The wrong oil filter bought on Amazon destroyed my engine

[DukeCanBuildit]

I'm not understanding why people are saying "this is why I don't buy parts on Amazon"?

I don't want to attack the OP, but the errors are his for lack of research finding the proper filter model #, and secondly noticing the fit wasn't right when he installed it, but leaving it on anyway.

If you go to the parts store you go to the reference manual, look up your vehicle and then get that model filter. If you are buying on line, you go to the Fram website, look up your vehicle and search for that model number online.

Going to Amazon and searching for Ranger oil filter, then taking whatever they bring up, is like going to the parts store and telling the kid behind the counter you need a ranger filter. Then you watch him turn and take a filter off the shelf, without checking the manual and handing it to you. Then going home, noticing it's not the same size and threads aren't the same, but leaving it on anyway.

I was buying oil filters online a few months ago, I searched for Motorcraft FL-910s filters on Amazon, and got the right filters come up. I searched on Rock Auto for FL-910S and got the proper filters there as well. I didn't go to Amazon or Rock Auto and search Ranger oil filter, then buy whatever popped up.

If I were buying Fram filter, I'd go to Fram site. I enter 2020 Ford Ranger 2.3L and it brings up options of XG3614, FS3614, FF3614, TG3614, or PH3614 depending on which performance line you choose. Go to Amazon, search Fram 3614 and the top 3 results are the PH, XG or TG options.

Sounds like Jay’s made a few trips to PartsSource or Crappy Tire to flip through those binders in the aisle or up at the parts counter. Been there, done that, always got the right parts…wipers, air filters, oil filters, fuel filters, headlights, bulbs - you name it. ?

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[JACKSMYDOG]

Sounds like Jay’s made a few trips to PartsSource or Crappy Tire to flip through those binders in the aisle or up at the parts counter. Been there, done that, always got the right parts…wipers, air filters, oil filters, fuel filters, headlights, bulbs - you name it. ?

I have indeed. I've also made a tonne of mistakes in my day, and almost always have been my own fault for not doing my due diligence and research. It's just a slightly different version of "measure twice, cut once".

 

[bRaptor]

I bought a cowl panel for my f150 on Amazon. Part numbers matched but the cowl did not.

 

[Gazmic]

Glad it worked out in the end. I use to use whatever i could find with the old Dakota. the ranger gets nothing but OEM filters for me. luckily I can find them at my local auto parts stores.

I don't know if anyone remembers the teflon impregnated filters that fram used to sell. the Kota would Idle about 500 RPM higher with an oil / filter change for about 500 miles. but I'd get some really black soot deposits on the rear end of the truck while the teflon was burning through the system. Probably not the great for the environment.

 

[dtech]

Interesting thread, I do use the Motorcraft filters for the Ranger as they are reasonably priced, use WIX for the Hyundai. However racked up well over 700k miles in various turbo Saabs and used mostly Walmart supertech filters..

Supposedly Fram extra guard filters are very good.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Am I driving the only trouble free Ranger here at 5g (?)

I think there are a lot of trouble free Rangers here on 5g. Mine has been trouble free for over 3 years now and I know there are others that have similar experiences.

 

[Frenchy]

So I can't say what happened exactly as to why the filter came loose but I will say that I'm confused as to why many on here think the the OEM oil filter is such a bad thing that they must get a different oil filter? When it comes to factory oil filters Motocraft makes one of the best out there. Even with my 1993 Nissan Pathfinder the factory oil filter it at the top vs most of the aftermarket oil filters not quite being there with quality including Fram.

 

[Dave1899]

Sad Situation but it looks like you made lemonade out of your predicament! Nice replacement Ranger!

 

[NotBudule]

It does seem odd that it would be fine for 4 months ,never leak a drop , then somehow unscrew itself that one morning and lose all the oil? But it seems to have done exactly that , ? my guess is that morning start had just enough pressure to break it lose , then the oversize wobbly threads let the pressure spin it off ... maybe , or sabotage perhaps ?...

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

As the OP noted, the threads were a little loose until it was fully seated and had some tension on the threads. I suspect it never became loose or leaked, it just blew straight off when the pressure built up enough to over power the sloppy thread fit. So it didn't develop a slow leak, and also why the oil pressure went from full to zero so quickly.

I'm using OEM filters because they are good enough, not because I thin they are the best. I know it fits, I know it meets warranty, it's safe and easy.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

In general I think you handled this mistake well. It's refreshing to see one take responsibility when things go south.

I will just add a suggestion though...





It's good to be in the habit of looking at your parking spot as you back out. Even a quick glance in the mirror can help if you back in.

Years of driving shitboxes taught me this. And teaching it to my kid paid off recently when our Heep popped an ATF cooler line while she was backing it out of the garage.

or when the fuel line on the hearse popped and was spraying gas right on the muffler. so glad it was still cold

 

[OrangeStreak]

Darn that's to bad and I'm glad it worked out well for you in the end. The Snow Edition is really nice and hopefully you'll enjoy this on even more. I do agree you have a great attitude with this and I know if it were me I'd beat myself up over this for months!

Not a dig at you OP (or anyone else) in any way but this is why I don't change my oil anymore. Sure it's an uncommon mistake but you have NO recourse. At least if it's done through the dealer or reputable shop they're responsible for it. Of course now I'm nervous as I'm getting my oil changed and tires rotated today.

forum/members/dukecanbuildit.6574/

Darn that's to bad and I'm glad it worked out well for you in the end. The Snow Edition is really nice and hopefully you'll enjoy this on even more. I do agree you have a great attitude with this and I know if it were me I'd beat myself up over this for months!

Not a dig at you OP (or anyone else) in any way but this is why I don't change my oil anymore. Sure it's an uncommon mistake but you have NO recourse. At least if it's done through the dealer or reputable shop they're responsible for it. Of course now I'm nervous as I'm getting my oil changed and tires rotated today.

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/members/dukecanbuildit.6574/

Darn that's to bad and I'm glad it worked out well for you in the end. The Snow Edition is really nice and hopefully you'll enjoy this on even more. I do agree you have a great attitude with this and I know if it were me I'd beat myself up over this for months!

Not a dig at you OP (or anyone else) in any way but this is why I don't change my oil anymore. Sure it's an uncommon mistake but you have NO recourse. At least if it's done through the dealer or reputable shop they're responsible for it. Of course now I'm nervous as I'm getting my oil changed and tires rotated today.

This is how Duke @DukeCanBuildit finds out if he has defective parts... ?

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

forum/members/dukecanbuildit.6574/
https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/members/dukecanbuildit.6574/

This is how Duke @DukeCanBuildit finds out if he has bad parts... ?

Did you get your internet forum user training in a package deal with parking lessons?

 

[VAMike]

I'm not understanding why people are saying "this is why I don't buy parts on Amazon"?

Because amazon in particular really, really, really sucks for buying auto parts. There's a helpful feature where you can tell it what kind of car you drive. Then you can search for a particular part number. Then a bunch of *unrelated stuff* comes up in the search results. "You looked for an oil filter for a ranger, maybe you'd be interested in an oil pump for a civic?" And that's just the amazon results, don't even get me started on the "sponsored" stuff. Also, in order to goose their ranking, a lot of the bottom feeders put a whole bunch of words and numbers in their descriptions so they'll match almost any query, and it's really hard to figure out what they're actually selling (if they even know/care). It's not impossible to find what you're looking for, but it takes a lot more effort than it does somewhere that actually curates their inventory, and you need to be really careful about double and triple checking that you're actually buying what you want to buy, then checking that you actually receive what you need. Oh, and that helpful feature that tells you whether a thing that fits your car? It's clueless--I've seen it be wrong both ways on numerous occasions. (Telling me stuff won't work when it will, and telling me stuff will work when it won't. Stuff like rear windshield wiper blades are beyond its capability.)

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Because amazon in particular really, really, really sucks for buying auto parts. There's a helpful feature where you can tell it what kind of car you drive. Then you can search for a particular part number. Then a bunch of *unrelated stuff* comes up in the search results. "You looked for an oil filter for a ranger, maybe you'd be interested in an oil pump for a civic?" And that's just the amazon results, don't even get me started on the "sponsored" stuff. Also, in order to goose their ranking, a lot of the bottom feeders put a whole bunch of words and numbers in their descriptions so they'll match almost any query, and it's really hard to figure out what they're actually selling (if they even know/care). It's not impossible to find what you're looking for, but it takes a lot more effort than it does somewhere that actually curates their inventory, and you need to be really careful about double and triple checking that you're actually buying what you want to buy, then checking that you actually receive what you need. Oh, and that helpful feature that tells you whether a thing that fits your car? It's clueless--I've seen it be wrong both ways on numerous occasions. (Telling me stuff won't work when it will, and telling me stuff will work when it won't. Stuff like rear windshield wiper blades are beyond its capability.)

There is a difference between buying parts on Amazon and doing parts fitment research on amazon.

Research using reliable resources and reference material, buy on Amazon if that info coincides with known facts and cost is reasonable.

Yes it is a little more work, but that's why it's normally cheaper than anywhere else. You want someone else to do the research and work and ensure everything is 100%, you''ll pay more for that labour to be done for you. Even then, I've gotten lots of parts from dealers and reputable parts stores that were wrong, and I had to drive them back for exchange or refund.

I bought hundreds of parts on Amazon, always using that same method. Once it arrives check it and make sure it's the right piece, and proper fit. If not send it back for free.

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