- Joined
- Aug 13, 2021
- Messages
- 2
I just received a 6-pack of Fram Ultra Synthetic filters (XG3506) from a Michigan-based Ebay seller for $31.95, shipped ($5.33/filter). Great price. Perhaps too good? The clear, circular tape-tabs on the box-lids are badly yellowed/peeling and the black-grips on the filters are kinda micro-cracked, indicating some age. The boxes are older-style and look exactly like THIS-- not the newer style box that looks like THIS. (No fading.) So I searched here and found how to decipher Fram's date-codes. My date-code "A40991", translates to the 1st-shift of the 99th day (April 9th) of 2014--which seems about right.
There's no rust and the seals seem soft. I think they use silicone & synthetic filtration material-- which should have a longer shelf-life than rubber & cellulose. At first I thought that I should return them because they might be deteriorated. But some people say that they have a shelf life of at least 10 years. And according to a recent thread here, the new Fram Ultra Synthetics now use a construction that is worse than the older models. (No longer wire-backed.)
Should I return these 7.25 year old filters which I will use over the next 2 years? Would it be safe for me to buy more (say, a 4-year supply)?
FYI: I have two 1996 2.4L Chevy Cavalier convertibles (100k & 160k miles) which use this filter and I use Costco/Kirkland 5W-30 at ~4k-5k intervals here in mild-climate northern CA. I want to keep these cars running for as long as possible.
There's no rust and the seals seem soft. I think they use silicone & synthetic filtration material-- which should have a longer shelf-life than rubber & cellulose. At first I thought that I should return them because they might be deteriorated. But some people say that they have a shelf life of at least 10 years. And according to a recent thread here, the new Fram Ultra Synthetics now use a construction that is worse than the older models. (No longer wire-backed.)
Should I return these 7.25 year old filters which I will use over the next 2 years? Would it be safe for me to buy more (say, a 4-year supply)?
FYI: I have two 1996 2.4L Chevy Cavalier convertibles (100k & 160k miles) which use this filter and I use Costco/Kirkland 5W-30 at ~4k-5k intervals here in mild-climate northern CA. I want to keep these cars running for as long as possible.