Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance oil smell/filter

has any one smell oil when you are stopped after you change the filter? I know there is some, like on the V6 which burns off the exhaust if you spill oil. This has happened to me once before and by changing the filter it stopped, was about the same time last year. That leads to my real question when Motorcraft filter do you use? I have a 300 on the car but the book says to use a 200. The think is A 94 tempo uses a 300 but the Fram filter for both cars is a PH-16. Now is there really a difference between a FL-200 and a FL-300 since the fram filter references as the same?

ummm... are you talking about a contour Zetec?

If so, the motorcraft filter is an FL-2005.

Yes, I smell oil all the time after I change it, but then, I seem to be TOTALLY unable to change oil without creating the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill all over again, and lots of it ends up on the exhaust system... and the various other systems that are... on, in or near my car... oops. It is now against the rule of my house (i.e. mom says so) to change oil anywhere near our home, driveway, or street.

yup I am asking about the Zetec, I could swear that the number in my owners manual said 200, I will just have to look tommorrow, thanks

dude, do this- put some tinfoil over the part of your exhaust that is under the filter when you take it off. that way, if you spill, you can just unwrap the foil and it won't burn off your exhaust. i use to have your problem after changes, but no more.

oh yeah, i have a '97 zetec, the manual states motorcraft FL-300. i have to go to a parts store to get this, wallyworld doesn't stock this. they only have the FL-1A and FL-200. the 200 will probably fit, but its not what the manual calls for, so i stick to what ford says to put on it. good luck

I will have to look at my manual again but it says Fl-200 for the zetec and Fl-820s for the Duratec. But I ordered tha manual when I got the car in 2000. The wal-mart I go to has everything but the Fl-200. I use a half a plastic juice container to put under the filter and pour and catch the oil. The last time the car did it I also used engine cleaner after I got the new filter on to try to get the oil off. But I think the smell has gone away finally.

For what its worth, when I take the filter off, I loosen it to where it can turn it with your hand. Then I take a Wal-Mart bag and put two more inside so that now I have one big 3-ply bag. I put this around the filter as far as I can so that when I start pulling the filter off and the oil runs out, it drips into the bag and not the garage floor. Once completely unscrewed, it can just fall to the bottom of the bag with no muss.

What a great idea!