Cleaning Oil Filters

[Leo]

My buddy had this crazy idea on how to clean oil filters;

"The oil filter i have on has only done 4,000kms so is it possible to clean them out? [Some diswashing] detergent breaks down any oil in there perhaps then thoroughly rinse out with hot water etc and then leave to drain/dry for a few hours perhaps with heater blowing into it a bit?"

Haha gave me a good laugh! Needless to say I told him just to replace it!!

 

[dkcase]

Even if I believed I could clean it and dry it, I'd be concerned with reusing the gasket.

 

[labman]

Oil filters don't work like sieves. If the filter does collect any damaging particles or clog and lose flow, the particles are deep down inside the pores of the media. I doubt there is any removing particles that cause problems.

I would much rather have a new ST than a ''cleaned'' high dollar K&N, etc. In fact, I plan to buy an ST for my truck today. I just remembered I always change oil in June.

Often for less than $4 you can find a great OEM filter. ''Clean'' and reuse filters?

I had to edit this because I forgot the issue of the effect of soapy water on the media. I don't know that the paper they use is water proof. How about rusting the spring and parts the bypass must slide on. Come on, and new ST is $2.

You made this up to get a rise out of us and I bit?

[ June 15, 2004, 08:20 AM: Message edited by: labman ]

 

[ZR2RANDO]

I think I saw a guy that had some oil filters hanging out back on the clothesline...

 

[T-Keith]

Kind of like a guy I worked with once. He said his air filter was dirty so he just flipped it over, because he didn't want to buy a new one.

-T

 

[Leo]

labman, this is not made up at all. The quote was cut and pasted from my 'home' forum on nissansilvia.com. If you want the link to the post, PM me

But yeah he said he couldnt wait until the next day to buy an oil filter when he wanted to change the oil now. I just told him to wait or just drain the filter if he is that desparate.

T-Keith, thats gold!!

PS. Another pal just told me to use Silastic (liquid silicon gasket) as a substitute for a turbo manifold gasket on ICQ. Some people have no idea...

 

[TC]

I laughed at this until I realized that it is THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE to partially "clean" an oil filter, not that it would be desirable in any practical way. By inserting a needle-like fitting past the outer base plate holes, past the anti-drainback flap, and moving it through the various holes while injecting a SafetyKleen type mild solvent, flushing out some amount of non-entrapped particles on the outside of the media, could conceivably "clean out" the filter to some extent. But this makes about as much sense as "cleaning" and reusing toothpicks, Kleenex, or paper plates. Since Kragen had STP filters on sale for $1.99 recently, the proper way to "clean" an oil filter would be: 1) remove filter; 2) wipe down the exterior with a cloth to "clean"; 3) properly discard it along with the used oil; and 4) install a new $1.99 STP filter. Voila! Oil filter is now clean!!!

 

[Virtuoso]

quote:

---

Originally posted by T-Keith:
Kind of like a guy I worked with once. He said his air filter was dirty so he just flipped it over, because he didn't want to buy a new one.

-T

---

HAHAHAHA that's awesome!!

 

[Pitbull]

That is one of the big reasons I don't like to buy used vehicles

 

[ekpolk]

. . . and I suppose you could wash and re-use toilet paper as well!!! My apologies for the disgusting comparison, but think about it, used oil filters and TP are both significantly dirty, and very hard to meaningfully clean, while at the same time, the unsullied alternative is very cheap and readily available. Why on earth. . .

 

[WDP]

Let's keep it simple, R&R, remove and replace. Even if yahn cheapskate WAS using an expensive filter who has the time to mess with such a messy device.

WDP

 

[tdi-rick]

Well, laugh if you will, but a company a fair way down the valley wash air filters.

They actually make and market the machines.

Their web page is
here

Remember that the prices you pay for most items and services in the US are vastly cheaper, especially compared to a median wage than other parts of the world.

Rick.

 

[Shannow]

Rick,
we use those people for the SO3 plant at work.

The filters are a few hundred bucks each, and last 2 weeks.

HVFS will clean them for about $40 each, and they last about 4 washes before HVFS condemn them.

 

[nascarnation]

Speaking of toilet paper is anybody here old enough to remember the old aftermarket engine oil filter kit that used a roll of toilet paper as the element. Back in the 50s if I didn't dream it.

 

[ekpolk]

quote:

---

Originally posted by nascarnation:
Speaking of toilet paper is anybody here old enough to remember the old aftermarket engine oil filter kit that used a roll of toilet paper as the element. Back in the 50s if I didn't dream it.

---

You're talking about the Frantz filter, I believe. Guess what, they didn't go away in the 50s . . . you can still get them, in fact. You can even read about them in the bypass filters section of BITOG. An interesting concept, to say the least. These things do seem to have a loyal following.