Do you think these filters are still good?

[wtd]

I was going through some stuff in my garage and found a box that held five NIB AC-Delco Gold UPF52 oil filters. I forgot that I had them. The invoice was still in the box from when I had ordered them from gmpartsdirect back in 12/2003 so these things are at least 11 years old.

I took them out of their boxes and they all still looked good with no rust and all of the rubber seals that I could see still looked good. My question is whether or not these are still safe to use. I bought them for my 98 K1500 5.7L truck which I still own.

I bought these things for a little over $6.00 each and I saw them online now for over $17 each. Thanks for any input.

Wayne

 

[ZeeOSix]

If no rust is seen anywhere, then they are probably OK since those are full synthetic media I believe.

 

[daves87rs]

Thinking they would be okay....

 

[kozanoglu]

I am now using Denso's 90915-10003 filter packaged by GM AC Delco for Chevy Prizms. At least 12 years old. Could not see any rust or deterioration.

 

[wtd]

These have the wire backed synthetic media so they are supposed to be pretty good. I just changed my oil in this truck and I only do one year changes since I only put about 3,000 miles a year on the truck these days so the filters I have will take about six years to use.

Wayne

 

[kozanoglu]

Should be more than enough for your interval. Sometimes NOS products beat now new products.

 

[GM4LIFE]

I remember the UPF52 filters! I used to run those on my LT1 V8 back in the day! The current UPF filters don't have different internals over the standard PF filters, however the older ones were said to be full synthetic. Too bad it's almost impossible to check what you have without cutting them open.

 

[NormanBuntz]

I'd keep 'em dry and keep using 'em for the correct application.

 

[901Memphis]

Yes use them if you want the full synthetic wire backed media should have no problems with age, however i believe they use nitrile ADBV with those filters, so not sure how it holds up in storage, but if you get bad dry starts you might want to sell them to someone who has no need for the ADBV with a thread up vertical mount.

How does the filter mount on your truck? Is the filter vertical with the threads up top or sideways or what?

 

[wtd]

The filters I have, have the synthetic wire backed media because that is what it says on the box. The ADBV is black colored but they all look good still.

If the current UPF filters are the same internally as the PF filtes, than what is the purpose of them?

The filter on my truck mounts horizontally.

looking back in my maintainence records for the truck, it looks like I used these filters for about three years prior to me buying these current filters that I have now. It looks like I just used the one out of the box and then quit using them for some reason. I have no idea why.

I'm just going to use them up since they seem to be very good filters. Thanks again for the input.

Wayne

 

[GM4LIFE]

wtd,

AC Delco and GM put out a release that stated that they are identical filters internally, but the UPF series is a heavier duty filter that withstands more pressure. I will try to find it for you.

 

[Sayjac]

I'd use them. Synthetic media, and as with the Harddriver filter posted here recently, media likely from Donaldson. Below is a pic of a dissected UPF52 from 'river rat's' excellent filtration comparison. As you can see a very well made filter, and has been very well regarded here. As for the nitrile adbv, if you don't get a start up rattle, then you're good to go. If you do then swap it out, but I'm thinking it will be fine.

Ultra UPF52 on the left, linked from the following. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/1974685/16

 

[wtd]

Thanks for the info. It's funny that you mention the Hard driver filter. I have a NIB one of those as well on a shelf in the garage. I bought two of them way back when I had a 93 S-10 4X4. This vehicle had the remote oil filter adapter in the engine compartment. I tried using the hard driver filter on the adapter and it leaked all over the place. I took it off and have that one in a box as well. I never did try them on the 98 after I bought it.

Wayne