Would you use this oil filter? Do they go bad sitting on a shelf?

Starless · 12-12-2018, 11:58 AM

Cleaning out my garage I found 2 oil filters. I have no idea how old they are. Do they go bad? What i mean is, does the rubber gasket dry out over time? Do the filter elements dry out? One is a Mahle OC 54, which I know I bought from Pelican maybe 4-5 years ago. The other one looks to be the same size, but it's a LHA SPE 15-10. I have no idea where i got it or what it's for. I tried to cross reference it and came up with nothing. It also looks like it fits my log splitter. Any info would be much appreciated.

dg567 · 12-12-2018, 12:01 PM

would I use it in a log splitter? probably. would I just buy a new one for my car? probably.

sugarwood · sugarwood's Garage

Look at the rubber gasket and see.
Is it dry rotted and crumbling?
I doubt it.
Some people drive on 20 year old tires.
Your oil filter rubber has r seen daylight and is 4 years old.

Starless · 12-12-2018, 02:36 PM

I figure for the price of a new filter I may as well replace it. The Mahle filter looks like new. I looked at the rubber and it feels fresh, it's been in the box in a cabinet. I was just wondering how long they may last. The filtering element inside also concerns me.

911pcars · 12-12-2018, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starless

I figure for the price of a new filter I may as well replace it. The Mahle filter looks like new. I looked at the rubber and it feels fresh, it's been in the box in a cabinet. I was just wondering how long they may last. The filtering element inside also concerns me.

Could be a case of hyper-worrying. If the gasket looks good and no evidence of termites or other creatures (living or otherwise) who thrive on treated filter material, I think you're good to go.

BTW, same with cans or bottles of engine lube.

Sherwood

darrin · 12-12-2018, 03:44 PM

agree on Mahle, especially since the Mahle is a known good filter for our 911s. However, since I've never heard of the LHA SPE 15-10 and am unclear on whether it's built to similar tolerances/specs as the Mahle, would be wary of using it on a 911 without further clarification regardless of age.

Reiver · 12-12-2018, 04:09 PM

Yeah, if the seal is pliable...use it...those things sit on shelves or warehouses for lengthy periods.
Rubber that is out of the sunlight and boxed should last for a long time....I have two year old Mahle's on my shelf....they are just as pliable as the new ones I just bought.

Worry about something else.

sugarwood · sugarwood's Garage

I understand worrying that the paper will crumble.

Go find a 5 year old book.
And that paper is much thinner.

You should use the filter just to make a point.

Reiver · 12-12-2018, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I understand worrying that the paper will crumble.

Go find a 5 year old book.
And that paper is much thinner.

You should use the filter just to make a point.

I have books that are 100 years old.....you can turn the page...hey....send them to me for the postage only.

Starless · 12-12-2018, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I understand worrying that the paper will crumble.

Go find a 5 year old book.
And that paper is much thinner.

You should use the filter just to make a point.

Free to good home, one Mahle filter.

Reiver · 12-12-2018, 05:51 PM

https://www.bing.com/search?q=how+long+before+an+unused+oil+filter+goes +bad&form=EDNTHT&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=b20aac41deb64118d3de8c47d62aa933&sp=-1&pq=how+long+before+an+unused+oil+filter+goes+bad&sc=0-45&qs=n&sk=&cvid=b20aac41deb64118d3de8c47d62aa933

Bill Douglas · 12-12-2018, 06:01 PM

I would be concerned about rust on the inside.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

ive not seen a black mahle in forever. my last 3 or 4 have been all red. both the place in reno and my local shop have only these now...

they do have official PORSCHE font on them & purulator as I recall..

Reiver · 12-12-2018, 07:34 PM

I just got a black Mahle from our host...each one aged to perfection....who wants an immature filter?

175K911 · 12-13-2018, 01:35 AM

I had the same dilemma when I found 2 OC54 filters in one of the tubs of parts I had stacked in my garage. Since I’d torn the engine apart in 2010, they were at least 8 years sitting out there. My concern was twofold-

first was the paper element still good so I called an old colleague who’s VP at a large oil filter manufacturing company. He told me the paper was probably ok, but to worry about the internal metal parts like springs and the case itself for rust.

But he brought up the second concern which was critters, after 8 years who knows if an ant or spider may have crawled in there.

So for a savings of $10 was it worth risking a fresh $20,000 engine? They promptly went in the trash.

brighton911 · 12-13-2018, 03:36 AM

Yes, it's the critter concern. Mud wasps like things like an open filter to lay their tracks of yes, mud for the their nests. For that reason, I keep the openings sealed for any filter I have in "stock".

Starless · 12-13-2018, 04:13 AM

Mine is black, has been in it's box on a shelf and looks brand new, but, not taking any chances, for a few $ i would rather have peace of mind.

175K911 · 12-13-2018, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reiver

...those things sit on shelves or warehouses for lengthy periods.

Not true for the vast majority of manufacturers and distributors. Product is measured in turns per year. The international auto parts manufacturing and distribution company I used to run looked at anything longer than 2 turns per year (inventory turns over every 6 months) as too long. It ties up working capital to pay to manufacture, package and inventory for too long which is why there are warehouse management systems that track and measure the data. While we didn't produce engine filters we were one of the largest in the auto trans filter business. If a part number was on the shelf more than 6 months then we produced too many in the previous manufacturing cycle tying up capital and valuable rack space. Same was true for almost all the warehouse distributors we sold to, they measured on turns. Most of my customers ordered multiple pallets of product weekly from me to keep their inventory turning fast, not pay me 6 figures for filters that sit on the shelf for months.

BTW- every single trans filter we made and distributed was packaged in a sealed bag. You'd be amazed at how quickly rust begins otherwise. I've seen filters in cut bags that rust in less than a year. We threw them out, or we could face paying for a trans rebuild if we sold that part and it eventually made it's way into someone's auto trans.

Reiver · 12-13-2018, 07:37 AM

Cut it open and check it then report back OP....

175K911 · 12-13-2018, 07:55 AM

Two pictures of automatic transmission filters after 12 months left to the atmosphere on a shelf in my old heated distribution center....

Top pic is the inside of a cylindrical trans filter cut open to see the effects inside.
Bottom pic is the outside of a typical trans filter.

Some newer filters, like the one in my ZF 8 speed trans in my hemi Grand Cherokee are now plastic, many of the ZF's in BMWs and Porsches are also plastic now too.