Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance K&N Oil Filter for Zetec?

The K&N HP2004 is fine. Have used it in the past on my Zetec. Unless you are using synthetic with longer drain intervals you are wasting your money though. My oil analysis with this K&N, and Oure One showed no noticeable differences after a year 8-9000 miles with a filter change at 6 months. $10 a pop is an expensive filter.

Will it work on 2nd gen contours?

The K&N HP-2004 should work fine on all Zetec engine Contiques. Someone else chime in if I'm wrong. I believe all year Zetec Contours use the same Motorcraft oil filter (FL200). So if your car uses that filter then the K&N will work great.

That's what I'm not sure about because I thought I used a slightly different filter number (FL2201 or something like that). It may just be the crack talking...

Redhawk: if you have a 98+ Contour then you use the Motorcraft filter FL2005 according to my manual. The pre 98s use FL200. I'm not sure if the K&N will work properly but one way to find out is to go to a parts store that carries both filters (Advance Auto Parts). Hold the filters side by side and examine them to see if they look similar. The important part is to look carefully at the threaded hole and the rubber gasket/seal. If those match then you should be good to go. Maybe buy both filters and when you get under the car for your next oil change, just try the K&N first. If it doesn't work just return it. No harm done! Anyway, good luck.

I hope somebody contacts K&N to ask why they don't list this filter as compatible with our cars. Was it a mere oversight, or is there something actually out of spec about it?

ummm not in my opinion... I guess you never broke and oil fiter wrench trying to get the filter off then... With the K&N the nut on the end helps BIG time if the filter gets a little to tight.

With all of the concern being raised with the use of this filter, I went ahead and emailed K&N. I'll let you know what they tell me as soon as I get any word. Hope it's good news as the K&N filter is soooo much easier to install/uninstall compared to the Motorcraft filter. On another note, Ford really bit the big one on the design of the Zetec engine. You shouldn't have to fully suspend your passenger side tire to remove the old oil filter. Simply poor engineering!!!

Ramps work fine for removing the filter.

Worse yet is the PCV valve.

How do you get the filter through all the steering and suspension parts without them being extended? The first oil change I did on the car I turned the wheels to the left and got the filter off, but couldn't fit it through all the crap in there without lifting the tire off the ground. Let me know if you have another method as to make my life easier come next oil change. Thanks!

Still waiting on a word from K&N regarding the 2004 oil filter working for the Zetec Contours.