Oil filter thread

[Vermonter]

I recently purchased a 96 XLT w/ 5.0 and when I went to buy an oil filter at Walmart the book listed two filters. One with metric threads and one with standard. How do I find out which thread I have? Thanks

 

[302Xplorer]

The motorcraft part # for your truck is FL-820s. At the price of under $4 at walmart it is one of the best filters for the price out there.

 

[Vermonter]

The motorcraft part # for your truck is FL-820s. At the price of under $4 at walmart it is one of the best filters for the price out there.

Thanks for your reply. So I have the metric thread? What is the tell tale sign to be able to know which thread an engine has?

 

[jimbo74]

in todays day and age there isnt.... most of the vehicles produced nowadays, are half metric and half standard

 

[Raminator157]

I've had good luck with Wicks. and welcome follow Vermonter. Iam up North In the Burlington area.

 

[dynamite196]

wix makes really nice filters (it's a shame i can't find em anymore though, only acme used to carry them here in CT without taking an arm and a leg but they're gone now) however fram is pretty decent too. You could try asking the dealer but if anything my guess is the book is screwed up. Why would ford make a metric filter and a standard filter??? That doesn't make sense

 

[celly]

fram is pretty decent too.

You may have opened a can of worms here. There are LOTS of threads on this and other automotive forums slamming Fram for their poor quality oil filters. I'll never go near them myself.

 

[dynamite196]

Ironically, after making that post I found another thread about the poor quality of fram filters. To be honest I have never cut one open (I sure plan on it after reading some of the stuff on this board before using anymore of their filters) however I have had good luck with them so far. I didn't mean to start a whole discussion on it but I think we'll agree that wix is good even though opinions on fram may vary.

 

[snoborder42]

If Frams are so bad then how come my parents ex still runs like the day it was bought in 1993. Its only had fram filters and Castrol GTX. Plus when the valve cover gaskets were replace there was absolutly no sludge or build up on the rockers. It all depends on how many miles you go before a change.

 

[DBray6]

wix makes really nice filters (it's a shame i can't find em anymore though, only acme used to carry them here in CT without taking an arm and a leg but they're gone now)

Carquest has wix filters

 

[Vermonter]

I've had good luck with Wicks. and welcome follow Vermonter. Iam up North In the Burlington area.

Thanks....Bellows Falls area for me.

 

[Alaskanredneck]

Carquest and napa both carry wix filters they are the best filters on the market. snoborder42 is right under optimal conditions and basic driving with a constantly maintained vehicle fram are usally fine but if the oil change is not done on time or there are other factors in the engine or of the vehicle is driven hard the cardboard support inside the fram filter will give way and there will be no filtration. wix filters use a metal spring to support the filter element. its your truck your choice

 

[mf94_4x4]

I used to work in a shop during my summers and my boss who has been a mechanic for 25+ years uses nothing but Wix filters and swears by them, i have used them since i purchased my Ex and in my previous vehicle (Ford Escort) and have never had a problem even with hard driving. I know the previous owner of my Ex used strictly Motorcraft Filters and religiosly changed the oil at 3000k (have recipts), the motor still runs like new, even with 150k on the odometer.

Wix filters are hard to find, its good to know that Carquest and Napa carry them, ill have to get one for my next oil change is around the corner. Thanks for the Info.

 

[SoBeLover]

Thanks....Bellows Falls area for me.

Hi there, Did Matt tell you that we have our own forum for New Englanders? Check it out here:http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=88

I've been through the Bellows Falls area, nice place

 

[gijoecam]

For the topic at hand....

The 5.0 used one of two different filters: the FL-820 and the FL-1A. The FL-1A is the same filter 98% of the 302s and 351s have used since the 70s. The 820 is a newer design with a different thread, and the two are not interchangable.

As for which one you need? Can't say for sure. Owner's manual would be the place to start, followed by cross-referencing the number off the one that's on it currently.

Good luck!

-Joe

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Besides the thread difference there would not be enough room to put an FL1A on a 5.0 Explorer.