Oil Filter Causes Engine Knocking At Start Up
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
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From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Dick
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
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I totally agree----for a buck or less difference, I always go with the motorcraft in all three of my Fords. I do know that the walmart brand filter also have the anti-drain back valve and I have used them on older trucks I've owned. Back in the 70's my brother-in-law's Dab had an F250 with a 351M engine. He changed his oil regularly, used good oil and used a fram filter. Every time the truck sat a while and he started it, you could hear a deep main knock till oil pressure built up. I rebuilt the engine after he past away and my brother-in-law got the truck. The crank had to be machined and new bearings. The PH-8 Fram did not have check valve at the time. This made a believer out of me. Regardless of the brand I use, I check to see if it has the check valve. Without it, it's like the oil has been changed and you've started it up with and empty filter.
Senior User
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This makes sense to me! If the filter was mounted higher up on the block (like a 302) then I guess drainback could occur. But the filter on my 5.4 is as GVS says at the lowest point, oil from up top is going to drain back into the pan anyway. The filter remains full as is evident when changing (very messy!)
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,472
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From: Southern Cal
I got ready to change oil in our '09 5.4 SD and I ran across a passage in the owners manual that stated that if you use a non-Motorcraft oil filter it may cause engine knocking upon start up.
Our truck knocks for a second or so when it starts. Kinda' reminds me of the piston slap that occurred at start up with the old Ford 300 inline 6 cylinder engines of the past after they got some miles on them. Sounds somewhat similar. This engine has 35,000 actual miles so I wouldn't thing excessive wear would be the culprit.
I'm using a Bosch Premium oil filter now after having heard and read how they are superior in their filtering ability.
Just wondered if any of you guys have run into a similar situation and if the Motorcraft filter in fact makes a difference in reference to start up knock
Our truck knocks for a second or so when it starts. Kinda' reminds me of the piston slap that occurred at start up with the old Ford 300 inline 6 cylinder engines of the past after they got some miles on them. Sounds somewhat similar. This engine has 35,000 actual miles so I wouldn't thing excessive wear would be the culprit.
I'm using a Bosch Premium oil filter now after having heard and read how they are superior in their filtering ability.
Just wondered if any of you guys have run into a similar situation and if the Motorcraft filter in fact makes a difference in reference to start up knock
Mine has done this for years.
I know when others have let their oil level get to low, it takes even longer to get the noise to go away.
Senior User
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What you are saying about the top of the engine and the oil up there draining down to the oil pan is correct but since the filter is at nearly the lowest point on the engine it doesn't drain. If someone wanted to run a filter without an anti drain back valve they'd still be safe on this engine.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Mt. Shasta California
What you are saying about the top of the engine and the oil up there draining down to the oil pan is correct but since the filter is at nearly the lowest point on the engine it doesn't drain. If someone wanted to run a filter without an anti drain back valve they'd still be safe on this engine.
Senior User
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After the engine is shut down the oil that is in the head and block drains back to the pan via drain back passages in the heads and block.These passages also allow blow by gasses and pressure an escape route to the PCValve.The oil that drains back goes nowhere near the oil filter.The next time that oil sees the filter is when the oil pump picks it up and sends it to the filter and out to the rest of the engine.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
After the engine is shut down the oil that is in the head and block drains back to the pan via drain back passages in the heads and block.These passages also allow blow by gasses and pressure an escape route to the PCValve.The oil that drains back goes nowhere near the oil filter.The next time that oil sees the filter is when the oil pump picks it up and sends it to the filter and out to the rest of the engine.
Senior User
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Why would you say money was wasted on oil filter check valves? If the filter is mounted closer to horizontal and dosen't have an anti drain back valve it will partially drain.Like a 302/351 and many other engines.Ever see the filter on a mopar slant 6?It is mounted upside down.There is a stand pipe on the filter mount that extends up into the filter to hold oil in the filter. Ever hear Fords 300 cu. in. 6 light off on a cool/cold moring? Gives new meaning to the term "valve Train Clatter" and dosen't matter what kind of oil filter is installed.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
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Why would you say money was wasted on oil filter check valves? If the filter is mounted closer to horizontal and dosen't have an anti drain back valve it will partially drain.Like a 302/351 and many other engines.Ever see the filter on a mopar slant 6?It is mounted upside down.There is a stand pipe on the filter mount that extends up into the filter to hold oil in the filter. Ever hear Fords 300 cu. in. 6 light off on a cool/cold moring? Gives new meaning to the term "valve Train Clatter" and dosen't matter what kind of oil filter is installed.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Nowthen, MN
Ok guys, virtually all oil filters on the market for automotive applications have anti-drainback valves. The difference being that some filters have a silicone ADBV, which is better than the standard nitrile rubber ADBV found in most standard filters. The nitrile rubber is more prone to harden and leak than silicone. Motorcraft filters are made by Purolator, but to different specs than Purolator branded filters. Motorcraft filters ending with the letter S (like the FL-820S) contain a silicone ADBV, and the ones that don't (like the FL-1A) have a nitrile ADBV.
The Bosch Premium that the OP is using is also made by Purolator and is virtually identical to the Purolator Pure One, both of which also contain a silicone ADBV.
You really can't go wrong with the quality and price of the Motorcraft filters. If you take a look on BITOG, Motorcrafts are one of the most popular filters for people on there, even for use on non-Ford vehicles.
The Bosch Premium that the OP is using is also made by Purolator and is virtually identical to the Purolator Pure One, both of which also contain a silicone ADBV.
You really can't go wrong with the quality and price of the Motorcraft filters. If you take a look on BITOG, Motorcrafts are one of the most popular filters for people on there, even for use on non-Ford vehicles.