Oil filters

Raspy

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What brand of oil filters are you guys using on the 7.3?
 
What brand of oil filters are you guys using on the 7.3?
It is covered a little bit on another thread on here, but the consensus was Motorcraft, you can get them online or Wallyworld at good price.
 
I’m using either Motorcraft or Mobil1, depending on what I have laying around at home...
 
It is covered a little bit on another thread on here, but the consensus was Motorcraft, you can get them online or Wallyworld at good price.
Thank 5.8
 
Wix - 51372 or Fram - TG2 or XG2
 
Motorcraft all the way, or WIX is really good which is the higher end CARQUEST brand. Would not recommend Fram, not impressed by their design.
 
Motorcraft all the way, or WIX is really good which is the higher end CARQUEST brand. Would not recommend Fram, not impressed by their design.
I wouldn't put a Fram on my lawn mower, much less my new truck.
 
I’m all for OEM. What dealer will give you a hard time about any potential warranty issues if you have an OEM on there? (I’m not denying it’s happened). I have done a ton of research over the years and always come back to OEM.

Would a manufacturer put a sub par filter on their engine knowing it may lead to issues? It’s one area where the risk could be costly if they cheap out on it. I trust OEM because they don’t want the bad press of many engine defects and cost of warranty repairs. And I know it’s pretty hard to dispute a warranty claim when we are using the recommended parts.

It’s been a nearly constant dilemma of mine since I started driving. I always feel there must be a better filter. When I have swayed away from OEM in the past, I go Mobil 1. I have watched countless videos ripping apart filters measuring surface area. Always end up back on OEM.

I will say I have not heard of any specific filter brand causing engine failure in my 25 years of driving. In my time I have had a few gaskets leak. Held two in my hands and had one feel cheaper than the other (weight and overall quality). But no stories of filter causing failure. Curious to hear others experience with filters over the years.
 
Motorcraft all the way, or WIX is really good which is the higher end CARQUEST brand. Would not recommend Fram, not impressed by their design.
Wix isn’t owned by Carquest, but maybe you didn’t mean that.

Used Wix for years myself (I get them at O’Reilly’s), but I’ll prob go OEM Motorcraft just to avoid potential warranty issues.
 
For some time, not sure now, Cummins said Fram filters were either not recommended, or not allowed. The reason was the filter media was water soluble, So, if too much moisture got in the oil, you ended up with a bunch of wet paper going through the system and clogging the piston cooling jets, etc. Cummins has their own Stratapore filters which are excellent, and Ram sells them under the Mopar name. I have never run any filter other than Cummins Stratapore on any of my three Cummins trucks. Going from that kind of standard, I wanted to make sure I start out right with the 7.3. And it sounds like Motorcraft is the way to go. And only $4.00? Sheesh. Cheap. There may very well be other ones that are better, but being OEM and factory recommended means a lot.

It reminds me of K&N air filters. "Oh, they are so wonderful and flow so much more air", etc. Of course they do, because they let larger particles through. More sand. Even their own literature talks about how they work better as they get dirty. That means the passages get smaller as they clog, which lets only smaller particles through, so they filter better when dirty. Hilarious.
 
Are you kidding? Pure Power filters? Really?

Disassemble, clean, inspect, re-assemble, dry and re-install. And the cost, not including their cleaning materials, means you will not break even with even an $18. Cummins filter for between 150,000 to 230,000 miles. With a $4.00 Motorcraft filter, it would be much longer. About three times that many miles. And the clains that the engine will have more power? What? Then there is the messy cleaning process. And the fact that Ford recommends something else. No thanks. I'm looking for what is practical and high quality. I do my own oil changes and I want to do them quickly and efficiently, not make a project out of it.
 
I am about to do my first oil change, and bought a bunch of Motorcraft filters. I figured OEM and call it good.
 
I am about to do my first oil change, and bought a bunch of Motorcraft filters. I figured OEM and call it good.

Description:Engine Oil Filter
Part Number: F1AZ6731BD
Quantity:4
Price:$4.49

from Lakeland Ford parts online
 
I generally agree with the sentiment that OEM suffices. I can’t say I have seen waterproof evidence that the more expensive premium filters work better than the Motorcraft parts.

However, as long as the filter fulfills the correct specification from Ford, they cannot legally deny your warranty because you used i.e. a Mobil1 filter. I have a bunch of fl820-s and 210As lying around that I use. You can confirm the specs and the fact that Ford does allow you to use I.e. M1 filters in the manual (see footnote 1):
4359E603-08CB-47B4-BE84-960D9BEA37B7.png


48FB9376-CADD-411E-BB05-8E64B74B223F.jpeg


I did extensive research on the M1 filter here and I can confirm that this filter is of equal if not superior quality to the Motorcraft one (can’t confirm superiority because I haven’t actual particle research on those two in comparison). However, construction-wise they check all the boxes in similarity as it pertains to BPV pressure, location, filter media, size and fit. Most importantly, the M1 does specifically call out the required Ford specification from the owners manual. In other words: You’re safe using this, but have to ask yourself if the “belief” in something better is worth the extra 10$.
 
Just did my first oil change at 4k and went Donaldson.
 
For some time, not sure now, Cummins said Fram filters were either not recommended, or not allowed. The reason was the filter media was water soluble, So, if too much moisture got in the oil, you ended up with a bunch of wet paper going through the system and clogging the piston cooling jets, etc. Cummins has their own Stratapore filters which are excellent, and Ram sells them under the Mopar name. I have never run any filter other than Cummins Stratapore on any of my three Cummins trucks. Going from that kind of standard, I wanted to make sure I start out right with the 7.3. And it sounds like Motorcraft is the way to go. And only $4.00? Sheesh. Cheap. There may very well be other ones that are better, but being OEM and factory recommended means a lot.

It reminds me of K&N air filters. "Oh, they are so wonderful and flow so much more air", etc. Of course they do, because they let larger particles through. More sand. Even their own literature talks about how they work better as they get dirty. That means the passages get smaller as they clog, which lets only smaller particles through, so they filter better when dirty. Hilarious.
I'm in the same camp of saying no to any K&N, because they do not meet Cummins' specifications. They let in too much dust and cause undue wear. That, and they make no noticeable difference in power. Therefore they won't go on anything else I own. On Dad's old F100 with 300 I6, it would make unhappy noises with Fram, so he used the tried and true FL1A. I wouldn't put Fram on anything.
OEM Motorcraft would be hard to beat for all reasons mentioned above.
 
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