Dry Filter

[Filter guy]

427Z06..

You install your own filter right?

As long as whomever installs the filter cleans the mounting base where the gasket contacts the base, lubes the gasket, and not over torque's the filter...then it is more likely you can remove the filter without to much problems.

Where there is a problem is because someone didn't clean the base, or didn't lube the gasket.
Something quick lubes tend to be famous for.

The gasket itself in the filter is not tested by the filter company, and there have been "some" problems over the years.

There's always that bright University Engineering graduate going to save the company money and use a less expensive gasket. Reinvent the wheel as it were..they learn...

I once knew of an engineer who thought it a novel idea to put a pellet of diesel fuel conditioner inside the fuel filter to slowly dissolve because that way they wouldn't have to buy the kind you pour into the fuel tank. Brilliant the lad was...

btw ..as we're on the subject of gaskets. Ever notice the color stripe(s) on the gasket? Look around the outside edge. You'll see various color stripe(s). That tells the filter company if the right gasket is being used for the right application. They're not all the same for every filter..

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by Filter guy:
btw ..as we're on the subject of gaskets. Ever notice the color stripe(s) on the gasket? Look around the outside edge. You'll see various color stripe(s). That tells the filter company if the right gasket is being used for the right application. They're not all the same for every filter..

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NSS, I was comparing the exact same brand and manufacturer part number filter gaskets. Further, I just happen to have two other used filters from two other vehicles, one with 7K miles of Texas summer heat on it and another with 2.6K miles and is a year old. Comparing them with new same brand and manufacturer part numbers, one could see how the old gaskets differed slightly from the new ones. Heat, age, and other factors did cause them to "take set" slightly.

However, this is quite different than someone putting a filter on for a week and then removing and replacing it for troubleshooting purposes. That's why I originally looked at a gasket with low miles/short time use and stated it was not "ideal" to reuse the filter but it probably be OK.

On another note, if the gasket material is as sensitive to heat, age and other factors as you claim it to be, one has to wonder how those Ecore filters with their rubber-lip bypass valves are going to hold up over a normal OCI.

I'll ignore the professional comments as those are to immature to waste time on.

[ February 13, 2005, 11:24 PM: Message edited by: 427Z06 ]

 

[ZR2RANDO]

A few years ago my local Chevy stealership had done a repair on my Blazer where they had to replace the oil filter mount (they had accidentally cracked it when they had previously fixed a leaking oil hose attachment). I was watching them do the work and he took off my filter and put it back on when he was done, didn't bother me because I had just put it on myself doing my own oil change (where I saw the crack..). My point here is that it didn't bother him one bit to put my used filter back on (and it didn't leak afterwards btw)..
I wouldn't be surprised if quickie-lube places routinely clean up filters and put them back on vehicles especially if they are out of/short on filters for some vehicles...probably not a bad idea to mark them so you can verify that they actually get changed.

Rando

 

[Filter guy]

Length of time on the engine is a factor.

The rubber compounds inside the element only see the heat generated by the oil. The sealing gasket contacts the metal base and that heats up more than the oil itself which dissipates heat.

The moral of the story is, have a spare filter just in case you can't get the filter to reseal.

It's also not suprising that many don't know of the problems of reusing filters. The training at dealerships and quick lubes leaves a lot to be desired.

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For those living outside North America;

Be careful that whomever is doing your oil change doesn't reuse your filter when you have your oil changed. It is common practice for those doing the oil change to take the old filter, wash it out with gasoline and put it back on after changing the oil.

Part of the reason is that there aren't 100's of distributors that they can easily get a specific filter for a specific application. So if they don't have a replacement, they wash out and reuse the filter on the engine. ( rule of thumb..take your own new filter with you).

I once asked an Engineer who was from Mexico if this happened in his Country as I had heard of it in other Central and South American Countries ( along withthe Carribean and SE Asia). He said I was crazy, no one would do that. So while he was translating for me, I asked 30 Mexican distibutors if any of them had seen or know of that happening where oil is changed. All of them raised their hands. Que, shocked looked on engineers face.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by Filter guy:
I once asked an Engineer who was from Mexico if this happened in his Country as I had heard of it in other Central and South American Countries ( along withthe Carribean and SE Asia). He said I was crazy, no one would do that. So while he was translating for me, I asked 30 Mexican distibutors if any of them had seen or know of that happening where oil is changed. All of them raised their hands. Que, shocked looked on engineers face.

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Yes, engineers are generally a honest and trusting lot. This one apparently hasn't realized how many times the sales/management types have screwed him over.

 

[Spitty]

Filter is now full of oil, must have been a bad
DBV.

 

[427Z06]

Thanks for the update Spitty. I like when people post the results of their endeavers. It's provides that "closure" similar to watching the last episode of the final season.