WARNING-I-4 oil filters

tonync55 · 05-28-2007, 09:09 AM

Warning do not use a motorcraft or purolator oil cartrage on your 4 cyl. fusion. I know at least one owner that had to have her engine replaced because of this problem. If you change your own oil use a napa of wix gold,$4.99 at napa. The problem with the other filters is they are slightly to long for the filter housing and crush or twist into when you re-tighten the oil filter housing.I change my own oil in my I4 fusion and my sons. When I removed the motorcraft filter that the ford dealer had installed both were badly twisted up. The manufactures are suppose to be aware of this problem and trying to correct it. Until they do stay away from these brands. If you live near a mazda dealer the mazda filter are also safe to use.

pebrain21 · 08-14-2007, 11:23 AM

Speaking of I4 oil filters ( I read your post that stated that you have changed your own oil) I have a 2007 fusion s I4 automatic and the owner's manual says that you should change out the oil drain plug o-ring and the oil filter o-ring. Do you do this? If so where do you get them and do you have parts numbers. I can't seem to explain to people at the parts store what they are without them giving a blank stare.

Thanks,

tonync55 · 09-16-2007, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pebrain21

Speaking of I4 oil filters ( I read your post that stated that you have changed your own oil) I have a 2007 fusion s I4 automatic and the owner's manual says that you should change out the oil drain plug o-ring and the oil filter o-ring. Do you do this? If so where do you get them and do you have parts numbers. I can't seem to explain to people at the parts store what they are without them giving a blank stare.

Thanks,

The oil drain plug o- ring you refer to is the one on the oil filter housing. This o-ring comes with the oil filter. After several oil changes I have almost stripped out this star headed plug. When I went to the Ford dealer to order a new one I found you had to order the entire oil filter housing to get one{$35.00}. I also found out that you don't have to remove this plug when you change the oil. Just unscrew the housing like you do a spin on filter. It will be a little messy but it works fine. I now have 23,000 miles on my fusion and loving every mile. It is a great car.

mdsmw1985 · 10-18-2007, 10:34 PM

I am a Lube Technician for a ford dealership in Tulare California and I have seen these "twisted" filters many times. The problem usaually does not come from installation errors, unless the person doing the servicing doesn't know what they are doing. I see the filters twisted or sucked in on Fusions that have gone longer than 3500 miles between oil changes. The worst one I have seen the person waited over 7000 miles and the filter element was almost closed together. Also to make things less messy I pull the drain plug off the lid so the oil drains smoothly and I have never had one stripped out because they do not require much force to put back on. The O-ring seals very well and doesn't need replacing too often as long as your not a gorilla went tightening the plug. I can also hand tighten the lid and have no leaks, I'm 6'6" and 265 pounds

P.S. I use Motorcraft and never have problems with installation.

David Clark · 10-03-2009, 06:26 PM

I need to change the oil in my mothers 2002 Ford Fusion 2.0L. I have not worked on this particular vehicle, so do not know where the oil drain plug is. It is difficult enough trying to get under the car, but, then not knowing where the drain plug is or the oil filter location as well. I have not been able to locate any internet site to help me with the location of drain plug and filter. Please give me some good advice.

theoldwizard · 10-04-2009, 04:18 AM

Help us out here David. Is this an American Fusion or European Fusion ?

I'm guessing European as the American Fusion did not hit the streets here until 2006 model year and never had a 2.0L engine in it.

Unfortunately, most (but not all) posters here are Americans.

mark v · 10-04-2009, 08:53 PM

I highly doubt Motorcraft filters would be problematic, there would be a state wide Government recall from Ford if this was really true!

crazy96863 · 10-19-2009, 10:16 PM

I am just going to pay Midas $23 to change my oil. They screw it up the motor is on them. This saves me the mess of doing it myself not to mentionthe fact I have nowhere to do it other than the side of a city street and the cops probably wouldn't like that let alone the tree huggers.

Also, from what I understand that under 'normal' conditions, oil changes are at 5k each. I guess I will have to check the manual to verify but I am pretty certain this is the case.

Obviously dealers and oil change places alike would love us all to change oil at 1k each if we would but its not neccessary.

Jsmith309 · 10-19-2009, 10:38 PM

My machanic told me oil changes are over rated.. If u use synthetic it can last up to 9k miles.. or more depending on the driving conditions

theoldwizard · 10-20-2009, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsmith309

My machanic told me oil changes are over rated.. If u use synthetic it can last up to 9k miles.. or more depending on the driving conditions

Well, that would likely violate any warranty you have.

Ford has, over the past few years, quietly, gone to a recommended oil change interval of 7,500 mile when driving under "normal" conditions.