2003 crown victoria

manfred · #1 04/30/14, 07:17 AM

I recently bought this car for my daughter. Loving the car so far.
I bought oil and filter for her boyfriend to change, he's pretty good mechanically.
He tells me later I bought the wrong filter, the one on it was one of those small ones and he went to parts store and bought one with the same number.
Well, I checked it out an I bought the right one . I guess someone put on a smaller one not having correct filter.
Should I worry about it ? The correct one is a full size filter?

Bellyman · #2 04/30/14, 09:19 AM

I don't think I'd get too excited about it if it fits on correctly. Honestly, I'd rather have the larger filter, too, if otherwise they're the same. More filter media is a good thing.

Filters do vary in size by an inch or so in length just by looking at different name brands.

Next time you're in Walmart, check to see if they have both of them in stock. You can do a side by side comparison of the business end to see if they both look to be a reasonable swap. The mounting surface does typically offer room for a little variation in diameter but ought to be close. Length is really not a big deal outside of clearance and perhaps oil capacity.

I'd be curious what you find.

manfred · #3 04/30/14, 11:30 AM

The boyfriend disposed of the old filter and it's so crowded on the side of engine block I can't see the numbers on the installed filter.

topofmountain · #4 04/30/14, 04:16 PM

My 99 Crown Vic (P71 Police Interceptor) 4.6L uses a Motorcraft FL820S it is about 3.5" long by about the same in width.

manfred · #5 04/30/14, 05:33 PM

From what I read on the web they went to the larger filters in 2000 and for the next 10 years that I checked they all used the same larger filter.

topofmountain · #6 05/04/14, 06:48 PM

It is not going to hurt anything. Next time you change it use the longer on if you want. My buddy has an 01 CV P71 & he uses the short ones all the time. 55,000 miles hasn't hurt anything.

manfred · #7 05/05/14, 08:54 AM

Not only longer but bigger around. I changed it a couple of days ago. I feel better now. Thanks all for the replys.

topofmountain · #8 05/06/14, 06:23 PM

Glad you found peace. That is the main thing. The difference in oil is most likely not more than a few ounces.