How did engines clean oil before oil filters?

[Sumboodie]

The engines didn't last very long either. Even with the short OCIs they couldn't go 50k miles without needing to be rebuilt.

Engine rebuild shops were quite common well into the 80s, alot of it for that reason.

It's really only been the last maybe 30ish years where most engines can easily do 2, 300k without much fuss. I imagine ECMs and fuel injection being a major reason.

 

[hrv]

The old VW just used a screen...

 

[ZeeOSix]

The old VW just used a screen...

The "bonus" ... no filter to fail.

 

[bullwinkle]

Some of you remember when the coating on the wagon wheels would flake in the hot sun beating down on the prarie as you made your way West........

Reckon we lubed those axles with whale oil!

 

[Alien]

I had an Atomic 4 engine in my 1976 sailboat (which I bought in 1982) that had no filters whatsoever. I added a water separating gas filter, but never an oil or air filter. I think that the engine was a pre-war design, raw water cooled with a flat head and an updraft carburetor. The manual specified an oil change every 30 hours of engine time, which I stuck to religiously. I sold the boat a few years ago, and the engine worked as well as it ever had, with only regular maintenance (no major repairs) over the years. As far as I know it is still working.

 

[Alien]

Reckon we lubed those axles with whale oil!

Bear grease.

 

[ripcord]

Reckon we lubed those axles with whale oil!

Ackchually, we mostly greased our axles with tar from petroleum seeps. Before that, we used to cook up our own grease from bear fat, bee's wax and powdered lead. Just slather some on with a brush whenever a wheel started to squeak too much. </geezer>