Oil filter warning!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Oil filter warning!
Thought I'd share this with you in case you didn't know already.
New oil filters often have metal in them left over from manufacturing. Usually it's steel shavings from when the threads were cut. I've even found the small metal holes that are punched out of the filter core in there. All of this stuff ends up in the filter core (downstream of the filter paper) and when you fire it up gets pumped directly into your bearings.
So when buying oil filters, always tap the filter hard against a table to knock any of this debris loose, and inspect the threads for metal shards that might come loose when installing it. I haven't noticed it as much in the premium filters, but it still happens way too often.
New oil filters often have metal in them left over from manufacturing. Usually it's steel shavings from when the threads were cut. I've even found the small metal holes that are punched out of the filter core in there. All of this stuff ends up in the filter core (downstream of the filter paper) and when you fire it up gets pumped directly into your bearings.
So when buying oil filters, always tap the filter hard against a table to knock any of this debris loose, and inspect the threads for metal shards that might come loose when installing it. I haven't noticed it as much in the premium filters, but it still happens way too often.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
I would guesstimate maybe 10-20% of the filters I've pulled off the rack had metal in them, so there's no way I'm the only one.
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My favorite filter to hand my buddy when he is changing oil,and he has to race me the next round
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
I have found similar in alll brands, since I prime all filters first it is just common practice to inspect them. It starts when purchasing, as I have seen some w/rust, adhesive etc. inside them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
They have a crankcase magnet and a oil filter magnet that wraps around the actual filter on the outside. I thought about getting them as its cheap insurance. I have been using frams for a while...
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 704
From: WI
I have learned to inspect everything! The best is to inspect it before buying it. Good idea and post! I see the metal in the small holes a lot, the ones around threaded hole. That reminds me of the Holly AFPR that I got, it had metal shavings to. Keep an eye out for that kind of thing!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Never seen it, but not surprising - as to who has the better lawyer (and they're not allowed in Small Claims), I onced hired a chemist to prove to Chrysler Marine that I had the right oil mix in my outboard fuel (after it threw a rod). Cost all of $25. I eventually got them to admit that the failure was from an overtorqued rod bolt which was a Line problem they knew about. Plenty of oil engineering firms around, but avoiding the hassle with a little tap makes better sense - especially when you think of how Toyota and GM have dealt with sludge (Toyota oil - GM Dexcool).
