Motorcraft 820s cut open
- Thread starter Barkleymut
- Start date
- Status
Because there are more posts of torn ones than any other filter.
on cut open filters yet no engine issues that derive from all those torn filters...seems to me if the product was as poor as is reported on this Forum that there would be at least some issues with engines that use the filter...
on the other side of the issue, there are still so many mechanics or people intimately involved with repairing at least Ford F150 engines for their other issues that recommend the FL820S filter for the engines they work on...
Bill
on the other side of the issue, there are still so many mechanics or people intimately involved with repairing at least Ford F150 engines for their other issues that recommend the FL820S filter for the engines they work on...
Bill
I don’t think there are any “issues” anyone on this forum would post about. That doesn’t mean it’s “fine” either. More particles in the oil equal more wear, but unless engines are torn down and the wear measured there’s no way anyone will see a difference via a UOA or some other nonsense.
People will have to make their own decisions on whether increased wear is acceptable or not. But I really struggle with the notion that a demonstrated defective filter is acceptable under any circumstances. Regardless of what the filtering efficiency of a filter may be, why would anyone ever defend or use one with a history of tearing while in use? That is not a rational decision.
but you seem to be making my point...mechanics who DO tear down engines using the FL820S aren not reporting issues stemming from use of the FL820S filter...
THIS FORUM is the one that reports issues with the filter after cutting them open...but I don't read or hear of issues elsewhere...
I don't have much of a dog in this hunt...I own 1 vehicle that uses this filter and have only owned it 2 years (5 oil changes and uses) and I don't care what name is on the filter I use...what I DO hunt down is the recommendations of those that have FAR more experience with something than I do when making my decision...it surprised me since many of the vehicle Forums I belong to recommend this filter or that part...on the F150 Forum it is almost universally recommended to use the FL820S filter...that is a pool of thousands of owners recommending the same filter.
It is only when I come here to this Forum that I see the FL820S is a poor filter...and the evidence is what the filter looks like after it has been cut open...yet NO ONE can show ANY evidence, and I have asked repeatedly on this Forum for such evidence of the filter causing an issue with the engine using it...
that's my only point and we can back and forth with anecdotal evidence of what might happen but when the average mileage is well over 100K miles with many more over 2 and 3K miles without engine failures or issues with the engine due to poor oil filtering while using the FL820S it makes me suspect who has the best information...
good luck with your choice...
Bill
THIS FORUM is the one that reports issues with the filter after cutting them open...but I don't read or hear of issues elsewhere...
I don't have much of a dog in this hunt...I own 1 vehicle that uses this filter and have only owned it 2 years (5 oil changes and uses) and I don't care what name is on the filter I use...what I DO hunt down is the recommendations of those that have FAR more experience with something than I do when making my decision...it surprised me since many of the vehicle Forums I belong to recommend this filter or that part...on the F150 Forum it is almost universally recommended to use the FL820S filter...that is a pool of thousands of owners recommending the same filter.
It is only when I come here to this Forum that I see the FL820S is a poor filter...and the evidence is what the filter looks like after it has been cut open...yet NO ONE can show ANY evidence, and I have asked repeatedly on this Forum for such evidence of the filter causing an issue with the engine using it...
that's my only point and we can back and forth with anecdotal evidence of what might happen but when the average mileage is well over 100K miles with many more over 2 and 3K miles without engine failures or issues with the engine due to poor oil filtering while using the FL820S it makes me suspect who has the best information...
good luck with your choice...
Bill
And they are comparing the detailed measurements from those engines to what? Tell me please.
No one on here is going to show the evidence you're asking for, that is silly and not the point. The point is torn filters. That's a material or assembly defect, we don't see nearly the number of torn filters from other manufacturers.
Anyone that defends a known defective product when there are multitudes of non-defective alternative products available is just being goofy.
I was a Ford technician for many years and I do not use the FL820s on my vehicles. I've cut them open myself and seen the tears. Why would I want to run a filter....that does not filter?
Can I prove that pieces of filter media caused many of the problems on the 5.4 3v? No. The most common culprit we were seeing was blown tensioner seals causing a loss of oil pressure to the top end.
ha ha! 5 pages 'so far' would appear to confirm that fact. 'I' find the threads entertaining reading for their similarity in discussion and participants. In my observation this sub-forum, the topic filter anecdotes have had more than their share of ugly media and tears.
Otoh, and as noted earlier, topic filter is the outlier MC line up. With few if any exceptions, the 910S, 500S and 400S post use anecdotes have looked good. My.02
Carry on.
So after seeing dozens of torn 820S filters posted in this forum you're still OK with using them because no other place reports any issues? I have a hard time believing that of all the 820S filters cut open across the country, that BITOG is the only chat board or social media outlet that reports the torn filters.
Do you cut open your own used oil filters? If you cut one open and found torn media, would you keep using them - regardless of brand? Some people need to see stuff "first hand" before they realize things. Member Metalslug can tell you about that ... he never believed it until he found one off his car that was torn.
Last edited:
I’m always confused by the MC fans that seem to come out of the woodwork to defend the FL820S issues? The other smaller diameter MC filters are fine, but the media just doesn’t seem strong enough to get the job done. The FL1-A & other larger MC filters must have something different in media, because they don’t tear as much. Even Purolator makes a lot of better filters for the FL820S application than the junk FL820S.
Guess what else doesn’t work when the media has a hole in it? The ADBV, oil can seep right past it & drain back to the sump. The tensioner seals on my ‘03 MGM 4.6 2V are shot at 135K, to the point that I have to crank it for 20 seconds with the throttle wide open (to cut off fuel) before starting it if it sits more than 8 hours. A torn media filter would make that issue even worse than the XG2 that’s on it now.
Interesting that Ford still doesn’t know about the particular problem the 820s has. Now we see a Ford tech has been cutting them open and states tears were found. So why wasn’t Ford notified? There is no doubt if Ford is buying thousands of filters per day from Purolator they aren’t going to knowingly buy filters that tear. They aren’t making them. They are so unaware of the problem they use a wide pleat filter to show what a good filter looks like. The tech rotates the filter and happily approves of it. This is what you want they say. Look at that. Perfect. It’s too bad because it probably isn’t a hard fix on the assembly line, and meanwhile all those F150’s or whatever are getting them installed every day.
I have a feeling non aggressive driving may be ok with these, but that isn’t acceptable. They have to hold up to anything.
I have a feeling non aggressive driving may be ok with these, but that isn’t acceptable. They have to hold up to anything.
Ford really doesn't care about a lot of stuff. It took them 7 years to come up with a special service bulletin to dealerships that a certain engine noise (the "typewriter tick") was now "normal" after replacing tons of engines under warranty for that same noise over those 7 years. They react slower than any company I've ever seen.
I do miss the fl820s . The very old one was a bit taller too . I still have the original one . When I heard they making change to fl820s and make them little shorter . I went to Walmart right away and found 1 way back in the corner . I still kept it brand news til this day . Mabe 10 years ago ..
Didn't know the size changed. Would like to see a pic of it next to the newer smaller ones.
https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1859752
It's been over a decade since size change.
Last edited:
Been in this forum too dam long since 08 with my forgotten account
Thanks. I am sure I used the older design before but never noticed the change. I was also surprised at the 20 micron efficiency rating.
I figured that might be the next observation when link posted. Like many topics covered many times. That spec appears to be a generic 'at minimum' spec. (OEM OF generally keep efficiency as proprietary info.) Amsoil tested (2011) some OEM filters using ISO 4548-12 including topic 820S, results showed 93.7% at 20um. Chart has been posted many times this subforum, it was compared Amsoil which tested 98.7 at 20um. Can't think of any reason for Amsoil to pump up another manufacturer's OF numbers.
That said, I don't use topic filter so also no dog in the hunt here. Just providing info.
- Status
