1997 Mercury Mountaineer 5.0 Oil Filter type

[allmyEXes]

I am almost finished changing the oil on my MM 5.0 (had to wash the oil of off my hands to sit down here a minute). I remove the filter, easier than it looks and I notice it's a short filter. Well I have a long one. A Motorcraft FL1A to be exact. I have tried for 10 minutes and it will not screw on to the threads. OK, so I look at the old one it is a Purolator L-24651. It crosses over to a Motorcraft FL-820 and a FL-820S. I guess the S means short. So now I have come to the conclusion that the threads are different than the FL1A. Any 5.0 owner experienced this?
Update, Edited: The 5.0 uses the FL-820s. It has Metric threads which Ford started using in 1996 on the 5.0's. Physically it looks like the long version would fit. Has anyone used the MC FL-820 (long filter) ?
Update again: Local W-mart did not have a MC FL-820s. Had to settle for a less than $3- SUPERTECH S2. IT better fit and I hope it is not too much of a cheapy. I really want a Motorcraft.
Oil filter cross reference Oil filter cross reference
L24651 http://www.oilfilter-crossreference.com/convert/Purolator/L24651

 

[96eb96]

S I believe means silicon drain-back valve. That is critical for the 4.6L engines, which that filter was designed for.

 

[allmyEXes]

S I believe means silicon drain-back valve. That is critical for the 4.6L engines, which that filter was designed for.

I hope this SUPERTECH S2 is configured correctly for the 5.0. I'm trusting this online oil filter cross reference info...

 

[CDW6212R]

The later engines all use metric filters, the FL820S went onto the Explorer 302 along with the odd block adapter.

I bought a FMS block adapter which is for turning the FL1A on a block, for kit cars etc. I'm going to test it on my Mercury some day, I'd prefer a long/bigger filter. Note to do that requires changing the block fitting(threads), a simple part but requires a very large Allen socket etc.

 

[allmyEXes]

The later engines all use metric filters, the FL820S went onto the Explorer 302 along with the odd block adapter.

I wanted the FL820S but W-Mart didn't have it. I was just now trying to figure out if there is a long version of the equivalent to the FL820S. Even a 1999 F-150 uses the short filter. There is enough room for one as long as the FL1A because I had one in that area today. Just glad that I couldn't get it to thread on, at all.

 

[swshawaii]

FWIW
Is there a larger oil filter for the FL-820s? | Engine Oil Filters | Bob Is The Oil Guy

 

[97-5.0]

The larger filter is for the Mustang or HO v8 truck van engine,

Explorer 5.0 uses the smaller