Greetings and good morning fellow Bitogers on this frosty Florida morning.
The story. December 2009 found me under the soon to be famous "Luv" machine, (1986 Chevy Astro Van. 4.3 Vortec V-6). It had spun two rod bearings and I was in the process of replacing said bearings, "gluing" them in place with a creative mixture of "JB Weld." When I finished, I allowed bearings to "cure" for a week and then reinstalled the oil pan and filled the motor with used motor oil.
I fired the motor up and let it run for about half an hour to circulate the oil and "wash" any loose dirt, metal, debris, into the oil filter. I then shut the motor down, drained the oil, refilled with more used oil and threw in a couple of bottles of STP. In addition, I changed the oil filter with a Puralator Classic. That was December 14th, 2009, (I know this because I wrote the date on the side of the filter).
Since that faithful day, the "Luv" machine has been drive on a weekly basis hauling brush, branches and tools. I have also used it to pull logs and stumps out of the ground, (I ripped the original bumper off the van doing this, so made a new bumper from scrap metal which lasted about a year. That lasted till last summer when it ripped off pulling a stump. I created a super dooper bumper from more scrap steel and welded that to the frame of the van. So far so good. I share this information to show the "Luv" machine has been used as a work horse with large man berries.
As it's been over four years since I last changed the oil filter, I got to wondering what the inside of said filter looks like and if in fact, it was even still functioning. So like the bear who climbed the mountain, Monday of this past week, I removed filter and cut it open "to see what I could see."
First things first - removing the filter.
It was stuck on pretty good. But some colorful words scared it enough to come loose. I think it must have cussed back because as it came loose and the oil started to drain the way oil filters do, (oil running down the sides), it made an odd gurgling sound, (almost like an old homeless man with no teeth drinking a beer on a hot summer day). It actually scared me and I pulled my hand away thinking something had been living in the filter and was going to jump out and bite me. It made this noise for several minutes till I finally worked up the courage to finish removing the filter and inspect.
Oddly enough, once said filter was removed, oil continued to drain from filter housing in a glumpy, gurgling way. Oil consistency was that of pancake syrup.
I inverted filter to allow oil to drain for about two hours. Then I put said filter into my vice and proceed to cut it open with a metal cutting saw.
Viola! The is open and I carefully pull it apart. To my surprise, it's in good shape. There are no chucks of debris or visible signs of dirt, (or JB Weld). The oil at the bottom of the can is heavy, but contains no "solids."
With a razor knife, I cut the paper filter away from the filter frame and spread it out on a large piece of cardboard. The filter element is completely intact with no rips or tears. There is no sludge build up nor was there any debris build up within the filter.
I fully expected the paper element inside the filter to be full of holes and tears and was amazed at it's condition, especially given the abuse it has endured during the past four years. Keep in mind as well, I have never added new oil to the "Luv" machine but always topped off with used oil when needed.
Through cross referencing, I discovered that the filter from my 1995 Oldsmobile will fit the "Luv" machine, so I put a new filter on my Olds (Thunder the Wonder Pig), and put the old filter off the Olds onto the "Luv" machine. When the time comes, I'll remove that one to investigate the innards. That should be around 2018.
I do have pictures, but can't figure out how to post yet.
The story. December 2009 found me under the soon to be famous "Luv" machine, (1986 Chevy Astro Van. 4.3 Vortec V-6). It had spun two rod bearings and I was in the process of replacing said bearings, "gluing" them in place with a creative mixture of "JB Weld." When I finished, I allowed bearings to "cure" for a week and then reinstalled the oil pan and filled the motor with used motor oil.
I fired the motor up and let it run for about half an hour to circulate the oil and "wash" any loose dirt, metal, debris, into the oil filter. I then shut the motor down, drained the oil, refilled with more used oil and threw in a couple of bottles of STP. In addition, I changed the oil filter with a Puralator Classic. That was December 14th, 2009, (I know this because I wrote the date on the side of the filter).
Since that faithful day, the "Luv" machine has been drive on a weekly basis hauling brush, branches and tools. I have also used it to pull logs and stumps out of the ground, (I ripped the original bumper off the van doing this, so made a new bumper from scrap metal which lasted about a year. That lasted till last summer when it ripped off pulling a stump. I created a super dooper bumper from more scrap steel and welded that to the frame of the van. So far so good. I share this information to show the "Luv" machine has been used as a work horse with large man berries.
As it's been over four years since I last changed the oil filter, I got to wondering what the inside of said filter looks like and if in fact, it was even still functioning. So like the bear who climbed the mountain, Monday of this past week, I removed filter and cut it open "to see what I could see."
First things first - removing the filter.
It was stuck on pretty good. But some colorful words scared it enough to come loose. I think it must have cussed back because as it came loose and the oil started to drain the way oil filters do, (oil running down the sides), it made an odd gurgling sound, (almost like an old homeless man with no teeth drinking a beer on a hot summer day). It actually scared me and I pulled my hand away thinking something had been living in the filter and was going to jump out and bite me. It made this noise for several minutes till I finally worked up the courage to finish removing the filter and inspect.
Oddly enough, once said filter was removed, oil continued to drain from filter housing in a glumpy, gurgling way. Oil consistency was that of pancake syrup.
I inverted filter to allow oil to drain for about two hours. Then I put said filter into my vice and proceed to cut it open with a metal cutting saw.
Viola! The is open and I carefully pull it apart. To my surprise, it's in good shape. There are no chucks of debris or visible signs of dirt, (or JB Weld). The oil at the bottom of the can is heavy, but contains no "solids."
With a razor knife, I cut the paper filter away from the filter frame and spread it out on a large piece of cardboard. The filter element is completely intact with no rips or tears. There is no sludge build up nor was there any debris build up within the filter.
I fully expected the paper element inside the filter to be full of holes and tears and was amazed at it's condition, especially given the abuse it has endured during the past four years. Keep in mind as well, I have never added new oil to the "Luv" machine but always topped off with used oil when needed.
Through cross referencing, I discovered that the filter from my 1995 Oldsmobile will fit the "Luv" machine, so I put a new filter on my Olds (Thunder the Wonder Pig), and put the old filter off the Olds onto the "Luv" machine. When the time comes, I'll remove that one to investigate the innards. That should be around 2018.
I do have pictures, but can't figure out how to post yet.