Question About Purolator Quality

[Cristobal]

Is this thing about tears in the media something seen in Purolators across the board, or just in their less expensive filters? I have a PureOne in my stash. I got it in 2012, so I wonder if I should demote it down to a lower level oil change interval, from 3000 to 5000 miles.

What is your opinion about a PureOne being trusted for 10,000 miles?

Does a tiny rip matter that much? Oil would be passing through the media to a small degree even if there was a rip somewhere. Particles would be trapped but at a much lower rate. What are your thoughts in a worse case scenario?

 

[Merkava_4]

There's been pictures posted of of both the Classic and the PureONE series with tears. If you have a new Purolator filter in your possession, you might wanna consider exchanging it for something else like a Mobil 1 or a K&N. If you got the filter from O'Reilly's, they might have a WIX in stock for your application.

 

[demarpaint]

This has been discussed in great lengths in another thread. Honestly I got rid of my small Purolator stash. Here's how I see it, the problem is real, no one knows how many filters are effected, which filters, or when the problem started. The only real way to know is to cut the filter open, after you used it. If you had the problem then what? If you didn't have the problem you're lucky. Did the tear occur at the beginning, middle, or end of the OCI? You'll never know. Why bother? Big tear, or a small tear, it shouldn't be torn. A tear will allow particulate matter through, I don't know how much but I'd rather not concern myself thinking about it.

As Merkava 4 said bring it back and exchange it for something else. That's exactly what I did, until I'm certain this problem is behind us. BTW if my tone sounded confrontational it wasn't directed at you, I was just illustrating how I thought about it and dealt with it. Opinions vary, hopefully I don't get flamed.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint


Opinions vary, hopefully I don't get flamed.


I've done the same, i've moved to the mobil 1 filters. We don't know based on purolators responses if they have really addressed the problem and corrected it or are considering us a small part of the market and its not worth it for them. I liked the p1 filters , but as demarpaint stated a tear is a tear and should not be there.

 

[TriboGeek]

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=21...nt=photo%2c.jpg


That sketch is basically the best current indicator of trouble, short of having a failure.

Some models have the problem, some don't. Classics and P1. I've seen production as recent as March 2014 still having the problem.

It is possible to ID this problem through the center tube perforations, but it can be an inconclusive inspection, or it can be conclusive.

In general, I agree, why worry about it if you don't have to. Just run something else.

 

[svhanc]

I have a stash that is several years old that is mixed PureOne and Bosch D+. While I don't see myself buying Puro filters until the issue is dead and buried, I don't see ditching a stash that pre-dates known problems.

I can see switching to Fram Ultra or the flavor of the month when the stash is gone. By then we may be discussing the Gold Can of Death with respect to the Ultra.

 

[mattwithcats]

Looks like the problem started when Purolator switched from glued seams to crimped.

If production dates or codes were posted along with pictures, we could figure out when the change was made, and dates to avoid....

Can someone post how to break Purolator date codes?

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
Looks like the problem started when Purolator switched from glued seams to crimped.

Hunh? Purolator has used both types of seam pleats depending on application for as long as I can remember. Afaik and based on postings here, I've seen nothing that indicates that has changed recently.

As for topic, there's now an enormous amount of information on the topic and questions posed on this board. What I might say, my opinion would be repetition. I'd say do the research using all the threads now posted, and then your call based on that extensive information.

 

[Zaedock]

Orange Can baby, not looking back.

 

[Eddie]

The Orange can looks good today. )

 

[Zaedock]

Seriously. I'm a big Puro fan too. Just used the last Advance Auto AA16 on one of my Jeeps (outstanding filter) and after the Motorcraft FL300's are used, I'll be back to some OCOD PH43's I picked up for a buck each. The other vehicles will probably get Tough Guards.

Another local option is the Consumer Auto Parts "Auto Extra" filter clone made by Wix.

At least Purolator is aware of the issue though, thanks to BITOG.

 

[Rolla07]

I dont stash filters so i guess Im lucky. Last P1 I used showed no torn media but I wouldnt buy them again or use them. For a part thats not expensive anyways go buy a different filter or exchange them if you can. The worry alone isnt worth the cost. I will likely be going with Napa Golds or Fram TG's going forth.

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: svhanc
I have a stash that is several years old that is mixed PureOne and Bosch D+. While I don't see myself buying Puro filters until the issue is dead and buried, I don't see ditching a stash that pre-dates known problems.

I can see switching to Fram Ultra or the flavor of the month when the stash is gone. By then we may be discussing the Gold Can of Death with respect to the Ultra.


Depends on what you call old. This tearing problem is not new and goes back a few years (2011?). For those who may think Puro is going to solve this with their most recent production then I ask why it has taken then years already? I have zero confidence in their ability to solve this any time soon unless they had ignored or were not aware of the problem until now.

 

[zzyzzx]

I would just go ahead and use it, but buy something else next time. I plan on switching to Motorcraft.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: TriboGeek

Some models have the problem, some don't. Classics and P1. I've seen production as recent as March 2014 still having the problem.


March 2014 ... that's last month. Who has bought, used and cut-open a Purolator made in March 2014 already and reported it here? Do you mean March 2013?

 

[901Memphis]

Originally Posted By: svhanc
I have a stash that is several years old that is mixed PureOne and Bosch D+. While I don't see myself buying Puro filters until the issue is dead and buried, I don't see ditching a stash that pre-dates known problems.

I can see switching to Fram Ultra or the flavor of the month when the stash is gone. By then we may be discussing the Gold Can of Death with respect to the Ultra.


Fram Ultras are hardly the flavor of the month. I can't imagine ever using another filter now unless it's already in my stash or I get it cheap. I have been impressed with every uoa using a FU with lower insoluble ratings than most filters as well as never seeing a defect with the media rupturing or getting wavy either.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
Looks like the problem started when Purolator switched from glued seams to crimped.

If production dates or codes were posted along with pictures, we could figure out when the change was made, and dates to avoid....

Can someone post how to break Purolator date codes?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
Does a tiny rip matter that much? Oil would be passing through the media to a small degree even if there was a rip somewhere. Particles would be trapped but at a much lower rate. What are your thoughts in a worse case scenario?


The other aspect I don't like about tears in the filter media is that there could fibers that get swept off of the torn edges by the oil flow going through the hole. If the tears occur early on, then oil could be sloughing off loose fibers for 5,000+ miles. I really don't want any foreign debris going into the engine's oiling system.

 

[TriboGeek]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: TriboGeek

Some models have the problem, some don't. Classics and P1. I've seen production as recent as March 2014 still having the problem.


March 2014 ... that's last month. Who has bought, used and cut-open a Purolator made in March 2014 already and reported it here? Do you mean March 2013?


I'm saying I observed the problem in new stock, looking through the center tube perforations. Sometimes it's clear, sometimes it is not. In my case, 4 of 5 filters sitting on a store shelf clearly had large voiding (improper pleating). It was quite visible through the holes, on an L14459 Classic.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: TriboGeek
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: TriboGeek

Some models have the problem, some don't. Classics and P1. I've seen production as recent as March 2014 still having the problem.


March 2014 ... that's last month. Who has bought, used and cut-open a Purolator made in March 2014 already and reported it here? Do you mean March 2013?


I'm saying I observed the problem in new stock, looking through the center tube perforations. Sometimes it's clear, sometimes it is not. In my case, 4 of 5 filters sitting on a store shelf clearly had large voiding (improper pleating). It was quite visible through the holes, on an L14459 Classic.


To back-up your theory that you can look down the center tube holes at the media spacing and determine if the spacing bad or not, why not take a couple of the worse ones you see, cut them open and then see what the pleats really look like.