If you have a few older oil filters in storage, how old is OK for cellulose / paper element filters to still be used ?
How old is OK for cellulose based filter ?
- Thread starter SR5
- Start date
- Status
when i talked to wix customer service a year ago, they said 5 years MAX.
Originally Posted By: Ducked
...............
I'd make a modest wager that nobody knows.
Pretty much this. Just to many variables and unknowns. Manufacturers most times just base their service life dates for warranty purposes because of the unknown variable of how their product will be stored outside of their control.
Most "stick a needle in it" guesses though give roughly a 10 years for cellulose paper media if stored in climate controlled environments, less if not. Still though, there has been reports of people using 30+ year old cheap made FRAM's with suspect history and they still seem to work fine.
With that being said, I am currently running a 9 year old Purolator oil filter in my RAM with no issues.
...............
I'd make a modest wager that nobody knows.
Pretty much this. Just to many variables and unknowns. Manufacturers most times just base their service life dates for warranty purposes because of the unknown variable of how their product will be stored outside of their control.
Most "stick a needle in it" guesses though give roughly a 10 years for cellulose paper media if stored in climate controlled environments, less if not. Still though, there has been reports of people using 30+ year old cheap made FRAM's with suspect history and they still seem to work fine.
With that being said, I am currently running a 9 year old Purolator oil filter in my RAM with no issues.
I just cut open a few 7 year old Castrol filters and the feel of that type media even if brand new feels brittle and weak and that gives you the impression that those filters are short-lived and not very robust. But often that is not the case when you take a knife to it.
I keep mine inside under the bed. I figure a temperature and humidity controlled environment will help longevity vs out in the garage with varying humidity and temps.
I do have a few filters, and some will be almost 5 years old by the time I use them. I may cut one open if it is older than that (I have 5 Wix made Car Quest filters that were made in 2014, and wont be through that stash till at least 2018)
I do have a few filters, and some will be almost 5 years old by the time I use them. I may cut one open if it is older than that (I have 5 Wix made Car Quest filters that were made in 2014, and wont be through that stash till at least 2018)
I'd say 3 years
Well, taking the WIX guess as gospel, my three year OCI (2 years in) and my current 2-filter um...maybe 2-3 year old stash is going to put me in the dead zone. Another reason not to use synthetic oil.
Paper in general (havn't seen anything on filter media, but then I havn't looked very hard) fails mostly by acid hydrolysis, and to a much lesser extent by oxidation.
The acids come from within the paper (depending on how it was processed) and from atmospheric pollutants, and the reaction is speeded up by high ambient temperatures and humidity. Southern Taiwan is thus likely to be especially hostile to filters on the shelf.
Storage in sealed containers/plastic bags, with desiccant, (and ideally under inert gas, though that's pushing it) should help.
Assuming oil shelf life isn't a limitation (a reasonable assumption, I think) storing them oil-filled might help too.
The oil will physically protect the media from the air, but more importantly, the basic (as in TBN) ingredients should neutralise any acids.
I might even consider using synthetic oil for that.
Paper in general (havn't seen anything on filter media, but then I havn't looked very hard) fails mostly by acid hydrolysis, and to a much lesser extent by oxidation.
The acids come from within the paper (depending on how it was processed) and from atmospheric pollutants, and the reaction is speeded up by high ambient temperatures and humidity. Southern Taiwan is thus likely to be especially hostile to filters on the shelf.
Storage in sealed containers/plastic bags, with desiccant, (and ideally under inert gas, though that's pushing it) should help.
Assuming oil shelf life isn't a limitation (a reasonable assumption, I think) storing them oil-filled might help too.
The oil will physically protect the media from the air, but more importantly, the basic (as in TBN) ingredients should neutralise any acids.
I might even consider using synthetic oil for that.
Hi Ducked,
It is over the top, but yes I was also thinking that storing the filters filled with fresh oil should reduce oxidation and acid effects.
So would an inert atmosphere like Argon or using a vacuum chamber.
However, to keep it real, it sounds like a 5 year old filter should be fine. Certainly my 20 year old paper books are not crumbling under my fingers.
Thanks for all the input everybody.
HootBro, pbm and AirgunSavant, good to hear your even older filters are doing fine.
It is over the top, but yes I was also thinking that storing the filters filled with fresh oil should reduce oxidation and acid effects.
So would an inert atmosphere like Argon or using a vacuum chamber.
However, to keep it real, it sounds like a 5 year old filter should be fine. Certainly my 20 year old paper books are not crumbling under my fingers.
Thanks for all the input everybody.
HootBro, pbm and AirgunSavant, good to hear your even older filters are doing fine.
Originally Posted By: Ducked
...
Assuming oil shelf life isn't a limitation (a reasonable assumption, I think) storing them oil-filled might help too.
The oil will physically protect the media from the air, but more importantly, the basic (as in TBN) ingredients should neutralise any acids.
I might even consider using synthetic oil for that.
That is an interesting concept. Could be messy if it fell over though.
Wonder if adding like say a 1/4 capacity of the filter would make any difference? That amount should be enough to saturate the media without having to worry about spillage, as well as having enough oil to control moisture content and acidity on the cellulose.
...
Assuming oil shelf life isn't a limitation (a reasonable assumption, I think) storing them oil-filled might help too.
The oil will physically protect the media from the air, but more importantly, the basic (as in TBN) ingredients should neutralise any acids.
I might even consider using synthetic oil for that.
That is an interesting concept. Could be messy if it fell over though.
Wonder if adding like say a 1/4 capacity of the filter would make any difference? That amount should be enough to saturate the media without having to worry about spillage, as well as having enough oil to control moisture content and acidity on the cellulose.
Originally Posted By: SR5
Hi Ducked,
It is over the top, but yes I was also thinking that storing the filters filled with fresh oil should reduce oxidation and acid effects.
So would an inert atmosphere like Argon or using a vacuum chamber.
Don't think pre-oiling is VERY over the top, though oil will out, so it'd need to be in a sealed and stable container (which would be good anyway).
Maybe a paint tin?
Inert gas/vacuum IS over the top, but CO2 is fairly inert and easily generated with yeast and sugar. This would conflict with your desiccant though so probably not worth the trouble.
Originally Posted By: blupupher
Wonder if adding like say a 1/4 capacity of the filter would make any difference? That amount should be enough to saturate the media without having to worry about spillage, as well as having enough oil to control moisture content and acidity on the cellulose.
Yeh, I'd think that would be almost, but not quite, as good, but if its in a sealed container anyway maybe it'd be just as well to fill the filter.
Hi Ducked,
It is over the top, but yes I was also thinking that storing the filters filled with fresh oil should reduce oxidation and acid effects.
So would an inert atmosphere like Argon or using a vacuum chamber.
Don't think pre-oiling is VERY over the top, though oil will out, so it'd need to be in a sealed and stable container (which would be good anyway).
Maybe a paint tin?
Inert gas/vacuum IS over the top, but CO2 is fairly inert and easily generated with yeast and sugar. This would conflict with your desiccant though so probably not worth the trouble.
Originally Posted By: blupupher
Wonder if adding like say a 1/4 capacity of the filter would make any difference? That amount should be enough to saturate the media without having to worry about spillage, as well as having enough oil to control moisture content and acidity on the cellulose.
Yeh, I'd think that would be almost, but not quite, as good, but if its in a sealed container anyway maybe it'd be just as well to fill the filter.
- Status
