What does this filter say to you?

[Shaman]

http://www.ace1252.com/pic2.jpg

3.8 GM. Thinks he has a coolant leak.

 

[TallPaul]

It appears the filter has rust spot or is that just dirt? Hard to tell if there is a coolant leak. What about the crackle test? Put a drop of oil in a spoon and run the butane lighter under it until it smokes. If there is much water it will crackle before that.

 

[alreadygone]

Oil looks like $#!+,, but not the usual cafe au lait (sp) color found with oil that's got very much water.

Tall Paul,
Never heard of crackle test before but I'll certainly remember it!

Bob

 

[TallPaul]

Here is a link explaining the crackle test, but they use a hot plate.

 

[Frank@Toronto]

Looks pretty thick.

Open your radiator cap and look for some oil drops floating around. With the cap open, start your engine and rev it high. See if there are any air bubbles coming out.

Doesn't look good...

 

[T-Keith]

The pic doesn't mean much of anything, especially without the OCI legnth, time ect. If he thinks he has a coolant leak look at coolant levels or do a UOA, not the oil filter.

 

[slalom44]

That filter has been on the car for a very long time. You can tell by the bubbled rust along the outer edge. I'd guess it's been in service for a year, depending on the humidity of the environment.

The swirls of emulsion suggest that you probably have water or coolant in your oil. If you cut the filter open, you can see how distorted the pleats are. That will also indicate if there was a significant amount of moisture in the oil.

 

[beanoil]

What does this filter say to you?

CHANGE ME!

 

[Virtuoso]

That filter only says it's done more than it's fair share of work.

 

[zombie_tech]

Looks like Hershey's chocolate syrup to me. I'm gonna have my son's Nesquik sent off for a VOA.

 

[Gary Allan]

Nah ..that's definitely some type of coffee liquour. I always wondered where Starbucks got their stuff from.