springer Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 I was at my local Ford dealer today and ran into the tech who has done some work on my Shelby this past year. We were discussing K&N air filters and he cautioned me to be careful with my mods and not do anything that would affect the warranty on my new F-150. I brought up the Magnuson Moss Act to him concerning the use of "like" parts during the warranty period instead of using factory recommended fluids, oils, filters etc. I also explained how this act was legislated to protect consumers from unscrupulous dealers who try to void warranties if factory oils, filters etc. are not used during the warranty period. This lead directly to a discussion about oil changes during the warranty period and he cautioned me to be careful with non-sealed oil filters. He said a while back, a customer brought in a two-year-old Mustang GT with the 4.6l engine that was suffering from serious top end noise. During the tear down, a bug, or what was left of a bug, was found in an oil passage going to one of the cams. Apparently the bug made its way into the engine through a store-bought engine filter. By now I was curious as to how this could happen. He went on to tell me that Ford oil filters are sealed with plastic, while many non-Ford filters purchased at Walmart/auto part stores are not sealed. According to him, the non-Ford oil filter that was installed on this Mustang at one time or another probably had a bug crawl inside it and remained there during an oil change. The bug eventually made its way into the engine compartment via some hot oil! He said the oil passages for the camshaft are rather small, and the bug made its way into one of these passages causing a loss of oil to the cams. When the bug was found, Ford would not honor the warranty since the engines are sealed. He went on to say that the customer had been a regular at an oil change facility which was documented by their records. Apparently the customer contacted the oil lube facility, and when confronted with the evidence, they paid for the repair to the engine. You can't make stuff like this up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdreed1265 Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Something about this story bugs me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NordicShelby Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Scary......I can see it happening we have a billion Box elder bugs and Jap beetles around here, even in the winter they are still around in the heated buildings. Thanks for the tip I will make sure I put all my oil filters in plastic bags once I buy them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormeaston Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 It seems like if you fart, it voids the warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Warranties are a pre-paid insurance policy. The dealers want to sell you an extended warranty. With all the hassles on warranty work I wish they'd reverse it. instead of a 3 year bumper to bumper I wish they'd offer a 90-day (to weed out infant mortality and squeaks and grunts) and give me a credit for the rest and I'll self-insure the rest. In general vehicles assembled today use components with much higher tolerances and so "just work". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redlinetoys Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 It sounds like they were suggesting that the bug could have been there from the oil filter factory, or during storage somewhere between the factory and the shelves, and finally your garage. I think this is potentially possible since the oil generally flows into the outside of the filter through the rubber anti-bleed seal and then to the engine from the center hole, which is totally exposed to the environment inside of the cardboard box after manufacture. Having spent some time in a factory that made many oil filters (They actually made many different filters for many different "Manufacturers", all painted and printed in different colors), I would say it is highly possible that this could happen. Very interesting story and I, for one, will be glancing down into my filter before putting it on in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeVA Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 It seems like if you fart, it voids the warranty. On the 2011's the owner's manual indicates this is true if you are within 100 feet of the vehicle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shel-b001 Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 On the 2011's the owner's manual indicates this is true if you are within 100 feet of the vehicle! Does this just apply to the owner or is the family included Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorjock205 Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 So exactly WHICH FORD oil filters are sealed??? I've bought numerous Motorcraft oil filters from dealers and auto parts stores and NONE have ever been sealed in any kind of plastic...nor was there any plastic seal covering the holes only....so I'd really like to know what FORD filters he is talking about....especially since MOTORCRAFT is their line... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glroy Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 So exactly WHICH FORD oil filters are sealed??? I've bought numerous Motorcraft oil filters from dealers and auto parts stores and NONE have ever been sealed in any kind of plastic...nor was there any plastic seal covering the holes only....so I'd really like to know what FORD filters he is talking about....especially since MOTORCRAFT is their line... Last for filter I bought the parts guy put in the box with the oil. Only plastic I saw was the oil jugs and the visa card I used to pay for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted February 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 Can't help you there motorjock. I'm just the messenger! I did call the tech today and he said that some of the filters from Ford are sealed in plastic and some are not sealed. Go figure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shel-b001 Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 I buy my filters from Ford dealers & never have got one wrap in plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorjock205 Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 I kinda figure as long as I'm buying Motorcraft filters, either regular or racing, and I have proof of what I have bought since day one, if there is a bug in one of them, FORD is going to be doing the replacing of any damaged engine parts, not me! I'm just sayin'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ram_g Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Having changed many filters of many brands in many cars over many years, I can state that the only ones I remember to have a shrink wrap were the Honda ones. Never a Ford filter, and I've had many Ford, Lincoln, and Jaguar cars over the last 24 years. So although it's an interesting and plausible concept, I still think the tech is BS'ing you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbymotorsports Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Having changed many filters of many brands in many cars over many years, I can state that the only ones I remember to have a shrink wrap were the Honda ones. Never a Ford filter, and I've had many Ford, Lincoln, and Jaguar cars over the last 24 years. So although it's an interesting and plausible concept, I still think the tech is BS'ing you... Have to agree with that. Consider the temps the oil operates at, consider the psi the oil is under at speed and consider the oiling passage ways, I can't see this being factual. I have a feeling that if we find a modular motor oiling diagram there is no way a bug could make it thru the oiling system up to the cam. And just for fun lets say this is 100% true, how does the dealership lube tech know that the bug came from an aftermarket filter? Why couldn't the bug have come from the factory filter? And I've also never seen a canister filter from Ford shrink wrapped, never. Not even the Racing filters. I'm going to need a little more proof than a dealership lube technician saying so. Anyone have an modular motor oiling diagram? Or the phone number to MythBusters? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbymotorsports Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Found this diagram on the net. http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/167729/fullsize/oil-flow.jpg%20alt= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RACERX009 Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 I use Napa gold sometimes and think its sealed in plastic but will check to be sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahmann Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks for the laugh buddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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