NOS Purolator PC 201 Safe to Use

[MurphinDC]

New member and recent 1971 2002 purchase.  I had a 1974Tii back in the late 80s that departed via the wrecker years ago...but that's another story.  I dug out my old parts and have a few NOS Purolator PC 201 oil filters from 1985.  What's the consensus on if I should still use them or not?

 

Thanks and this no doubt is the first of many questions I'll have.  What a great resource this website is.

 

Thanks

Murph

[cagedbunny]

Welcome Murph!  My opinion on the matter; is it worth any amount of risk for the ~$6-$7 a new filter costs?  Keep an old one around for nostalgia purposes, toss the rest, and buy a couple new filters

[MurphinDC]

Great point!  Thanks

 

[Son of Marty]

If there new and in the box I don't see why you wouldn't use them nothing in them is time sensitive.

[esty]

sure they will work...if you won't use them send them to me, i will

 

[cagedbunny]

Don't forget folks; many oil filters (especially of that era) used paper as a main filtration element.  Looking at how other paper products of similar vintage have aged, I'd think twice about putting that in my oil.  Just my opinion, of course!

[TobyB]

They still do- but it's not paper like on your favorite Dick Francis thriller.

 

Nor is it exposed to UV or ozone or cigarette smoke so thick it could choke a horse.

 

It's a heavier, open cardboard, designed to trap small particles while still letting oil ooze through at speed.

 

Honestly, I'd be more concerned about the adhesive used to bed the ends.

 

I'd use them, too.

 

t

tends to use quite a few filters.  Now if he could just find what he did with his filter cutter....

 

[kbmb02]

23 minutes ago, TobyB said:

tends to use quite a few filters.  Now if he could just find what he did with his filter cutter....

 

Or, dig out a hammer + sharp chisel from the barn. But you knew that. -KB

 

[MurphinDC]

I talked to Purolator and they recommended that they NOT be used.  Oh well, guess I'll go with the earlier comment and save one for a shelf.  

[Son of Marty]

I'd follow purolator recommendation for sure but did they offer a reason why they recommended not running them just curious?

[rcf925]

I wouldn't use them, Why risk it for a few $$

[Mike Self]

If Purolator doesn't recommend using their NOS filters, I wonder why they (and other manufacturers) don't either put a "use by" or a "manufactured on" date on the filter.  

 

I've used some pretty old filters (legacy of winning 'em at Mid America) and haven't had one fail yet (and yes, I look down inside 'em after draining and before I throw 'em away).

 

mike

[TobyB]

Crazy.  I wonder what they know...

 

Nah, they're cheap.  Art project time.

 

t

 

[yeewiz]

I actually have a few STP filters which are even worse than Purolators.  I originally hesitated to use them mainly because I was thinking their filtration standards aren't equal to a Mahle.  Attached is a filter study which is the closest I've come to a scientific analysis of filter effectiveness.  Sorry, I just copied the page and don't have the complete study.  Maybe someone with Google-fu skills can find the original.  The filter studied isn't a 2002 filter so there's that problem.  And maybe you can take issue with the author's methodology.  And the Mahle wasn't in the study but a Mann was, which I think is an equivalent.  If the study is to be believed, the STP does suck.  On the other hand, the baseline Purolator (Classic) is actually rated better than the Mann in filtration. So circumstancially, a baseline Purolator might be OK. Of course, one doesn't know how the PC201 compares to the L series Purolator.  At least I can definitely say the STP's are going into the neighbor's pool.

OilFilterComparisonStudy.pdf

Edited September 12, 2020 by yeewiz

[jimk]

There 3 types of filter media used.  Listed in increasing term of use and particulate retention and cost, Cellulose Paper, Synthetic fiber paper and depth medial.

The filters in question due to their age are probably cellulose paper, times have changed filter design.

Testing to an industry recognized testing standard would provide a meaningful comparison.  The industry standard is ISO 4548 and it's sub sections.  An overview is here:

https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:4548:-1:ed-2:v1:en

Edited September 12, 2020 by jimk
added info on filter testing standard.