Motorcraft FL-400S is a good filter and a very good deal. WalMart sells it for around $2.77. It's what I use on my sister's Mercury Tracer.

However, I myself would be reluctant to try one on my NG900. Other than physical fit, an oil filter has a few other specifications that vary by application. It is troubling to find certain aftermarket manufacturers cross-listing filters with drastically different characteristics.

For example, Subaru specifies 23 psi for the by-pass valve. This means that the valve spring must be of certain strength in order to provide proper resistance to valve opening at lower pressure. Most aftermarket filters listed for Subarus are rated at 8-12 psi. That means that the by-pass valve will open much sooner. Is this a problem? It could be. I think the by-pass valve has a role regulating overall oil pressure in the engine. Thus, if the valve opens at the wrong pressure, you will have wrong oil pressure in your engine, which may or may not lead to wear, etc. Furthermore, the weaker the spring is, the more dirty oil will by-pass the filtering media. This is also a concern. BTW, VWs are affected even more, as their spec is even higher, yet most US-market filters sold in retail for VW applications have 8-12 psi by-pass valves.

Getting back to SAABs :), I would also add that having different sized filtering media might change oil pressure in the system. Pressure is a function of flow and a different media may produce different flow. As another example, I have seen reports that some people with oil pressure gauges noticed dramatically lower oil pressure when switching from a smaller, standard, filter to an oversized one.

In summary, my opinion is that without a proper oil pressure gauge it is impossible to tell the effect of a non-standard oil filter. It is like playing Russian roulette.


posted by 12.163.15...

• Dissecting a SAAB oil filter (pic)&oversize equiv found, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 00:59:18
  • Oil filter study, Dave Westlake, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 13:21:43
    • Yes, he inspired me to cut my used filter open (+), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 17:28:44
  • Since we're on this subject..., Alexandros, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 13:11:48
    • Fram !, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 17:41:35
      • Read the same report,,,, KeithR, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 21:32:45
      • Fram X2, Trevor, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 18:43:31
        • the only Fram with metal end caps, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 19:18:59
  • Re: Dissecting a SAAB oil filter (pic)&oversize equiv f, Stephen Goldberger, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 11:27:51
    • Bypass valve location, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 18:28:48
    • UK-made PF-53 (+), Vlad, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 11:41:22
  • Popping off the baseplate (pic), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:00:58
    • Pulling out the filter element (pic), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:01:58
      • Inverting the filter element, showing the bypass (pic), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:04:28
        • The bypass valve as seen from inside the filter (pic), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:06:08
          • Opening the bypass valve manually (video), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:10:47
            • Motorcraft FL-400S oversized filter (last pic), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:22:35
              • Well, if you are willing to experiment, I am grateful, Vlad, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 10:05:20 <-- Viewing This Message
                • This substitute should be OK when OOW, Greg Netzner, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 12:48:31
                  • Bypass valve settings, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 17:54:05
              • oops, forgot the last pic., Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:27:08
                • Thanks for the info!, bRAD, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 09:10:31
                  • nifty project, Jason.. :), saabgirlie , Fri, 11 Apr 2003 12:40:05
                    • wallpaper, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 18:11:33
                • Thanks Jason ..., J, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 02:10:02
                  • clicking after a cold start, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 02:45:27
                    • There is VOA of Mobil 1 0W-30 over at Bob's ..., J, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 10:25:03
                      • 0W-30; clicking, Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 17:22:08
                        • 0W-40 VOA, Greg Netzner, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 18:27:10
                          • thanks! (n/m), Jason 0W-40, Fri, 11 Apr 2003 20:16:03

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