Found the pics from the previous filter that was on the kid's Liberty. This one had about 6k miles on it. It looks better than the last one I posted but has a torn pleat.
Another torn PH3600 filter. About 6,000 miles on this one.
- Thread starter cb4017
- Start date
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Orange Can Bad
Is it just me, or does it seem that everytime we see one of these, its near the seam, and pleat spacing is wide there.
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2021
- Messages
- 1,116
I was actually expecting to see through the media
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
I think the machine needs room for stitches - seems the metal seam clamps are often tighter …
stOP TYPING THAT !
all jokes aside, I'd not run a ph 3600 beyond 4k. And they fit tons of ancient Ford/VWairorwatercooled/whatever. Utility Can. OrangeCanGood4-4K.
long live the ph3600,, unless I can't find one, then I grab ph2870A, more OrangePoison!!But they're no longer wire backed so they could be subject to tearing if they lax the QC.
That is why you get out there and get the wired back ones that are still out there. Your only other option is to find oil filters that have the wire backed media. Just do a cross reference on the Fram XG3600 and see what you find. The jury is still out on the new XG design, it will either be a winner or a loser, I have stocked up on the old design. I am hoping that the new owners of Fram have tested there new XG line, bottom line is that the Fram Orange is only good for maybe between 3000 and 5000 miles.
Yes, it's been said for 10+ years that wide pleat spacing is the main cause, that combined with media that doesn't fair well when stressed from bending and therefore tears easily - its a bad combination.
I have a bunch of wire backed XG3600 (the xB's go-to), probably enough to last the rest of the car's life if I push them to 15K, which they've shown they can handle barring road debris damage. I'm going to check my number of PH3600 sized filters for other people's cars, if I have enough I'll cut & post the PH3600 I recently got here.
Honestly, in Purolator's bad old days, the glued seam ones could flex & seemed less tear prone than the metal ones. I'm starting to wonder if First Brands has changed the media on the Extra Guards, they used to be able to flex, even to the point of bending the end caps, without tearing.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
On the other hand - we saw the Albert Champion Delco leak at the seam whilst bubble testing
If you've ever watched any vids on how oil filters are made, generally speaking the spacing adjoining the the crimp/seam pleat tends to be wider. In my observation of cellulose/blend media elements that is true for all brands. It's likely a product of manufacturing process which forms the media/pleating unit before placement on the center tube, before being potted on the endcaps.
Over many years of observation of post use c&ps this subforum, the tears show when the spacing becomes excessive. Since the seam/crimp area spacing tends to be wider anyway, that is the area most susceptible to excessive pleat spacing, i.e. being to the point of stress and weakening resulting in a tear or tears.
To topic, this one not nearly as bad as the other 3600, but nonetheless, it is torn at the endcaps. The sharply angled pleat is a telltale indicator with this one. I 'suspect' it would have gotten worse with more use.
Some are are speculating the orange can media has changed recently. I don't know about that, so I'm not going to make that leap. However, as this is the second orange can 3600 showing tears, it seems for this application at least, there is an issue. Also there seemed to be some train or thought that fiber endcaps wouldn't/couldn't have same tear issues as metal endcap potted media. At least for the topic application, that opine not true.
Lastly, agreeing with Zee06, for 10+ years wide pleat spacing areas have been the accepted main cause of media tears. No need to try and reinvent the wheel, as it were. Topic filter with angled pleat as sign, the tear(s) here no exception.
