Oil Filter lesson learned

[IES99]

Well, you guys can let me have it, but I had to be towed a few weeks ago because my oil filter rusted through and left me with no oil (well, oil in the bilge).
I put it on new this past spring when I changed the oil in the 3.0. It was the Pure One Purolator: the yellow one with the textured surface. I believe that that surface was what allowed a little salt to accumulate, and allow moisture to rust through the casing of the filter. Yes, I had cleaned it at one time and sprayed rust preventative on it just like the rest of the engine. Still it left me stranded. Lesson learned. :redface:

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

Bummer!

Mercruiser says that their oil filters are thicker than the equivalent automotive ones...and that they are of a rust resistent material. I have always used their's, but only because they are easy to grab off of the West Marine shelf. I had been thinking about going to WIX (NAPA), since they always do so well in the filter tests...I will probably stick with the OEM.

One season, and yours failed? That has to be one thin shell...!

Happy boating!

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned


....now that is ODD !!!
Ya' sure you didn't scratch throught the finish when installing and thus expose bare metal to salt air???
Do you, perhaps have a sea water leak into the engine compartment??
I've removed filters that have sat, exposed to the elements for years, and never found one rusted through.
Sumthin' 'taint right with this picture !!!
FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

That is truly amazing. How are you getting that much salt spray in your bilge? What does your engine look like? Is it all rusty too?

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

I had one that the seam broke on an old plow truck. I had it on 3 years. It was paper thin and never rusted thru.

I think you left it on more than one season, or the marina that did your oil change told you they changed it, and didn't.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

It rusted through in less than 6 months????

That's hard to believe, got any pics? I have a hard time believing you could get one to rust through if you sprayed it constantly with salt water for 6 months. What's the rest of the engine compartment look like???

What do all the cars do about it up north, running around with Purolater filters with salt on the roads (therefore on the filter...) 4 or 5 months out of the year?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

Hard to figure unless there is salt water dripping on the filter...I use the Sierra Marine filters and after being on for a year ( change em once a year at winterization) and in a salt water environment (moored in salt water) they have never had even a rust spot on them....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

I have used the Pure One filters for years.All the filter test reports show them as one of the best quality filters.More media material and a laser cut stainless check valve where filters like Fram and Wix use paper valves.
Anyway,It's hard to believe it rusted through that fast.
Was it put on using a filter wrench and scratched through the textured coating?
Makes me wonder now...My motorcycle,truck and 2 cars all have them on right now..

 

[IES99]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

....now that is ODD !!!
Ya' sure you didn't scratch throught the finish when installing and thus expose bare metal to salt air???
Do you, perhaps have a sea water leak into the engine compartment??
I've removed filters that have sat, exposed to the elements for years, and never found one rusted through.
Sumthin' 'taint right with this picture !!!
FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

I appreciate the comments. But. Sorry guys, but I did not abuse the filter, injure it and the rest of the engine is pristine. I take good care of my stuff. The pin holes where it rusted through were along the side of the filter, on the side facing the sky. I have to believe that that rough (sand paper like) surface on the Pure One filter allowed moisture to collect there and rust through. Believe me, I was very, very surprised, too.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

Interesting.....must not be able to handle the salt air and condensation...
Learn something new every day..

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

I had exactly the same thing happen twice on my I/O, both times late in the season (late November). Up until the second occurance, I used a filter wrench to tighten the filter. I blamed it on my scratching the paint on the filter. I stopped using the wrench and used my hand, and no more issues, until the oil pan rusted thru.

 

[IES99]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

I had exactly the same thing happen twice on my I/O, both times late in the season (late November). Up until the second occurance, I used a filter wrench to tighten the filter. I blamed it on my scratching the paint on the filter. I stopped using the wrench and used my hand, and no more issues, until the oil pan rusted thru.

Right. I was always taught that the oil filter wrench is for removal only. Oil the rubber O ring and hand tighten.

 

[IES99]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

One more point: this I/O is 22 years old and I have changed the filter yearly all those years. This is the first time this has happened. This is the first time that the filter had this type of finish. These Pure One filters are rated highly for what is inside but a year or so ago, they changed the outside finish to this yellow with the sand paper type finish.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

One more point: this I/O is 22 years old and I have changed the filter yearly all those years. This is the first time this has happened. This is the first time that the filter had this type of finish. These Pure One filters are rated highly for what is inside but a year or so ago, they changed the outside finish to this yellow with the sand paper type finish.

True...they used to be painted blue.
Wonder if you could spray the new filters with that spray under coating stuff or some good paint.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

Man I love livin' in the desert! I never have to pry off drives, or heat anything up, (though I do occasionly have to cool them off) But nothin' freaking rusts out here. Never used a choke on a boat, and my Jeep never needs to warm up in the summer.
Winterize, what me?
Besides, you get used to climbing into the bilge when it's 125 degrees out, right?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Oil Filter lesson learned

Interesting.....must not be able to handle the salt air and condensation...
Learn something new every day..

The funny thing is that I have used Purolator filters on both of our vehicles for years and we live 2 blocks from the beach (LI Sound) and they also salt the roads in winter here and never a problem...I still think there could be some salt water dripping on it...I had this problem with a manifold drain dripping just slightly on the starter and it corroded the terminals in no time...