Quote:
...Hmm, that's so weird. The box clearly states a Copyright date of 1997, yet the filter would be dated 1995? I suppose it is possible that someone swapped the filter inside as I did buy it from a thrift store, but that wouldn't really explain why his box is newer than 1997, yet has an older date code.
Since the subject has been broached and a seeming discrepancy in box to can date noted, here's my take and I've mentioned it before on another thread.
There is an assumption with the letter for year code that I'm not convinced is/has been proven beyond all doubt. It's true that the first letter 'A' does represent 2009. It's known because afaik member
Mustang20008Z was the first one to decode the date code as posted in the linked thread.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...ode#Post1744244
That also makes sense because that was the first year of production of the new more efficient rated Classic and yellow textured P1, superseding/updating the Prem. Plus and blue can P1. That could be just a coincidence that the new filters just happened to fall when the new letter A came around. Or 'A' was used to start a new series of updated filters in 2009 when the new filters were introduced. If that's the case Purolator could have done a similar updating of filters also using other new A letter along the way.
So, it's possible 2008 was letter Z, but imo it's also quite possible that it was some other letter preceding Z and went to A with the introduction of the newer/updated Classic and P1. If the latter is true which I believe is probable, the last letter before 2009 may well not be Z and the same could be said for any update, either filter, box or both that may have taken place prior to 2009.
I believe the letter code to be accurate from 2009 to the present. For the reasons given, not convinced it's backward accurate prior to 2009 going back ad infinitum. My.02