Comparison of various larger oil filters

[MatthewPK]

Tldr:
I tested FL400s, FL1A, and Purolator Boss equivalents. They all fit on 2024 EB.
PBL30001 gets you just about 6qt, but it could possibly bypass slightly lower. Other options don't add meaningful volume.

Update: Fram FE8A matches the factory bypass and seems to get right at 6qt.


I don't really want to open more debate about the merits of alternative or larger oil filters.
That said, for those who are interested in this I set out today to compare some viable options.

One of my interests was increased fluid capacity, just for convenience of using 6 rather than 5.5 in the EB.

I compared three motorcraft filters and their corresponding Purolator Boss filters.

I can confirm that all of these filter will fit on my 2024 lariat tremor. The largest ones come into contact with a coolant hose but that should be fine. Gaskets all fit the mating surface the same.

PBL30001 and 6qt fill:

The OEM filter is the FL-910s

I considered FL-910s, FL-400s, FL-1A and their corresponding Purolator Boss parts: PBL10241, PBL20195, PBL30001
Purolator and motorcraft both publish bypass pressure range. I found the motorcraft info on bitog. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/motorcraft-specs.26939/


Here is the info I found (lowest volume first)

FL910s:
RVOP Setting PSI 11.6-17.4
Free volume: 235ml

PBL10241:
RVOP Setting PSI 12-15

FL400s
RVOP Setting PSI 12.5-18.5
Free volume: 305ml

PBL20195:
RVOP Setting PSI 12-15

FL1A:
RVOP Setting PSI 11-14
Free volume: 625ml

PBL30001:
RVOP Setting PSI 8-16

I measured the free volume of the motorcraft filters like so:
Measure 100ml water
Slowly pour water into the center tube until it reaches the top
Wait 5 minutes for filter media to soak
Using a pick, poke open the antidrainback valve to release any stuck air
Note whether the water level in the center tube has gone down.
If so, repeat.
Stop when more water can be added without overflowing into the gasket groove.


Why did I bother doing this?
Mostly to see if they would fit

Why do I care about 6qt vs 5.5qt?
Just for convenience. I'd rather not waste or hold on to a half-full bottle.

Why didn't I just measure the volume using displacement?
Canister exterior volume isn't the same as free volume due to the internal media and components.

Why didn't I measure the volume of the Purolators?
After I proved that the FL-1A would fit I knew I was going to use one of the two larger boss filters. So I tested the motorcraft ones, and kept the boss as a backup.
I'll measure them next time maybe.

Are there any other noteworthy differences?
The motorcraft filters have a base end bypass valve. The Purolators have a dome end. Theoretically, then, during a bypass event (such as a very cold weather start) the Purolators might draw in sediment from the dome of the can. Motorcraft base-end bypasses would be less likely to do this.

Final thoughts:
I think next time I'll just use PBL20195, and not care about the extra volume. It's easier to find, a little cheaper, and matches the OEM bypass settings. Plus it won't be in contact with the coolant hose.

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[S Dundee]

The Motorcraft FL400S from most online info has a bypass rating of 20 PSI while the FL910S has a bypass rating of 14.5 PSI. Would not be good to use a FL400S in cold weather locations. Not sure why a lot of people want to get a larger filter. A larger filter does not filter "more". It will hold more contaminant in total but for your engine to use that capacity you'd have bigger problems to worry about than which size filter you used. All of the Motorcraft filters pretty much have the same 80% filtration at 20 microns or larger spec; the FL400S and FL910S both have this specification for filtration.

The filter than came on the Maverick was a German made Mann filter with a very small can, but it has a lot of very precise pleats (surface area). The kind of media also makes a difference. Most of the cellulose media is only performing surface filtration, while some of the synthetic media also provides depth filtration in its layers. So some of the filters with smaller cans that use newer synthetic media will hold more contaminant that that old Ford Motorcraft FL1A with paper media.

Ford used to use Wix for their oil filters, Wix is now part of Mann Hummel and their filters are being migrated to Purolator (also owned by Mann Hummel). Wix always had a press-in bypass in the base plate, and Ford liked that and made it their standard. Ford's logic is as you say to avoid dirty oil being recirculated in the engine if the bypass triggers on a cold day. The current Motorcraft filters are a Purolator design (Mann Hummel) that uses the bypass in the base plate. It appears to be tacked in place and not a press-in.

So whether you pick the Motorcraft or the Purolator, you are getting a Purolator. All of this auto parts consolidation has led to a lot less oil filter choices in the US.

 

[MatthewPK]

The Motorcraft FL400S from most online info has a bypass rating of 20 PSI while the FL910S has a bypass rating of 14.5 PSI. Would not be good to use a FL400S in cold weather locations. Not sure why a lot of people want to get a larger filter. A larger filter does not filter "more". It will hold more contaminant in total but for your engine to use that capacity you'd have bigger problems to worry about than which size filter you used. All of the Motorcraft filters pretty much have the same 80% filtration at 20 microns or larger spec; the FL400S and FL910S both have this specification for filtration.

The filter than came on the Maverick was a German made Mann filter with a very small can, but it has a lot of very precise pleats (surface area). The kind of media also makes a difference. Most of the cellulose media is only performing surface filtration, while some of the synthetic media also provides depth filtration in its layers. So some of the filters with smaller cans that use newer synthetic media will hold more contaminant that that old Ford Motorcraft FL1A with paper media.

Ford used to use Wix for their oil filters, Wix is now part of Mann Hummel and their filters are being migrated to Purolator (also owned by Mann Hummel). Wix always had a press-in bypass in the base plate, and Ford liked that and made it their standard. Ford's logic is as you say to avoid dirty oil being recirculated in the engine if the bypass triggers on a cold day. The current Motorcraft filters are a Purolator design (Mann Hummel) that uses the bypass in the base plate. It appears to be tacked in place and not a press-in.

So whether you pick the Motorcraft or the Purolator, you are getting a Purolator. All of this auto parts consolidation has led to a lot less oil filter choices in the US.

Bypass valve setting is often cited as a single number for convenience but in reality is always a range.

The info I linked from bitog has the same average value for the 910. Do you have a more reliable source for the 400?

 

[S Dundee]

Bypass valve setting is often cited as a single number for convenience but in reality is always a range.

The info I linked from bitog has the same average value for the 910. Do you have a more reliable source for the 400?

An $8 oil filter does not have a precision bypass valve. It is typically a spring coil with a plastic or metal cap. So yes there is going to be a standard deviation. Motorcraft does not post those values so we are all getting them from similar places.

 

[MatthewPK]

An $8 oil filter does not have a precision bypass valve. It is typically a spring coil with a plastic or metal cap. So yes there is going to be a standard deviation. Motorcraft does not post those values so we are all getting them from similar places.

I think you and I are saying the same thing. My question to you is that since you disagree with my information sourced from bitog do you have an alternative source of that information to compare?

 

[srfdude44]

The Motorcraft FL400S from most online info has a bypass rating of 20 PSI while the FL910S has a bypass rating of 14.5 PSI. Would not be good to use a FL400S in cold weather locations. Not sure why a lot of people want to get a larger filter. A larger filter does not filter "more". It will hold more contaminant in total but for your engine to use that capacity you'd have bigger problems to worry about than which size filter you used. All of the Motorcraft filters pretty much have the same 80% filtration at 20 microns or larger spec; the FL400S and FL910S both have this specification for filtration.
************************************
I think if you delve in to the specs for the FL910s, you will find that there is a massive difference in filtering specs. The 400S is indeed at 80%, 20µ. The 910s, on the other hand is a miserable 80%, 55µ. It is indeed a rock catcher.

 

[srfdude44]

I think there is some merit to a larger filter medium. THink about it, suppose the filter (actual filter media) was the size of a postage stamp. In order to get the amount of oil through that the oil pump pumps, it would have to be as porous as a piece of gauze. So the question is, how large a filter medium is necessary to pass all the oil through while not causing the bypass valve to open, thereby passing totally unfiltered oil??? Particularly while the oil is cold? That is the main reason a smaller filter has a lower bypass rating. It will reach a maximum flow earlier than a larger medium, and bypass unfiltered oil.
Can anyone think of any reason a larger filter (within reason of course) would not be in the interest of the engine?
Just because the manufacturer uses a particular size, well I think you can find a lot of other ways they scrimp.

 

[MatthewPK]

Oh I'm glad you reminded me about this thread.
I recently changed oil and replaced the PBL30001 with the Fram Endurance equivalent, the FE8A. The fram endurance has the same bypass pressure range as the OEM filter.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

So am I to assume that the RVOP is the pressure at which the bypass valve opens, roughly?

I think another spec or piece of data might be how much oil can flow through the filter at a given pressure. That is, while the RVOP appears to be slightly lower on the larger filter, it has a much larger amount of media surface within, and can thus flow more oil, more freely than the smaller filter. How much more, I don't know. Also don't know how to measure this - maybe measure pressure on the before and after side?

I bet the pressure drop through the larger filter is lower than the smaller one. Not sure if that's significant or not, but couldn't hurt in getting oil up to the top of the engine more easily.

The volume of the filter is helpful - you have another half quart of oil in the system with the larger filter, which theoretically allows the heat generated by the engine and transferred to the oil to be spread over a larger quantity of oil, thus reducing the oil temperature a small amount when the engine is fully warmed up. Again, I don't know how much of a difference that would make.

 

[bobaguy]

Oh I'm glad you reminded me about this thread.
I recently changed oil and replaced the PBL30001 with the Fram Endurance equivalent, the FE8A. The fram endurance has the same bypass pressure range as the OEM filter.

Have you change your oil yet? How you feel about FE8A so far? Did you fill exactly at 6 qts?
Your picture looks like overfilled if you fill at 6qt.

I thought we want it at B level.

When I change oil, I usually fill the up to 95% of the oil volume capacity, and run the car to operating temperature, then slowly fill to meet the Nominal line. I may consider to try FE8A, I like the fact that it's bigger filter and have the same bypass PSI settings with OEM filter.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Have you change your oil yet? How you feel about FE8A so far? Did you fill exactly at 6 qts?
Your picture looks like overfilled if you fill at 6qt.

I thought we want it at B level.

When I change oil, I usually fill the up to 95% of the oil volume capacity, and run the car to operating temperature, then slowly fill to meet the Nominal line. I may consider to try FE8A, I like the fact that it's bigger filter and have the same bypass PSI settings with OEM filter.

O'boy here we go.....
Anyway
My own preference, is for a larger oil filter like the FE8A.
It can't be any worse than the miniscule filter that Ford dispatches the Maverick with from the factory.

Thank you for posting

 

[MatthewPK]

Have you change your oil yet? How you feel about FE8A so far? Did you fill exactly at 6 qts?
Your picture looks like overfilled if you fill at 6qt.

I thought we want it at B level.

When I change oil, I usually fill the up to 95% of the oil volume capacity, and run the car to operating temperature, then slowly fill to meet the Nominal line. I may consider to try FE8A, I like the fact that it's bigger filter and have the same bypass PSI settings with OEM filter.

Previously, with the PBL30001, it was a slight overfill. But now, with FE8A, it's right on the top with 6qt.
FE8A seems like the best oversized option for 2024 Ecoboost, in my opinion.

Just did an oil change yesterday, here's the stick:

 

[Meeka]

Previously, with the PBL30001, it was a slight overfill. But now, with FE8A, it's right on the top with 6qt.
FE8A seems like the best oversized option for 2024 Ecoboost, in my opinion.

Just did an oil change yesterday, here's the stick:

That’s too low, needs another 3/4 litre! J/K, looks good to me.

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