Storing Filters

[Jim Allen]

A while back, I interviewed some industry experts on the shelf life of oil filters. I was advised that 3-5 years is a safe average and that cellulose media based filters are more at risk to high humidity. A rusty tapping plate is a sure sign of poor storage and a filter so tainted isn't a safe bet. Dry, temperature stable conditions are obviously best and could extend the shelf life of any filter but I got to wondering...

Here's how I now store filters. We have a Food Saver vacuum pack do-dah and I have been putting all of my filters into these, along with a package of desiccant and the end off the box for ID. Unlimited storage life as I see it. Buy when it's cheap. Store until you need it with no worries. This is the latest batch I've put into "suspended animation."

 

[Hootbro]

Do you normally store your filters on a boat dock down by the shore?

Just shove em in a closet inside the house if humidity is your worry.

Gotta say Jim, I respect most of what you post but this seems a little paranoid and overkill for even you.

 

[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.

 

[demarpaint]

I don't go through that extreme, I take plastic sandwich wrap, wrap around the bottom of the filter and a few inches up the side. It clings to the filter, then I wrap it with a rubber band, that seems to work fine for me.

 

[Jim Allen]

The other thing I used to do was to take a nitrile glove and stretch it over the open end. If I was feeling particularly paranoid, I'd put a desiccant pack in the thumba nd pit it all back in the box.

Have done the same thing for the past few decades with my used oil filters. I used to have to wear nitrile gloves at the high end dealerships where I worked and got used to working in them. After the OC, I would slip one of the used gloves over the open end of the filter after it drained and that kept my trash cans from getting oily.

 

[NHGUY]

Its a good thing when they shrink wrap filters or apply a plastic disc to the open end.That must help a lot.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
The other thing I used to do was to take a nitrile glove and stretch it over the open end. If I was feeling particularly paranoid, I'd put a desiccant pack in the thumba nd pit it all back in the box.

Have done the same thing for the past few decades with my used oil filters. I used to have to wear nitrile gloves at the high end dealerships where I worked and got used to working in them. After the OC, I would slip one of the used gloves over the open end of the filter after it drained and that kept my trash cans from getting oily.


I use the glove trick too, less mess at the end of the job when it comes time to get rid of the filters.

 

[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.

 

[Dave Hess]

I have approx 35-40 oil filters from using AAP codes and I just keep them on a shelf inside my air conditioned house. They will last 20+ years in a cool dry place.

 

[KevGuy]

Originally Posted By: Hootbro
Do you normally store your filters on a boat dock down by the shore?

Just shove em in a closet inside the house if humidity is your worry.

Gotta say Jim, I respect most of what you post but this seems a little paranoid and overkill for even you.


Ya, that is just a bit too anal for me.

 

[KevGuy]

Oh my! You have FRAM filters. I applaud you, but I suspect the anti-FRAM linch-mob is coming to get you now.

 

[DBMaster]

Wow. I love this forum. Please do not take offense, anyone. Whenever I start thinking I am compulsive about something I poke around here and find out that I am in good company. I buy my filters no more than three at a time and have NEVER worried about corrosion or humidity. Most have shrink wrap on the boxes and the Mazda OEM filters in my garage have the plastic shrink wrap on the business end. I would have to get a REALLY good deal on oil filters to buy more than three. I do store my detailing stuff (waxes) and refrigerant inside. It gets really hot in my garage in the summer.

 

[Tuffy1760]

love it... way to go Jim...

 

[Garak]

Hey, it might be overkill, but it's pretty cool. The really ironic thing here is that Jim does a better job of packaging his filters than do the actual manufacturers.

 

[MarkStock]

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.


Very reasonable to use something you already have rather than let it go to waste.

Great idea on the dessicant. I've been throwing a lot of those away recently, but there are many uses for them.

One thought though - lack of humidity could also be bad for the filter material especially as temperature fluctuates.

I'm just going to use up my filters in order now. Fortunately, I'm in CA and my garage will not face too many extreme temps.

 

[MarkStock]

Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
After the OC, I would slip one of the used gloves over the open end of the filter after it drained and that kept my trash cans from getting oily.


The guys at the oil filter recycling center must of been wondering why so many hands got chopped off at your dealership!

 

[MarkStock]

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.


Are those spin or or cartridge?

The synthetic cartridge filters look like they'd last a lifetime, but cellulose is subject to humidity / temp changes and metal is subject to rust.

 

[MarkStock]

Originally Posted By: KevGuy
Oh my! You have FRAM filters. I applaud you, but I suspect the anti-FRAM linch-mob is coming to get you now.


There's no anti-FRAM lynch (not linch) mob.

Just folks who don't like the FRAM orange can. I think most of those folks feel the price and performance of the FRAM Xtra Guard is competitive to anything else out there in the same category.

I myself have used FRAM cabin and air filters.

For the orange can, they feel the opposite and have concluded that anyone defending it is not doing a realistic comparison of the available information.

 

[Hootbro]

Originally Posted By: Garak
........... The really ironic thing here is that Jim does a better job of packaging his filters than do the actual manufacturers.


Irony would imply that they need to be packaged better and they do not need to be for 99.9% of consumers.

 

[Texan4Life]

a little over the top for me. but everyone has different environments they store their filters.

Sealed up like that Jim can sleep well every night for decades knowing that his premium filters will be factory fresh come OCI time. No matter what environment they end up getting stored in.

Thanks for sharing the pics!