FL-400S Motorcraft Filters

[sperold]

Anyone notice our FL-400S filters are getting shorter?
I have a habit of putting the old filter in the box that the new one came in to keep it from falling over while I am doing the oil change. Well, my old FL-400S stuck out of the top of the box when I set it in place.
Nothing is sacred.
Anyone know if the larger filter that people use is getting shorter as well. It used to be hard to wedge them in, but they may fit pretty nice now if the same thing is happening.

 

[Bob Gervais]

I noticed that too, when doing an oil change this past weekend. Not sure if the FL1A followed suit or not...

 

[frosho]

I just changed my oil 2 weeks ago. I use the bigger FL-1A filter, and I don't recall the new one being any different than the old one. I also use the new box to hold the old filter, and it didn't stick out at all.

 

[gmorrell]

And Ben Bernanke says there's no inflation. You either pay more for the same product or pay the same for less product.

I guess he hasn't bought ice cream lately, the 2 quart container is extinct, everything is 1.5 quarts now - for the 2 quart price.

I'll add oil filters to the inflation list.

 

[Inkertinker]

Sure enough the new one is in the middle of the sammich



Sorry for the crappy photo but you get the idea

 

[LJRuddy]

FL1A has not seemed to change and I bought a filter last week to change my oil.

 

[rubydist]

doesn't the FL1A have different threads from the FL-400S ?
I thought they weren't interchangeable..... can I just put a FL1A on there?

 

[zblackbeast]

FL1A will work perfectly with the SHO. its the same threading and mounting area, it just has a higher pressure relief valve and an obvious larger capacity..

 

[JRA2000TL]

So it's 6 to one half a dozen to the other whether you use FL-400S or FL1As? I'm going to start buying them and get the quick **** place to use my own filters. Yes I should change my own oil, but it makes a mess and is a pain in the ass, and yes the quick **** places will probably get oil all over my starter. They show me they added the correct amount of oil after each change, so I know they at least remembered to put oil in it.

 

[itwonder]

So it's 6 to one half a dozen to the other whether you use FL-400S or FL1As?

Not exactly. The FL1A does not have a silicone drain back valve. The FL400S does, and always has.

 

[sdpatt]

The FL-1A does not fit on my January 1991 production SHO. The larger diameter interferes with hard points on the oil cooler (IIRC).

 

[Bob Gervais]

I never ran an FL1A, but have run the AC Delco equivalent, that I won at the convention last year. No fitment issues, but I am back to running the 400s now.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Same thing happened with the FL820S ... same amount of filter media, smaller container is all.

 

[32MTX]

i think its a case of walmart, my fl400s I get from a parts distributor are still the long length, maybe its just old stock tho

 

[SHOtime2511]

Why do people run the small filter?

 

[BAM614]

I run an fl1a just fine...it is bigger than the fl400s that my store carries locally..

 

[SHOCH]

I just noticed the FL-400S lettering on the box is smaller too, now I know why I'm .00002 slower 0-60.

 

[JRA2000TL]

The OEM parts catalog shows the 400S as the correct filter but apparently the FL1As fit some of the MTX cars. I guess it's more of a "to each his own" thing like with oil brands. I bought a 400S for the white car at Walmart--$3.67.

 

[jthod]

ACdelco PFL400A

 

[93rev2sev]

The FL-1A does not fit on my January 1991 production SHO. The larger diameter interferes with hard points on the oil cooler (IIRC).

Something's wrong. Look again. The Fl1a should fit.