Community Forums

exrench · 12-03-2007, 12:23 PM

It would seem that we are buying oil filters that have magnetic debris clinging to the threads and I wish others would check their favourite oil filter using the method that follows.Using a Q Tip(those cotton tipped sticks that you use to clean out your ears)wipe out the inner threaded surface of a new oil filter so that you engage the entire surface of the Q tip so that you end up with dirt showing all the way around the tip.Wrap a facial tissue around a strong magnet and rotate the Q tip close to,but not touching the tissue.Anything that clings to the facial tissue is magnetic and bears further discussion if others can duplicate my findings.

exrench · 12-03-2007, 12:23 PM

It would seem that we are buying oil filters that have magnetic debris clinging to the threads and I wish others would check their favourite oil filter using the method that follows.Using a Q Tip(those cotton tipped sticks that you use to clean out your ears)wipe out the inner threaded surface of a new oil filter so that you engage the entire surface of the Q tip so that you end up with dirt showing all the way around the tip.Wrap a facial tissue around a strong magnet and rotate the Q tip close to,but not touching the tissue.Anything that clings to the facial tissue is magnetic and bears further discussion if others can duplicate my findings.

"007" · 12-03-2007, 06:24 PM

Welcome exrench to the Workhorse forum and irv2.

Which way will these filings travel thru the oil filter, will they be trapped by filter or go direct thru engine?

Will add your request to new members forum also.
Enjoy the forums and do post often.

RV Wizard · 12-04-2007, 01:12 AM

exrench, welcome to iRV2.com. We are glad to have you join us here and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. Thanks for the tip (no pun intended) of the issue of magnatized filings. It would not suprise me to find that magnets are not use in the manufactureing process and if any filings are left behind from threading then your observation would be correct. I will try to remember to check my next oil change for this and get back to you. Enjoy the website and forum; as I know you will.

Ray,IN · 12-04-2007, 01:25 AM

Have you contacted any of the major filter manufacturers for comment? I don't know it it would help your issue, but I bought one of those magnetic "wrap-around" strips sold to fit outside the oil filter. It's only purpose is to attract metal particles and hold them against the casing until the filter is changed.

Oemtech · 12-04-2007, 02:12 AM

exrench,

Let me also welcome you to IRV2...

But, a filter is designed to filter out debris by its nature. I would suspect that any metal debris left over from manufacturing would be caught by the filter depending on the micron rating of the filter material.

Just remember this is a oil change and not a surgical procedure. In my 40+ years of working on cars I never used anything but clean grease rag and compressed air to clean a filter before installing it.

exrench · 12-04-2007, 07:41 AM

The design of a spin-oil filter is such that oil travels from the centre threaded portion through the oil pump and bearings etc before falling to the oilpan where the pick-up allows it to return to the outside of the filter where it is trapped until the filter is replaced.Therefore oil in the threaded part of the filter will be filtered only after passing through the engine.

Jestme13 · 12-04-2007, 09:43 AM

I sure wouldnt want that stuff passing through my bearings, no matter what the micron. If you can see it, it will hurt you.

Steady Eddie · 12-04-2007, 10:21 AM

Good Morning--just waded out to the Shop (see:
"Water,water,water!" thread) and checked on some
NAPA/Wix Oil Filters I have, new in the boxes.
Not a hint of metal on the threads...

DickNJo · 12-04-2007, 01:11 PM

Exwrench. Thanx for the heads up. what specific brand of filters did you find this debris in. It sounds like the tapping machine that built the filter base was using dirty coolant.
Thanx, Dick

TandW · 12-04-2007, 03:17 PM

We didn't have this problem years ago when cartridges were in use. And again I say that filters should be packaged the same way meds are.

exrench · 12-04-2007, 03:45 PM

Only one filter had visible material on the threads and it was a huge flake of what appeared to me to be steel(it went back to the supplier) and this is what influenced me to become this critical of oil filters in general.Only by using the technique of the Q tip as outlined earlier,will you see the magnetic particle deposits that concern me.I would urge interested parties to engage in this inspection of their favourite oil filters.In the spirit of empiricism this would valdate my findings.

exrench · 12-04-2007, 03:57 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DickNJo:
Exwrench. Thanx for the heads up. what specific brand of filters did you find this debris in. It sounds like the tapping machine that built the filter base was using dirty coolant.
Thanx, Dick </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
This is not confined to one or two oil filter manufacturers and it appears that either the thread cutting operation is one of the last operations(ugh!) or there is a very poor degreasing/cleaning of the base plate before assembly.

exrench · 12-06-2007, 02:19 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Steady Eddie:

Good Morning--just waded out to the Shop (see:
"Water,water,water!" thread) and checked on some
NAPA/Wix Oil Filters I have, new in the boxes.
Not a hint of metal on the threads... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hope things have dried up for you folks in the north west-it's been pretty bad for you.
Did I understand your swab came up with NO discolouration?