Promotive PH1A -- too small?

[sgc2c]

Bought a bunch of Promotive PH1A filters from Rockauto recently. Less than a buck apiece if I remember right, for my 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis LS (302/5.0L). Why so small? Next to a similarly-sized Fram filter, it's way smaller despite the gaskets lining up. Nearly all the filters I've ever purchased for the Mercury are similar to the Fram in size (see photos attached). Curiously, Rock also (probably by mistake) shipped a PH1 (no "A") filter in place of one of the PH1A filters. That one's closer to the size of the Fram in the picture attached here but not as high; the PH1 itself looks closer in size to a Motorcraft FL-820S. The PH1A is almost identical in size to the Fram PH3980 that my '96 Cadillac Fleetwood takes. Would anyone dissuade me from using the Promotive PH1A? Promotive itself claims it is cross-referenced with their PH8A etc that do fit my Mercury. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[JavierH19]

That's about as much filter as one could ever hope to get for under a buck. It'll work.

 

[Kira]

For <$1 apiece, I would be tempted open one up.

 

[dnewton3]

Appears almost to be a hybrid size between the FL1A and the FL400. Both use the same threads, and gasket sizes are close enough to work either way.

 

[The_Jeff]

Wow, I'm almost thinking that will fit some places that require a 3600. edit, what dnewton wrote.

 

[Hootbro]

It is a jobber filter., so they may have cataloged it for other applications and consolidated other part numbers in the catalog under it.

 

[Lubener]

Shrinkflation...

 

[Chris142]

A lot of companies are replacing the PH8a size filters with the 3600 size. I noticed that at ace hardware myself.

 

[Zee09]

For <$1 apiece, I would be tempted open one up.

Yup...definitely

 

[Zee09]

I'd want to know how old they are as Rock Auto specializes in collectors items.

 

[dogememe]

Very common for jobber filters to be consolidated applications mostly based on thread size and gasket diameter and hopes and dreams beyond that.

Personally if I owned an auto repair shop of any kind I’d pick a brand of filter that made the full range of specific filters because I’m a picky person who wants everything to be perfect vs trying to have a dozen filters to fit most cars. But I’d also probably go out of business… because why stock 200 filters when you can stock 20?

 

[Hootbro]

Personally if I owned an auto repair shop of any kind I’d pick a brand of filter that made the full range of specific filters because I’m a picky person who wants everything to be perfect vs trying to have a dozen filters to fit most cars. But I’d also probably go out of business… because why stock 200 filters when you can stock 20?

No indy shop carries every oil filter SKU. That is why they have commercial accounts with the chain auto parts stores for the oddball application that shows up or waiting on restock from their jobber filter supplier. .

 

[CleanSump]

Rationalization of products to reduce logistics and infrastructure cost.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Not enough size difference in the can to worry about unless the media area is super low. Could cut one open and measure the media area, and the construction quality.

Edit - I recently measured the media area on a Motorcraft FL500S off a Ford 5.0L Cotote V8, and it was 117.5 square inches as a reference for a cellulose blend type media for basically the same engine.

 

[dnewton3]

Indeed; I'd be very curious about what's inside.
Slice and dice, please!

 

[Sayjac]

Considering ProMotive AFs are a dedicated jobber filter line, I'd say you received a consolidated/downsized application in the PH1A. FWIW, oilfilter-crossreference. com shows the Promotive PH1A crossing to the Fram PH8A, and the PH8A crossing to both the Promotive PH1 and 1A. Based on that I wouldn't let the 'size alone' stop use of the topic filter. Consolidation/downsizing not uncommon at quick lubes and some indies.