Hello there Ford 4.2 V6 owners.
As some of you know, I drive an 07 F150 XL, 4.2 V6 engine, 142K miles. This engine calls for the FL-400S oil filter. In my oil filter stash I have a BOSCH PREMIUM 3330 oil filter. It's the shorter version of the FL-400S, by about 3/4", maybe 7/8".
My Q? to you members is, would you use it on the 4.2 V6? I always do 5K mile OCI's, if that helps you to decide. I'm currently using Castrol Magnatec 5W30 oil with an FL-400S oil filter. But, being I have this BOSCH filter, I would like to use it, with y'all's Blessing, and Castrol Magnatec 5W30 oil.
Put it this way; if some of you use the FRAM PH3600 oil filter, this is the same as the FRAM PH3614.

 

I know it will fit... but the filtering area isn't the same.

Save it for a riding mower and just use the right filter.

Why risk potentially destroying an engine over a $5 part?

 

I wouldn't worry about it being a little bit shorter. There's still plenty of filter area and with it being a premium level filter it probably has better filter media in it.

 

Manual, I really do respect your opinion, but I have to agree with Wookie. Yeah, it's just a tad shorter, but it still has the same specs as the FL-400S.
If it helps any, I DO have mixed emotions about really using it. But, only because it's shorter. On the plus side, it's a Premium oil filter in which it's built with much better filter media than the FL-400S. Oh, and I honestly don't think it would ruin my engine.
When I owned my '97 F150, 4.2 V6, I ran a PUROLATOR PL-10241 on it a few times. Oh, and it's just the shorter version of the FL-400S, which is the FL-910S.
Yes, I asked if anyone here would use the BOSCH filter, and Manual, I respect your opinion.

 

Bosch is under the same corporate umbrella as Purolator, who makes Motorcraft filters - so I would say that Bosch, Purolator, and Motorcraft filters are all decent quality. Just stay away from Fram and offbrand filters.

 

Assuming most of your miles are on asphalt, use it. Most filters are no where near capacity when removed at 7500 miles. Only those subject to extreme driving like off road, construction sites, etc have issues with the filter getting full.

 

Thanks GLC.
The only FRAM I ever use every now and then is the FRAM ULTRA XG-3600.
Speaking of off brand filters, check this out. A few years ago Tire Kingdom in Baton Rouge was having a Labor Day oil change sale. They were offering 6 qts. of conventional Valvoline oil, a Pro-Select oil filter, and wiper blades, all for $24.99. Of course it was a gimmick to come in and let them try to up sell you. Anyway, after I left from there I stopped at the SHELL station near there to fill up for the 102 mile trip back home. After pumping my gas, upon start up, my engine ticked for about 2-3 seconds before tapering off! It sounded like a woodpecker on a street light!
Before I got home I stopped at WM and bought an FL-400S for my friend to install on my engine, along with a qt. of VWB oil. That was the ONLY time, and LAST time I used an off brand oil filter on my engine. But, the deal they were offering, I couldn't pass it up!
And, no I didn't travel 102 miles just for that. I visited my son in Gonzales, La. for Labor Day.

 

I'm looking in the opposite direction

The Ford Motorcraft FL-1A has the same thread pattern. I'm thinking of using the larger filter.

Why are you using 5W-30 oil weight?

 

The FL-1A will not fit the filter mount. It's too large in diameter by an 1/8".
When the 4.2 V6 was originally built in 1997 it was spec'd 5W30 oil. Until it's last production year, 2008, the internal tolerances and clearances never changed. CAFE was the reason to use 5W20.
BTW, I run 0W40 in my 4.2 V6 with a M1 oil filter. My engine runs as smooth as silk and is as quiet as a church mouse.

 

Irrevelant I suppose, but the stock filter on my wife's Infiniti is the smallest filter I've ever seen on a car and the engine is the 325 hp 3.7L V6.

 

Bigger is not always better.
I don't think the engineers spent millions of $$$ on testing to just throw ANY filter on that engine. I'm sure they knew what they were doing.

 

In another post you mentioned that you actually installed a FL-1A onto your truck. How did that work out? Did oil the oil filter gasket snug right up to the filter mount? Did any oil spray out?

 

It fit, because I modified it. I bent the filter crimp inward. But, I NEVER ran my engine for long in fear it might cause problems.

 

I may be wrong.

I believe oil flows in & out of the filter via holes on the top of the filter. With the filter threaded snugly onto the filter mount, to proper torque specs, the filter will remain in place. The gasket is now pressed securely against the filter mount, which prevents oil from spraying out. The lip of the oil filter canister almost seems inconsequential at this point.

 

Go ahead and run it. Post back what happens.