The truck is a secondhand 03 6.0L with 155,000 miles on it. The owner is confused with too many miles on him as well.

Today I decided I'd change the oil on the truck. Bought 18 quarts of Motorcraft 15w/40 conventional oil, a new Motorcraft FL-2016 filter, set out the rags, popped a beer and got started. I've changed oil before, though never gallons and gallons at a time on a diesel. But I printed out the Oil Change pdf that I found here:
http://archiesfordstore.com/6.0L_Oil_Change_Guide.pdf and I mean it's an oil change, how hard can it be?

Well, harder than I thought. I took the oil filter cap off, and this is where things started going wrong. The filter in the truck didn't look anything like the filter I bought.



The old filter had a large round opening on both ends, while the new filter had a set of three tabs on top of it. The pdf directions stated that the filter would 'snap into the oil filter lid'. It did not snap in. The new filter did not, does not, and will not fit in the filter holder at all. With this filter in place, I couldn't screw the lid back on the filter holder tight enough to make a seal.

I went back to AutoZone to make sure I indeed had the right filter, which, according to the computer, this forum and the cross reference book, I do. But like I said, the filter did not fit. There is no slot or anything for the filter to snap into on the lid.


Inside of Filter Lid

I ended up putting the old filter back in the truck, which is less than ideal, but right now I am at a loss.

The old filter had no identifying writing or marks on it, so I have no idea what it is.

What to do? I don't want to keep the old filter in the truck, but the recommended filter does not fit.

 

Someone installed an aftermarket cap as well as an aftermarket filter. You need to get an OEM oil filter cap from a dealership (or ebay).

 

Thank you! That's what I figured...

The question is, why an after market filter and filter cap?

The world may never know...

 

the aftermarket filter comes in two pieces look in side your cap and grab the round plastic piece the old filter sealed aginst and just pull it out then new ford filter will snap in it

 

I wouldn't have an aftermarket filter cap unless it was a billet aluminum cap made by a reputable company. The dimensions of the cap/filter combination are VERY important.

 

It's scarry to see what some people do when they don't use Ford filter's.
I mean the previous owner.

 

Often times the problem is that the owner took it to a quick change place. The quick change place uses cheap filter/cap combos, so they throw away the OEM cap. Lots of posts like that!

 

Ditto on the OEM cap and filter. When I bought my 06, it had a Napa cap and filter, I didnt think anything of it since I was new to 6.0's, however I quickly learned why everyone preaches OEM. Luckly I was sitting in my driveway letting my "new to me" truck warm up and as I let it idle and walked around it, there on the ground was about a gallon of oil! Jumped in and cut her off. Popped the hood and refired her, and low and behold, that napa cap was pouring oil out at the oring! Nothing on My 6.0 will be anything but OEM from me unless I hear on here thats its tried and proven. Thanks to everyone on here, this is a great site!

 

Filters to avoid are the brands that come with integral caps and or require adapters to "make them fit." The ones that scare me the most have the white clips that modify the bypass valve at the top of the filter standpipe. I have seen numerous instances of the clip or the valve being broken with no trace of the pieces as well as the entire valve missing from the standpipe. There are times when I have to charge a customer for a new cap as another shop had thrown away their OEM oil filter cap.

I am sure these forums are full of related sob stories.

 

Would anyone have or know where I could find the part number for the OEM filter cap for an 03 6.0?

Thanks again for all your help, FTE Forum!

 

I had the same problem with the truck I just got. They had used Wix oil filters and they have that rounded top clip and sell the cap attached to the filter. I found an OEM style cap at rockauto.com for around $8 plus shipping(it is doorman brand)

 

ford powerstroke 6.0 6.4 oil filter cap 3C3Z-6766-CA - eBay (item 150534400997 end time Dec-21-10 18:53:34 PST)

I searched for "6.0 oil filter cap", "6.0" and what you want will usually find the part and sometimes the Ford part number.

 

no need for a new cap in this case the part in the center of the cap should just pull out.
that looks like the factory cap with just the adapter

 

Read post #4.

 

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