oil filter comtamination

Has anyone ever taken apart the oil filter on a properly running car
and found any "stuff" in it? I've cut open a couple and there was
nothing in the filter to speak of. The very bottom of the pleats had
a very small amount of "gunk" and of course the pleats were somewhat
discolored. With all the talk about filters and how much they hold,
etc, I have a hard time seeing where there's a problem, as far as
capacity, with any of them.

Ashton Crusher wrote:
> Has anyone ever taken apart the oil filter on a properly running car
> and found any "stuff" in it? I've cut open a couple and there was
> nothing in the filter to speak of. The very bottom of the pleats had
> a very small amount of "gunk" and of course the pleats were somewhat
> discolored. With all the talk about filters and how much they hold,
> etc, I have a hard time seeing where there's a problem, as far as
> capacity, with any of them.

I sure have; mostly 60's cars that'd been let sit for a long time and
then resurrected. I definitely found debris in the filters; apparently
sludge that had built up in the engine, baked on to a crisp, and then
had been washed free by the newer, more detergent oil that had been used
since. Subsequent removal of the intake and a peek in the lifter galley
on at least one engine confirmed that the engine had been sludgy and was
being washed clean.

I didn't see any evidence that there was a *problem* mind you; I more
cut the filter apart out of curiosity just to see what I'd find. And
you could make the argument that just because the car was running well,
the long period of hibernation and buildup of sludge didn't exactly meet
your intended criteria, and I couldn't argue that too much.

nate

--
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http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Nate Nagel > wrote in
:

> Ashton Crusher wrote:
>> Has anyone ever taken apart the oil filter on a properly running car
>> and found any "stuff" in it? I've cut open a couple and there was
>> nothing in the filter to speak of. The very bottom of the pleats had
>> a very small amount of "gunk" and of course the pleats were somewhat
>> discolored. With all the talk about filters and how much they hold,
>> etc, I have a hard time seeing where there's a problem, as far as
>> capacity, with any of them.
>
> I sure have; mostly 60's cars that'd been let sit for a long time and
> then resurrected. I definitely found debris in the filters; apparently
> sludge that had built up in the engine, baked on to a crisp, and then
> had been washed free by the newer, more detergent oil that had been used
> since. Subsequent removal of the intake and a peek in the lifter galley
> on at least one engine confirmed that the engine had been sludgy and was
> being washed clean.
>
> I didn't see any evidence that there was a *problem* mind you; I more
> cut the filter apart out of curiosity just to see what I'd find. And
> you could make the argument that just because the car was running well,
> the long period of hibernation and buildup of sludge didn't exactly meet
> your intended criteria, and I couldn't argue that too much.
>
It's called winter clothing <g>.

"Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
...
> Has anyone ever taken apart the oil filter on a properly running car
> and found any "stuff" in it? I've cut open a couple and there was
> nothing in the filter to speak of. The very bottom of the pleats
> had
> a very small amount of "gunk" and of course the pleats were somewhat
> discolored. With all the talk about filters and how much they hold,
> etc, I have a hard time seeing where there's a problem, as far as
> capacity, with any of them.

I cut open the original filter of my SO's RAV4 at the first oil
change. There were some metal shavings in the element. It was the
first time I'd ever seen anything that big in a filter. I was worried,
so I cut open the next two filters off the engine as well. Never saw
anything else. At 50k miles the engine runs like new, no smoking, no
oil consumption, no strange noises. I assume the metal shavings were
either left over from some machining operation, or early life wear.

I have cut open many filters from all of my vehicles including farm
tractors. Except for that one time, I've never seen anything large in
a filter. With the old cartridge style filters, it was not uncommon to
find some sludge in the bottom of the outer canister, but generally, I
don't find anyting in the can of spin-on filters. My assumption is
that most of what the filter removes is very small and trapped in the
filter media. I've considered ways of evaluating how much stuff was
caught, but not come up with a workable solution that doesn't involve
a lot of expensive equipment. Since I never seem to have any oil
related engine failures, I can't see spending a lot to come up with a
measuring method.

Ed

"C. E. White" ) writes:
> "Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Has anyone ever taken apart the oil filter on a properly running car
>> and found any "stuff" in it? I've cut open a couple and there was
>> nothing in the filter to speak of. The very bottom of the pleats
>> had
>> a very small amount of "gunk" and of course the pleats were somewhat
>> discolored. With all the talk about filters and how much they hold,
>> etc, I have a hard time seeing where there's a problem, as far as
>> capacity, with any of them.
>
> I cut open the original filter of my SO's RAV4 at the first oil
> change. There were some metal shavings in the element. It was the
> first time I'd ever seen anything that big in a filter. I was worried,
> so I cut open the next two filters off the engine as well. Never saw
> anything else. At 50k miles the engine runs like new, no smoking, no
> oil consumption, no strange noises. I assume the metal shavings were
> either left over from some machining operation, or early life wear.
>
> I have cut open many filters from all of my vehicles including farm
> tractors. Except for that one time, I've never seen anything large in
> a filter. With the old cartridge style filters, it was not uncommon to
> find some sludge in the bottom of the outer canister, but generally, I
> don't find anyting in the can of spin-on filters. My assumption is
> that most of what the filter removes is very small and trapped in the
> filter media. I've considered ways of evaluating how much stuff was
> caught, but not come up with a workable solution that doesn't involve
> a lot of expensive equipment. Since I never seem to have any oil
> related engine failures, I can't see spending a lot to come up with a
> measuring method.
>
> Ed
>
>



You are all looking in the wrong place. The best place to look, is at the
bottom of oil pans! The stuff I have found at the bottom of pans is unreal
.... nuts, washers, machine screws, gaskets, pens, pennies, and a guitar
pick for christ sakes! I'm half expecting to find a pair of sunglasses or
a pair of dentures next!