Storing Filters

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Just to be clear:

Q) Would I have bought the Food Saver especially to do this?

A) No. The glove trick has been berry-berry-gooda-to-me, but I have discovered gloves that have split over the time in storage. The Food Saver was available. I used it.

Q) What was the main reason I did it?

A) So I could store these filters safely in an unheated shop that's subject to high humidity at times.

Volvohead: And you point is? Any you trying to say that because one line of oil filter says "NO EXPIRY" on it that people shouldn't have a care about how and for how long they store filters? I'm sure that "NO EXPIRY" would come with some caveats if you were to talk to the engineers at the company that makes the filter.
 
My point is as I stated it above: reasonable experts may differ.

I guess if I stored them in a fish tank next to the bubble chest, or under our shed in the snow, they may not have an unlimited expiry.

But if reasonably stored under average, typical, conditions, these filters are stamped with no expiration date. They're intended for dealer use, so I'm sure the dealers won't be aging them for disposal either.

If yours have an expiry, they have an expiry. Some do. But not all do.

FWIW, I've a cabinet full of old filters. Some are approaching 15 years old -- old white can NAPAs (Wix), Manns, Mahles, a couple Champs. I have no problems using any of them. They are as fresh as the day we bought them, factory boxed, safe in a clean, dry storage cabinet in our garage. I have no intention of taking the Mrs. Seal-A-Meal and bags of desiccant to them. She's meaner than you when mad.

But what have done is fun to watch -- I'll give you that.
 
Ah, but you haven't quoted any experts. You merely read "NO EXPIRY" off a filter and made a lot of assumptions about what that means. And I'm not necessarily saying your assumptions are incorrect either. In a dealer's parts room, climate controlled, dry, shelf life would be nearly unlimited. And the composition of the filter may play a part if it's a synthetic media. The other parts look to be plastic, so corrosion isn't a factor. Also, that filter has no bypass or ADBV to worry about (Nitrile ADBVs as subject to hardening due to age and ozone). So in this case, "NO EXPIRY" makes some sense. It's the only filter on which I've seen the like. Well, actually, I can't see it on the pic you reference but I take your word for it.

Happy to have provided some entertainment for you.

PS- I'm mean?
 
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2012_11210001.jpg


I'll assume it means it has no expiry date.

Most cartridge types are similar in construction.

So . . . let's see that interview transcript. (Just kidding)
 
Like I said, I believed you as to what was on the filter. My point is that you seemed to be extrapolating what you read on one filter package way too far. A label is not an "expert" that you can interview and get feedback from according to direct questions.

Well, the interview notes exist but they will remain private, especially since some of the people I spoke with wished to remain off the record. You can see where some of the interview info went by finding the December 2012 issue of "Trailer Life" pages 61-64 and reading the article, "Engine Oil Filters: What you Need to Know." In it, you will see the names and titles of three of the people I interviewed for the story. I only put a small fraction of the info into the story... typical due to space constraints and the technical level of the readers.
 
Originally Posted By: Volvohead
2012_11210001.jpg


I'll assume it means it has no expiry date.

Most cartridge types are similar in construction.

So . . . let's see that interview transcript. (Just kidding)


Just because it says it has no expiration date doesn't mean that it won't get damaged if improperly stored.

Everyone has their own perception of what properly stored means, and depending on the method of storage, it will make a difference in the longevity of the filter.

Anyone criticizing or getting upset about the method somebody stores their own property tells me something about the criticizing party.
wink.gif
 
Who's criticizing or upset?

I stated that reasonable experts may differ on a filter's expiration, and presented a defined example where there is no expiry.

Mr. Allen seemed to take issue with that, and then brought up the storage issue himself.
 
Not quite, you should purge with an inert gas, and put an oxygen absorber packet to slow it down more, but, never, ever, stop it!
Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
No, but my filters are stored in an unheated shop in a region that experiences humidity and I saw signs of rust on one.

What you say about the closet is true but deterioration occurs even there. What I did stopped the clock entirely, no matter where I store them. Took about 15 minutes to do this batch.

The only paranoia I am experiencing has to do with what I'm about to say getting back to my wife. I bought the Food Saver five years ago for her as a present (one she asked for). She has yet to use it and has no explanation as to why. I bought her a lifetime supply of bags for it too. I'm putting it to a good use, overkill or no. And I'm bagging up other stuff too.
 
If I had one of the vacuum dealies, I'd probably be running around the house looking for random items to vacuum pack!

As a counterpoint to the freeze-dried filters, I'm going to cut open a recent basement find: a 25 year old Orange Can. I'm pretty sure it's from the old '84 GTI I owned as an undergrad. It's received no special treatment, bouncing around in a box from basement to garage to basement. Heck, it's been cross-country, driving through the wilds of the great plains. Why I still have 2 of these, I'll never know... I'll post it up in the next couple of days.
 
Originally Posted By: Volvohead
Who's criticizing or upset?

I stated that reasonable experts may differ on a filter's expiration, and presented a defined example where there is no expiry.

Mr. Allen seemed to take issue with that, and then brought up the storage issue himself.


Again ... if you stored that filter with a "no expiration" out in a very humid environment it will rust. The engineers at Volvo who decided to put that "no expiration" on the box are most likely banking on the filter to be properly stored.

This to me sounds like someone who's criticizing because he doesn't agree on the way someone decided to store his own oil filters. Seems you are trying to be this so called "reasonable expert".
lol.gif


Originally Posted By: Volvohead
Vacuum bagging Frams?

Seems like a waste of good food storage bags if you ask me.

FWIW, all the VAG oil filters we have are clearly marked "NO EXPIRY".

Apparently, reasonable industry experts may differ.


Originally Posted By: Volvohead

FWIW, I've a cabinet full of old filters. Some are approaching 15 years old -- old white can NAPAs (Wix), Manns, Mahles, a couple Champs. I have no problems using any of them. They are as fresh as the day we bought them, factory boxed, safe in a clean, dry storage cabinet in our garage. I have no intention of taking the Mrs. Seal-A-Meal and bags of desiccant to them. She's meaner than you when mad.


Actually, I like the vacuum sealed method ... a good guarantee that the filter will not suffer from rusting or media degradation over long storage periods. Do the same thing with ammo if you want to be sure it's gonna be good years from now.
smile.gif


Seems Jim has a better working relationship with his wife than some here do. "Honey, can I use the Seal a Meal for an hour? Sure dear, be my guest."
 
. . . I'm not the one who printed "Expiry Date: NONE" on the box.

And it's a VAG filter, not a Volvo.

Meanwhile, the other experts are apparently unidentifiable verbal sources. But I'm sure they said what Jim relates. Jim's straight about it.

But discussing storage conditions is an after-the-fact red herring.

I guess if you ran over it with a truck, it would reduce the storage life, too.
 
Fact is, some people live in very humid climates that have large temperature swings over the course of a year. Some guys are probably forced to keep their "stuff" like oil filters out in the garage where the environment is drastic at times. People who stock up on oil filters might store them for 5+ years, and just want to ensure there is no degradation issue during the storage period. What's wrong with that, or how someone decides to store their own filters. Are they storing YOUR filters for you? Worry about storing your own stuff.
smile.gif
 
Quote:
. . . I'm not the one who printed "Expiry Date: NONE" on the box.


No, but you are the one taking two words on one box and expanding them to mean much more than they do.

Quote:
Meanwhile, the other experts are apparently unidentifiable verbal sources. But I'm sure they said what Jim relates. Jim's straight about it.


I can see the sarcasm dripping off those words. Three of the sources are identified in the publication I referenced. Go look.

Quote:
But discussing storage conditions is an after-the-fact red herring.


Not a red herring... it's the whole point. Take your "NO EXPIRY" filter and set it out in the back yard for a year. Would you use it afterwards? Of course not. The label is intended for dealer and parts personnel and the intentions of the manufacturer is that the filter be stored in decent conditions for the "NO EXPIRY" to apply. That's a no brainer.

And for all we know, it could be something internal to VAG about something completely unrelated to the deterioration of the filter on the shelf. Some of the dealers I worked for had inventory policies where parts were returned after being on the shelf over a specified time.
 
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Originally Posted By: Hootbro
Irony would imply that they need to be packaged better and they do not need to be for 99.9% of consumers.


However, no one's going to be switching filters from box to box on him.
wink.gif
 
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