Mobil 1 filter vs Motorcraft

oilpan49 · May 13, 2004

I'm posting this for a buddy of mine.

My friend drives a 96 Ford Explorer he just recently purchased. His explorer has the 4.0L V6 and it is 4x4. He's been running a Mobil 1 filter along with Mobil 1 5w30 SuperSyn oil. The truck runs like a new watch and doesn't miss a beat. IT doesn't leak oil, doesn't burn it and his oil is changed every 3000miles. I've tried to talk him into going 5000 miles on his OCI but he's just that way about it and I have no beef about it either.

Lately though, his engine has a loud tick upon start up. He thinks it might be the oil filter, since he's never tried a Mobil 1 filter before he's obvoiusly taking the filter to blame for. I've told him that Mobil 1 makes a decent filter and he could try a Motorcraft and see if that helps any. From what I've learned on here and my past experiences on my own Ranger, I've never had any ticks or little mystery noises with a Motorcraft. I have an Mobil 1 filter on my Ranger right and it does tick alittle upon start up and it sounds very similar to his explorer, so I'm like him. I'm thinking go ahead and try the Motorcraft, what do you experts think?? or should we try another filter?? Thanks,,,AR

sbc350gearhead · May 13, 2004

I think that the motorcraft will outflow the mobil 1, which may have some effect at startup.

Try the motorcraft and see.

427Z06 · May 13, 2004

I believe it will soon be shown that Motocraft filters outflow the Mobil 1 filters by a substantial margin, although they trade off filtering the smaller particles in the process. So if you believe flow is more important than filtering, the Motorcraft may be the way to go. On the other hand, if you have room to oversize your filter, that may be an option too.

JohnnyO · May 13, 2004

I just put my first Mobil 1 filter on my 4.0 Ranger, okay so far but oil and filter are new. Maybe apples and oranges but on my wife's 2.4L Pontiac the AC and SuperTechs exhibit a bit of rattle at startup but the Mobil 1 and K&N didn't.

oilpan49 · May 13, 2004

427Z06,

I never really understood the concept of an oversized oil filter. Could you please explain what this means?? My thinking is you get the best of both worlds in a compromise. You get good oil flow on start up and general driving around plus the advantage of superior filtration. I know bypass filtration is superior compared to stock oil filtering, but where can you get an oversized filter and how does it work?? Thanks,,,,,AR

Bill Kapaun · May 13, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Airborne Ranger:
427Z06,

I never really understood the concept of an oversized oil filter. Could you please explain what this means?? My thinking is you get the best of both worlds in a compromise. You get good oil flow on start up and general driving around plus the advantage of superior filtration. I know bypass filtration is superior compared to stock oil filtering, but where can you get an oversized filter and how does it work?? Thanks,,,,,AR

In this case, the stock filter would be a MC FL1A, which is about 5.2" long.
An oversize filter would be a MC FL299, which is about 7" long.
Same, base plate, gasket dimensions, bypass pressure etc.
The larger filter SHOULD have a large surface area for the media. The larger area gives this benefits-
1. More area to catch & hold contaminents.
2. Less pressure drop (kind of like a larger diameter garden hose or parallel resistors if you're into electronics)
3. A slightly slower flow rate through the media due to it's larger surface area, which allows slightly smaller particals to be trapped (kind of a bypass filter effect).
4. A few more ounces oil capacity.
5. A marginal use as an "oil cooler" due to the larger surface area of the can.
The last 2 may not be that significant, but they are FREE!
A potential disadvantage is that if the ADBV doesn't work, you have a larger container to refill before your engine builds up oil pressure upon starting. It may also protrude in areas that allow it to be struck by road debris that a smaller filter wouldn't be subject to.

427Z06 · May 13, 2004

Bill Kapaun just saved me a lotta typing. Change your oil on a regular basis using any of the beforementioned filters and I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. I.e., don't sweat your plan.

labman · May 13, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Kapaun:
snip....
The larger filter SHOULD have a large surface area for the media. The larger area gives this benefits-
snip....
3. A slightly slower flow rate through the media due to it's larger surface area, which allows slightly smaller particals to be trapped (kind of a bypass filter effect).

Mostly I agree, good explanation. I have more confidence in getting more filter area within the same brand. Using a larger Fram because your regular brand isn't available in the over size could mean less filter area. The PF 52 I cut open had more filter area than the PF 47.

I disagree on flow. More filter area means more holes, and should mean more flow if the pores are the same size. Quality of filter media is much harder to judge than quanity.

T-Keith · May 13, 2004

Actually your both right. He said "slower flow", you said more flow, two different things. If the media isn't the greatest restriction, the amount of oil flow will be about the same. However the speed of the oil going through the media will be slower. If the media is the greatest restriction, the amount of oil flow will go up.

-T

Brian Barnhart · May 13, 2004

Perhaps by "slower flow" he meant the use of a filter with more area would distribute the (same) oil flow over a larger area. In turn, each square inch of the larger filter would see less flow across it in a given amount of time, hence the term “slower flow”.

Whimsey · May 13, 2004

If his noise is at start up I say that the Mobil 1 oil filter's ADBV is probably "weak". I've always had the quietest start ups with using Motorcraft oil filters with Ford vehicles

. Motorcraft's ADBV's seem to work the best for me.

Whimsey

Bill Kapaun · May 14, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Barnhart:
Perhaps by "slower flow" he meant the use of a filter with more area would distribute the (same) oil flow over a larger area. In turn, each square inch of the larger filter would see less flow across it in a given amount of time, hence the term “slower flow”.

Since I know this guy personally, I can vouch that's what he meant!

JustinH · May 14, 2004

The motorcraft filter has a silcon anti-drainback valve on it. This is what keeps the oil in the filter, and prevents dryknock starts.

If you put a fram filter on a 4.6 v8 ford motor, it will knock like **** . A bud of mine asked me why his truck was doing that, I asked him what brand filter, of course he had a fram on there.

I took him up to the store and we bought a motorcraft filter and topped off the oil, and the dryknock was totally gone.

Stick with the motorcraft.

Its cheaper than that 13 dollar Mobil 1 filter also, lol.

oilpan49 · May 14, 2004

Hey Tks guys,

we installed the Motorcraft today and ditched the Mobil 1. There is a noticeable difference in how quiet it is upon start up. In my original post I failed to mention the explorer also has 136K miles on it. So we don't expect a perfectly smooth running engine that doesn't make a single sound.

Before installing the Motorcraft, we filled it 1/2 way with Mobil 1 5w30 and reinstalled it. His explorer is easy as cake changing the oil. Because everything is right there. The oil filter faces upwards and the pan bolt right next to the oil filter drains straight down! gotta love it

Thanks again,,,AR

Gary Allan · May 14, 2004

quote:

Perhaps by "slower flow" he meant the use of a filter with more area would distribute the (same) oil flow over a larger area. In turn, each square inch of the larger filter would see less flow across it in a given amount of time, hence the term “slower flow”.

"intermediate velocity" ??? maybe

Bill Kapaun · May 14, 2004

Just curious- Which size MC did you use?
The FL299 should hold about 10 oz. more oil than the FL1A (assuming a perfect cylinder with no innards)

I probably would have gone with 10w30 for "summer" use AND with that many miles on the engine, but then again, it's synthetic!

ekpolk · May 14, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Airborne Ranger:
427Z06,

I never really understood the concept of an oversized oil filter. Could you please explain what this means?? My thinking is you get the best of both worlds in a compromise. You get good oil flow on start up and general driving around plus the advantage of superior filtration. I know bypass filtration is superior compared to stock oil filtering, but where can you get an oversized filter and how does it work?? Thanks,,,,,AR

Here's a graphic explanation of oversize filters. In this case, the one on the left is the standard size for a late model Camry V-6. The one on the right has exactly the same base on it, and the rest should be obvious.

labman · May 14, 2004

I should have read Bill Kapaun's post more carefully before I said anything. More of the same media will result in lower velocity through any one part. Oil filters and many other filters do not work like a sieve, but depend on the depth of the media to trap smaller particles. The less the velocity through any one pore, the smaller particle that will be trapped. As trapped particles build up, ever smaller particles are trapped, but flow is reduced. Filters gain efficiency with use, but lose flow. A bigger filter should also give less resistance to flow through the life of the filter, increasing the total flow or reducing any bypassing. It is very hard to figure out the best compromise between flow and efficiency.

Bill Kapaun · May 14, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by labman:
...... It is very hard to figure out the best compromise between flow and efficiency.

I think for the vast majority of us, any filter will flow enough!
After all, we participate on this forum, so we're all probably pretty anal about keeping the innards of our engines clean. In reality, our filters could probably be used 5 times as long and still not be "clogged".
I've seen posters mention "small" inlet holes. Maybe they are relatively "small", but I'm sure the're adequate to flow oil at 40-60 PSI.
I've seen the term "high RPM pressure spikes" used.
If the filter doesn't flow enough, wouldn't the oil pump release valve do it's thing and cause a pressure "drop"?
If the bypass valve opens, maybe there is a "spike", but if so, is it that big of a deal? It's only going to be for a few seconds. The oil will get filtered "next time through".

Mobil 1 filter vs Motorcraft

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