97 XLT air filter

[Blee1099]

I'm not sure if anyone else is experiencing this odd situation but on my 1997 XLT I've noticed that the OEM air filter for the 6 cyl. DOHC engine does not fit my XLT. Upon looking at the existing air filter, we concluded that it is the one for the 8 cyl. model.. They both look essentially the same except for the cone on the filter. I'm just wondering if maybe Ford made a mistake on mine.

 

[Blee1099]

I meant a 97 XLT (X) Vin

 

[dogfriend]

same here

When I first bought mine (used), one of the first things I bought was a K&N filter from the dealer. When I tried to install it, it wouldn't fit. I took it back and we found that the filter in my Explorer is the same as for the 5.0 even though I have the 4.0 OHV (vin X ).

I've always wondered whether this was an engineering approved substitution or whether the guys in the factory decided to install it because they ran out of the other housings one day

 

[Jason_25]

I think all 95-97's OHV's have the same air filter and housing as the V8 models. I find that very reassuring actually.

 

[dogfriend]

Definitely better to have a bigger filter, but there is some confusion when buying a new filter because the cross reference list for K&N (and maybe for others) will list the wrong filter for the 4.0L vin X engine.

 

[BradE.]

I have a 97 Explorer and have the same problem, so it appears to be pretty common.

 

[Audio_1]

97 here also. i cut the cone off and taped it up . so it used the 5.0l?. yes, they ran out of the houseings so they used the other ones. my dad talked to the guys at autozone about it