thought that 10K was the limit for this filter, but it seems not and although I was expecting to see very wavy pleats, it looks great. The ADBV was very pliable and the markings were no deeper than those on the 10K run. As a general note and I will see what the used oil analysis shows, there was almost no residue in the dome end of the filter as compared to the 10K Mobil Super 5000 run which had visible residue. I am impressed with the AFE/MC combination and am excited to see how the Fram Ultra performs.

At any rate--enjoy!

 

[JOD]

Gee, I don't know--filters are CHEAP? Why would you risk your engine like this!!

But seriously.... Can we put to bed this idea that an 820S won't go for an extended OCI in a clean engine? I cut open an 820S a while ago, also with 15K, and didn't bother posting because the pictures were just as boring as yours. I meant to post them in response to your thread on the subject HERE, but never got around to it. I'm glad to see you didn't buy into the hysteria.

Thanks for posting!

 

[R80RS]

Nice. I've run the FL-400S with the regular Mobil 1 5w-20 for +10k miles many times in both my Fords with no problem. Motorcraft (Puro) makes a great filter.

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: JOD
But seriously.... Can we put to bed this idea that an 820S won't go for an extended OCI in a clean engine? I cut open an 820S a while ago, also with 15K, and didn't bother posting because the pictures were just as boring as yours. Thanks for posting!

I think we just did!

Honestly, other than human fear overriding the facts, in a clean engine, I think it could go all the way to 20K. From what I understand my new Explorer will likely go to 10K on the OLM so it seems the MC filters are shifting from 5-7.5K as a "standard" to 7.5-10K. I think the key element is "a clean, normally functioning engine", but obviously they can be used longer than we expect.

 

[RISUPERCREWMAN]

Very Nice! FL-820-S Filters are all I run in my Modular V8's!

 

[Sayjac]

15+k in 4 months. Obviously this filter has seen a great amount ie., majority highway miles. I believe that is a contributing factor to the appearance in this fci. Short runs/ severe service can mean increased fuel dilution, moisture and condensation, all contributors to less than straight and uniform looking pleating. Also clear this is a well maintained engine.

So yes the FL820S and other cellulose or blend filters 'can' go 15k especially in a well maintained engine. Does that mean that it's appropriate for 15k oci/fci's in all vehicles and circumstances? That's another discussion imo.

Looks good, thanks for the pics.

 

[dnewton3]

Looks very familiar ... Kind of like my 15k mile experiment on the FL400S I ran.

I would counter Sayjac's concern about the effect of short trips. If you review my filter from 15k miles of total soccer-mom use, a consumate short-trip vehicle if there ever was one, you'd see very little distinguishable difference between my filter and this one.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3164570&page=3
(See this thread for my photo links to the 15k miles FL400S)

The more and more we get tangible proof (real experiements with good data and photos), the more I'm convinced that 15k miles IN A CLEAN RUNNING ENGINE is of no risk. The evidence from this filter is unexceptional and that is a very good thing, and frankly, completely expected from the type serivce it sees and the engine it runs on. Boring is good to see in a filter, just as it is in a used oil analysis or PC.


Those who think filters (and oil) need frequent changes in normal applications are simply uninformed, or stubborn. There will always be folks that have the "cheap insurance" mentality; cannot change them. But those who favor facts and data can see a different light shining through the clouds of doubt.


On towards 20k miles!

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
15+k in 4 months. Obviously this filter has seen a great amount ie., majority highway miles. I believe that is a contributing factor to the appearance in this fci. Short runs/ severe service can mean increased fuel dilution, moisture and condensation, all contributors to less than straight and uniform looking pleating. Also clear this is a well maintained engine.


+1 on that.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
other than human fear overriding the facts, in a clean engine, I think it could go all the way to 20K.
While my left brain agrees with all the data presented in this thread, my right brain won't let me get past the "One Filter, One OCI" paranoia. (I live in my own little world, but that's OK...everyone knows me here.)

Also, in my DD, it would take me 3 years to accumulate 15,000 miles. I don't want to experiment with my car to see if an FL820S will hold up THAT long. I *may* try a "One Filter, Two OCI" regimen, but that would be the extent at this time.

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
I think the key element is "a clean, normally functioning engine", but obviously they can be used longer than we expect.
Agreed.

 

[Kuato]

Looks nice...modern engine + modern oil/filter = higher mile OCIs.

2010_FX4, What engine do you have in the truck?

 

[KCJeep]

Nice!

I think its been pretty well established here that if your engine is clean most of us are under utilizing our filters.

As always, thanks for cutting and posting!

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Looks nice...modern engine + modern oil/filter = higher mile OCIs.

2010_FX4, What engine do you have in the truck?

It is the 3V 5.4L FFV engine (last year for the modulars in the F-150s, but they continue in the Expeditions).

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: RISUPERCREWMAN
Very Nice! FL-820-S Filters are all I run in my Modular V8's!

Not bad for a $4 oil filter.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

2010, does your engine have 122K miles on it? That is the 5.4 with the 7 qt. pan, correct?
That filter don't even look like it has been used. It looks as if it were just submerged in oil and pulled right out.
Looks very good.

BTW, did the M1 cause any kind of valvetrain noise, like so many have said that it does?

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
other than human fear overriding the facts, in a clean engine, I think it could go all the way to 20K.
While my left brain agrees with all the data presented in this thread, my right brain won't let me get past the "One Filter, One OCI" paranoia. (I live in my own little world, but that's OK...everyone knows me here.) Also, in my DD, it would take me 3 years to accumulate 15,000 miles. I don't want to experiment with my car to see if an FL820S will hold up THAT long. I *may* try a "One Filter, Two OCI" regimen, but that would be the extent at this time.
LOL - well that is OK, because this was a one filter, one OCI. It is all good!

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: DragRace
Not bad for a $4 oil filter.

$2.30 (AAP FTW!)

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
2010, does your engine have 122K miles on it? That is the 5.4 with the 7 qt. pan, correct?
That filter don't even look like it has been used. It looks as if it were just submerged in oil and pulled right out.
Looks very good.

BTW, did the M1 cause any kind of valvetrain noise, like so many have said that it does?

It does have 122K (well, just shy of that at 121,637 when I changed it this morning, it has a few more than that now) and is the 7QT pan. No valvetrain noise; well, no more than with any other oil--modulars have some noise no matter what you do and the injectors are somewhat loud on top of that, but the M1 did not make it any louder than PU or Mobil Super 5000. The other part was no shedding of iron; my 10K UOA has 10PPM which is less than some of the Mobil Super 5000 and PU runs with less mileage (yes, of course it could be an anomaly, but we will see what the 15K run brings). I sent the sample to BLKST this morning and should have the results early next week.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
BTW, did the M1 cause any kind of valvetrain noise, like so many have said that it does?
No valvetrain noise; well, no more than with any other oil--modulars have some noise no matter what you do and the injectors are somewhat loud on top of that, but the M1 did not make it any louder than Pennzoil Ultra or Mobil Super 5000.

I asked this because I have read so many posts where people bash M1, claiming it causes valvetrain noise.

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
BTW, did the M1 cause any kind of valvetrain noise, like so many have said that it does?
No valvetrain noise; well, no more than with any other oil--modulars have some noise no matter what you do and the injectors are somewhat loud on top of that, but the M1 did not make it any louder than Pennzoil Ultra or Mobil Super 5000.

I asked this because I have read so many posts where people bash M1, claiming it causes valvetrain noise.

To be frank, I question whether or not some of these so called bashers of M1 actually use/have used the product. The same can be same of Royal Purple and Amsoil bashers--haters are going to hate and the smallest whisper on the Internet can be amplified to the point of a good rock band questioning the effectiveness of their Marshall equipment. Obviously and although more used oil analysis will be needed to fully validate, the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy used oil analysis looked better at 10K than any other oil in my FX4 thus far--including some runs of PU that were in the 5K-7.5K range. I am not a M1 fanboy, but da facts is da facts...(at least for the first run)

 

[KCJeep]

There have been far less noise complaints from the EP and AFE versions of M1, I'm guessing the few extra bucks gets you better basestocks.