Technical Can A New Oil Filter Be defective?...

Can a new oil filter be defective? And if so, can it cause low oil pressure at idle but normal from 1500 on up?...

 

Yes, an oil filter can be defective. I have seen lots of Fram filters collapse internally at startup.

 

easy enough to try another

 

Don't use Fram. like was said, I seen 15psi difference with them. Wix is a pretty good filter.

 

What Mike said.

 

I wouldn't run a Fram if I had to. Put another brand, like Wix or Purolator on it and you will be much happier.

Our local auto parts store had cut up oil filters on display, and Frams had cardboard inside that was collapsing and distorted. Lots of horror stories out there too.

Don

 

Yes it can be defective
Yes it can cause low oil pressure

 

The drive-in oil change places, like Jiffy Lube, use junk ones too.

 

Is it a Fram?

 

Get a NAPA Gold filter.

 

It's a Motorcraft FL1-A (smallblock Ford).

 

Google Fram failures

its happened to me

 

I've run those with no problems, but anything is possible. Try a new one and see what happens. But to me, it sounds like an oil pump or something else going out.

Don

 

OK more information is needed. Did you run this engine with good pressure and then change the oil and filter and find a difficulty or was this the first startup?

 

YES ! Had a 383 back in the 60's . Put a new filter on it and it had a pin hole in the crease on the bottom of the filter.

 

I once pulled a filter out of it box, darn thing did not have a thread!!!!! Quality control at its best.....

 

It is a man made produce, it has more than one component, of course it has the possibility of there being a problem. I installed 12 electrical outlets yesterday, all brand new out of the box, one had a chunk that fell out
exposing a live section. Quality control is not perfect anywhere.

 

Still no answer.

 

Electrical outlets and I know the difference we are dealing with oil pressure problems .

 

Why do you need more info to answer that question.
In the realm of automotive possibility that is a certain reality.

 

There is of course more to the story. I'm just trying to rule out the oil filter first. I got a new one and will see if that makes any difference.

The story: This engine has only 4,000 miles on it and has always had awesome oil pressure. Never dropped below about 26 PSI idling in gear (automatic).
Well, I did a recent cam swap and am now wondering if I messed up a cam bearing. It now drops to 19-20 PSI idling in Neutral, and dipped to 11 PSI in gear. It's pretty disturbing....

 

I've done the same thing before!

I think the Motorcraft filters are made in Mexico now, but not 100% sure of that fact. I do know they have Spanish writing on them now with the English. They were made by Purolater, haven't heard if they changed or not. Local parts house has Wix in stock, so that's what I use now.

 

ONLY Wix filters for me and my Hot Rod Shop !

 

I don't think Ford has any filter plants anymore and it's likely the bean counters that run Ford buy filters wherever they can get the best price.

 

FL1A is bid out in lots by Motorcraft and may be made by several different companies. Purolator is the main supplier for the bulk of the other part numbers.

 

Ford hasn't made their own filters for at least thirty years.

It's unlikely that the filter is the problem but it costs less than $5.00 to buy a new one to rule the filter out.
Install a known good gauge to rule out a bad gauge.

Unfortunately, since the problem appeared right after the cam change, it's likely something went awry in the cam swap.

 

Well I'm totally perplexed.
After replacing the filter, there was no change. I then decided to take the car for a drive (hadn't done that yet after the cam swap). After a few wide-open throttle bursts, somehow the oil pressure went back to normal. It now has 26 to 28 psi idling in gear (as opposed to 11), and 35 to 38psi in neutral (as opposed to 19).

Is it possible that some sealant or gasket material could have gotten stuck in an oil passage, and that the high RPM bursts under a load forced it through??
I've never experienced anything like this before...

 

Thank you for updating this. I believe that your dog is barking up the right tree. RTV is a great sealant but can be an enemy.

 

Maybe the bypass valve in the pump was hung open.

 

Any oil filter can be defective. New, old, any brand. They are mass produced and not every unit it checked, even at that a certain amount of failure is acceptable. Not acceptable to us mind you but to the manufacturer.