Ive always wondered why Foed used the tiny 820 oil filter on our trucks so today while at walmart I compared the Motorcraft FL-1A to the 820 to see if there is any differance in the two. They appear to be identical in every way except that the FL-1A is about a third longer.
So my question is,why not use an FL-1A? It seems to me that a longer filter has more filtering material in it, and therefore would do a better job of filtering. Like I said, it is longer by about 2-2 1/2 inches but I dont think that extra bit of length would cause any problems like getting hit by road debris.

Unless someone can come up with a good reason not to,I think Im going to use one on my next oil change.

Andy G

 

The FL-1A has standard threads. The 820S has metric threads. You can screw an FL-1A on but it's not really right.

 

only good thing about the fl a1 is that it is big.

what you want is fast! and clean. so k&n is what you want

 

Damn! Thanks Sal,I knew there had to be a catch somewhere.

Andy G

 

Use the 820S or face the "marbles in the can" dilemma.

 

LOL, yeah that too! The 820 S has a silicone anti backflow diaphram in it too .

 

Ahhh, you learn something new every day. Thanks

 

Don't forget to fill it up before you screw it on. An 820S and Mobil1 have been good to me so far.

 

could someone elaborate on that marbles in the can syndrome? is that the tinny exhaust sound I get when the truck is cold?and how exactly is that caused. I thought my cats were getting burnt or maybe an exhaust leak at the muffler.

 

Why would you need a anti-drainback valve if the filter is hanging upside down and always full? Something doesn't make sense to me ... (not uncommon, though)

 

Because this filter is used on more vehicles than just the F-150, with many different filter positions. The original 820 had issues with allowing the oil pump to "unprime" itself, which led to cold start clatter until the timing chain tensioners were pumped with oil.

 

wow am I invisible here or what? thanks for the reply guys, NOT

 

The "marbles in the can" sound is the sound an engine makes after being starved for oil for a few seconds after intial startup if the wrong filter is used. (Timing chain tensioners) Explorer 4.0 SOHC engines made this sound alot until the upgraded tensioners were put in.

 

No, just rude. Do a search for "marbles".

 

The 820S is also used on all the 4.6 mustangs...I have used the 820S many times on my 700hp DOHC Cobra without any problems...That and Mobil 1 seem to work great....I haven't seen the non "S" filter out there for a while now...There used to be 2 versions, one with the Silicon, and one without....


Jeff