Hi all,

Because of all the rain we've gotten here recently I've somehow managed to get the inside of a couple of oil filters wet.
I don't think they were totally soaked as the boxes they came in were not torn to shreds.

Anyhow, they're all dried out now - they should be okay for use, right?

 

Personnaly I would not use them. There is no way to tell if they are completely dried out especially what you cannot see.

 

I agree.
Also, the insides will begin to rust because they are not treated with anything.

 

Just chuck 'em and chalk it up to a lesson learned. It's just not worth the potential problems to run them.

 

water + oil = bad

 

Don't use them. The filter element may flake apart.

 

I wouldn't risk it. Oil filters are too cheap to take a chance like that.

 

Don't oil filters get wet from oil when on the engine anyway???

 

*Quote* "Dont oil filters get wet with oil anyway?"
Well yeah, but no, not really... The oil that passes through it is made to withstand it, but if water mixes in with it ----> oh crap is what your gonna be saying! Very big difference between oil and water.... ones supposed to be in there and the other aint. A buddy of mine once told me a story about this really *cough cough* handy man type of guy, and he rinsed out his oil filter AND the whole !engine! with water cuz he figured it could use the cleaning. Oh yeah.... great idea. Well needless to say, he's walking to work from now on. Hehehe.... sux to be him. So yeah, just chuck the oil filters, it's not worth the potential trouble. Learn from others mistakes.
Cheers, Lee Hathaway

 

yeah, that's what I figured...
I just haven't been able to make time to replace the filter (let alone pick up a new one) and I'm already 1K past my usual replacement.

 

If it's not too late..... I would recommend filling the filters with new oil, leave them upright, the water will separate eventually to the top. Pour the contents out and you're good to go. Any moisture left will be negligeable.

 

Well...
okay here's the situation.

These two filters were in their boxes in my toolbox.
I recently cut some holes at the top to accommodate a bike anchor and I forgot to seal them with any sort of silicone. As a result I had a small leak into the accessory tray of my toolbox. Unfortunately, my filters were sitting in that tray. The boxes soaked up the water and when I took the filters out the exterior was wet but I have no idea of the interior was affected beyond a heavier humidity than on a shelf in the garage.

So now the exterior is completely dry and the interior is ? for the moment.
I may just pour some oil in there and see if anything floats to the top but I am inclined to do as everyone else has mentioned and chalk them up as a loss and move on. No way I'm going to risk an engine over a part that cost me $4.

 

The introduction of ANY moisture should not be tolerated. Toss those filters!