BeerCan

Personally I stick with the MC filter (made by purolator). The fl500s is available online at rock auto for 4.59 + shipping. I also see them in AZ for $5.50. If you are going to do extended drain I would order the Amsoil EAO17. Wix equivalent is the 57502 and napa is the 7502. IMO the only fram I would ever buy is the xtended guard but with all the other choices there is no need to ever buy a fram.

familytruxter

NEVER use the orange death can! The cardboard inside comes apart almost immediately so dirt just bypasses the filter soon after you install it. Use Wix or Motorcraft.

peterhurcos

Noticed reading between the lines of the manual that Ford is uptight about three things:

1. Coolant. Its between 40-60%. Not one point over or under. Don't use an el cheapo float measuring thingy either. Use a proper refractometer.

2. Gas quality. When I was a young guy, gas was gas. You pulled into the convenience mart with the cheapest price and never gave it a second thought. No more. Ford says to use 87 octane regular gas. If you are at altitude and its 86 octane? Find some 87 octane anyway. I take that to mean "use name brand gas"

3. Use a good quality oil filter. Ford says in the manual if your valves clatter in the morning its because you are using a cheap filter. Makes sense. I used to buy synthetic oil and a Wal-Mart filter. Oil has improved a lot. Filters? Your guess is as good as mine. I wouldn't assume its OK because you recognize the brand name.

Apparently Motorcraft oil is hot stuff (there are oil-change hobbyists who keep up with this stuff. They post on the web a lot.) Get the Motorcraft oil and the Motorcraft filter and you are OK. Maybe you should just let the dealer change the oil.

medicff0879

Funny, I stopped at the dealer and the idiot in parts actually in a way talked me out of buying the oil filter from them? He acted as though it was tough to go and get it, and went on to say that they used to use a big filter, and now have switched to a much smaller one. I told him I had bought the Fram Tough Guard filter, but also wanted to have this one on hand in case the other did'nt fit, he actually said, "they are pretty much the same, if it is close in size, than there shouldn't be any big issues" LOL!! Incredible.

So, tell me why again should I just go ahead and have the dealer change my oil? Not sure if that was a smartass reply, or insinuating that I don't know what I am talking about? But in your infinite knowledge, please tell me why I should take good oil to a STEALERSHIP and have them charge me $50+ in labor to use MY OIL that I brought in? When I can pay a local garage $20 to change my oil, rotate the tires, check the fluids, and ooooo, do what those idiots at a Stealership charge almost double for!!

medicff0879

Just to set the record straight, I am NOT defending FRAM by any means. Points well taken here, and I will def. go with either the Ford, WIX, or NAPA next time (if I can find them)

Funny how no one was there to comment about the filters when I first posed the question, however, AFTER everyone and their cat shows up LOL!! Again, I am sure the motor will be fine for the 5000 miles until the next oil change, at which time I will switch.

klumb15

China Mart should still be carrying Ford Motorcraft filters, No? Mobile 1 and Ford MC Filters are the only two things I buy from that store.

BeerCan

The ones by my house do not have the fl-500s so I got them at rock auto instead.

medicff0879 -- you are right, using the fram filter probably will not cause any issues for you. I know people that use them exclusively and have 0 oil related issues. What I do find amusing is that you call people out for not giving you information that you could have found in under 5 minutes using google and/or the search function.

medicff0879

Like what? Other folks post even more redundant crap and yet people feed into that, I.e. (ANOTHER MPG THREAD) Did a search with no results and no one has put together any type of comprehensive list of available oil filters with part #'s, have they? Please, find me some part numbers for Wix, NAPA gold, etc.... and post since it is just a simple 5 min answer. I got thread after thread about how Ford Changed the old bigger filter to the newer smaller one, and how no one seems to be, or plans to make a comparable one anytime soon? Maybe my wording in the search? Tried, "Napa Gold Oil Filter for 3.5L EcoBoost," "Wix Oil Filter for 3.5L EcoBoost," "FRAM oil filter for 3.5L EcoBoost." Luckily, mine shows up under the last search, because of the topic wording. I am really looking for a link to find something, I really didn't have ANY luck? The idiots at NAPA looked at me like I was asking in Mandarin Chinese.

The china-mart does sale Ford oil filters, but not the one needed for the motor.

transmaster

First off I don't use, and will not use, Fram Filters to me they are junk. I presently use K&N,. It would seem oil filters are like car batteries. One company makes a number of different brands. In this case it is Champion Labs, http://www.champlabs.com/
The two best oil filters presently on the market are the K&N, and the Purolator PureONE. This is not a subjective thing on my part this is expressed on Forums for professional Mechanics, and people who evaluate oil filters. The sites below will tell you just about everything you need to know about oil filters.

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil...erence.html#kn

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil.../opinions.html

peterhurcos

Geez, lighten up. I figure anytime you see a deviation from the usual yadda yadda in the manual you ought to take notice.

In my area $50 is about what it costs anywhere. If you want to save a buck, you can get genuine motorcraft products at Wal-Mart for a very good price. With respect to your experience with the parts guy, well, I'm still waiting on my bedliner. the parts guy ordered the wrong size. I would pay more attention to the Ford engineers than the parts counter guy any day of the week.