Ordered a couple of FL820S filters off Amazon.
The filters did not look like the picture , the housing does not match every other FL820S I've ever had. The one from Amazon is on the left, and a regular one is on the right.

The box is an exact match and the label on the filters is an exact match. The one on the right came from AutoZone and instead of having the filter housing painted it has a label on it also.

I wonder about this, because I've never seen an auto manufacturer not change a part number if they made a manufacturer or design change to a part. Both of these have the exact same part number.

So what say the experts, is this a real change for fl820s or not?

My gut would say if its not authentic, it's a grey market product being produced by the same Chinese factory that makes the real one that's why they have access to the real labels and real boxes.

Regardless, I'm not using it Amazon refunded the money .

 

You should send your pictures to Ford. Counterfeiting is a huge problem.

 

Unless they've recently changed suppliers, it looks fake to me. Every FL820S that I've ever used has been the 36 flute variety. The filter on the left does look like a Wix to me though, so maybe they did change suppliers.

 

What does the other side look like? What color is the anti-drain back valve?

I usually look for 6 holes and an "ML" stamp on Wix made filters.

 

Anti drain back valve is the same orangish color.

I just can't see them changing apart substantially such that it has a different you know housing and not assigning a new part number to it...

I know they've had problems with fake spark plugs.....$3-4 items. I can imagine oil filters too. Blows my mind that it can be worth it for such low price items.

 

The left is a Wix XP, and the right is an O'Reilly Microgard.

 

The same issue with a different part number got pummeled in to a greasy stain not long ago. Motorcraft made changes, didn't tell anybody, seems the likely cause. Probably started using a new supplier that did not have the tooling for the old style of can.

https://www.f150forum.com/f2/motorcr...-parts-500606/

 

I just pulled last year's new filter off my shelf, and it's the 36 multi-fin style. The ones I bought in August are the new Wix-type can. These are legit MC filters. I'm started wondering if Purolator lost the contract after having it for the past 40 or 50 years. They now use the 13/14 whatever finned cans. So I guess they are still making Motorcraft's filters.

 

Well, @djfllmn says they're legit in the thread BBXL posted. I'll stop reading at that point. If anyone would know current changes, it's him. And now I see AK also says they're legit. Double verification.... just like we did a "Captcha" now.

I do know, oddly enough, that when you buy a brand new Ford and get the gray colored filter, those are made by Champ Labs. I've been using some Champ Labs filters on my two Escapes for a while now, and they are great. I'm not sure who the new supplier is, but those new FL820S filters sure look like a Wix to me. Does anyone have a pic of the other side though? The Purolator built filters have the oblong holes in them.

 

Wait. I just check the 2020 vs 2021 filters I have and they both have 6 elongated holes. The Wix have round holes. The elongated ones are MC. Both have the same drain-back valve. The round-holed ones could be something else entirely. That is all I can get off the two MC, different year filters.