I would use it with no worries. Just my .2 cents though.
Would you use this? Dented oil filter can
- Thread starter Jakegday
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Do any of you "Yes" people know that in some engines, OP can spike at well over 100 PSI at times? I've seen it on my 5.4L. I knew that but I had a particular visual planted in my mind when I did the Fram Proving Grounds tour last year.
One of the things they did was take a filter and overpressurize it until it blew. Actually the gasket of the Fram Ultra blew out first at over 300 psi. You'd expect that but the way the can deformed is what caught my attention. Many filters (including the Fram I saw demo'ed and the Wix shown) have a flat spot at the end of the can. After the high pressure test, that dimple was gone! This is one of the "tells" the Fram warranty people use when diagnosing failures because sometimes the pressure relief valve on the engine sticks or jams and super high OP is created. Which is NOT Fram's fault if the filter then blows.
The point is that you have a dent. A crease in this case, which is more ominous. The metal in that crease has been stressed. What happens when pressure pops that crease back out? Same thing that happens when you take a piece of sheet metal, bend it in one direction and bend it back? Often a crack. And even the pressure normally associated with whatever engine this filter goes on might be enough to pop a dent or crease back out.
After seeing that demo, I asked a few questions and the Fram boys showed me what can happen with a dented filter... a split can. Thing is, an oil filter canister is not static. Changes in oil pressure (hot, cold oil, high revs, etc.) slightly expand and contract the metal constantly over the period the filter is in use, so that crease is expanding and contracting with pressure changes and the effect is like taking a piece of sheet metal and kinking it back and forth. Sooner or later it splits.
I'm not saying a split can is always the result of running a creased filter. What I'm saying is that your risk for such an occurrence goes up greatly. If the can came that way out of the box, return or exchange it (and realize you should have checked it before you brought it home). If you made the dent yourself accidentally or for whatever reason you can exchange it, roll the dice and accept the consequences.
One of the things they did was take a filter and overpressurize it until it blew. Actually the gasket of the Fram Ultra blew out first at over 300 psi. You'd expect that but the way the can deformed is what caught my attention. Many filters (including the Fram I saw demo'ed and the Wix shown) have a flat spot at the end of the can. After the high pressure test, that dimple was gone! This is one of the "tells" the Fram warranty people use when diagnosing failures because sometimes the pressure relief valve on the engine sticks or jams and super high OP is created. Which is NOT Fram's fault if the filter then blows.
The point is that you have a dent. A crease in this case, which is more ominous. The metal in that crease has been stressed. What happens when pressure pops that crease back out? Same thing that happens when you take a piece of sheet metal, bend it in one direction and bend it back? Often a crack. And even the pressure normally associated with whatever engine this filter goes on might be enough to pop a dent or crease back out.
After seeing that demo, I asked a few questions and the Fram boys showed me what can happen with a dented filter... a split can. Thing is, an oil filter canister is not static. Changes in oil pressure (hot, cold oil, high revs, etc.) slightly expand and contract the metal constantly over the period the filter is in use, so that crease is expanding and contracting with pressure changes and the effect is like taking a piece of sheet metal and kinking it back and forth. Sooner or later it splits.
I'm not saying a split can is always the result of running a creased filter. What I'm saying is that your risk for such an occurrence goes up greatly. If the can came that way out of the box, return or exchange it (and realize you should have checked it before you brought it home). If you made the dent yourself accidentally or for whatever reason you can exchange it, roll the dice and accept the consequences.
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dnewton3
Staff member
I would tend to not use this particular example.
There is a difference between a dent and a crease.
A crease such as this can induce very high localized stress fractures, as Jim has stated. However, a soft dent (think of a nice round profile such as the head of a ball-peen hammer) may show little stress.
A sharp crease such as this, is a risk. It is NOT an assurance of failure, but it exhibits conditions that might lead to ultimate, sudden fatigue failure. A sharp crease can induce local tension so high that cyclic pressure spikes will ultimately cause failure at some unpredictable point. It might last 2k miles, 4k miles, or 10k miles. Too hard to know for sure.
Whereas a soft, rounded profile dent would be nothing to worry about. A soft profile dent is little different than those of the normal forming process and probably of little risk whatsoever. A sort-profile dent is of little risk because it does not induce localized stress points; it blends them with reasonable uniformity and can carry them reasonably well. While a dent might still be the point of failure, it's often at such a high pressure point that it's moot to normal application. You could gently dent a filter canister, and it might be the "weakest link" so to speak, but it's capability would still be way beyond the failure pressure of the rest of the system (notably the gasket).
In fact, think of this from a macro view, and not a micro view ... The entire filter can is "dented"! If you understand how a filter is made, the cans are just metal run through a drawing process. They are, in fact, all just a controlled dent! For those who have worked in metal stamping operations (we do much of it where I work now), I can tell you that metal forming is normal and safe, as long as it's done within the confines of design criteria. In short, the entire canister is "dented" from flat metal stock. It's done with specific design criteria in mind. A soft profiled dent is not a big risk because it mimics the normal forming process.
Also, one has to contend with the ROI; the risk versus reward here.
If I were in some remote village, and absolutely had to use a filter because the last one was violently knocked off bounding through a stream and this particular filter in the photo was the ONLY filter in 300 miles radius, then "yes" I'd use it.
But if this filter were sitting in my garage, when I'm within a Walmart, Napa, AAP or AZ location in ten minutes, then there is no way I'd use that filter in these photos, because it's too easy to go get one that does not have a compromised profile.
That is my opinion.
There is a difference between a dent and a crease.
A crease such as this can induce very high localized stress fractures, as Jim has stated. However, a soft dent (think of a nice round profile such as the head of a ball-peen hammer) may show little stress.
A sharp crease such as this, is a risk. It is NOT an assurance of failure, but it exhibits conditions that might lead to ultimate, sudden fatigue failure. A sharp crease can induce local tension so high that cyclic pressure spikes will ultimately cause failure at some unpredictable point. It might last 2k miles, 4k miles, or 10k miles. Too hard to know for sure.
Whereas a soft, rounded profile dent would be nothing to worry about. A soft profile dent is little different than those of the normal forming process and probably of little risk whatsoever. A sort-profile dent is of little risk because it does not induce localized stress points; it blends them with reasonable uniformity and can carry them reasonably well. While a dent might still be the point of failure, it's often at such a high pressure point that it's moot to normal application. You could gently dent a filter canister, and it might be the "weakest link" so to speak, but it's capability would still be way beyond the failure pressure of the rest of the system (notably the gasket).
In fact, think of this from a macro view, and not a micro view ... The entire filter can is "dented"! If you understand how a filter is made, the cans are just metal run through a drawing process. They are, in fact, all just a controlled dent! For those who have worked in metal stamping operations (we do much of it where I work now), I can tell you that metal forming is normal and safe, as long as it's done within the confines of design criteria. In short, the entire canister is "dented" from flat metal stock. It's done with specific design criteria in mind. A soft profiled dent is not a big risk because it mimics the normal forming process.
Also, one has to contend with the ROI; the risk versus reward here.
If I were in some remote village, and absolutely had to use a filter because the last one was violently knocked off bounding through a stream and this particular filter in the photo was the ONLY filter in 300 miles radius, then "yes" I'd use it.
But if this filter were sitting in my garage, when I'm within a Walmart, Napa, AAP or AZ location in ten minutes, then there is no way I'd use that filter in these photos, because it's too easy to go get one that does not have a compromised profile.
That is my opinion.
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Originally Posted By: dnewton3
Also, one has to contend with the ROI; the risk versus reward here.
Agreed. If it were my old F-150 before the rebuild and I couldn't get an exchange on it (i.e. store refused, I was miles away from the store), I'd probably chance it, at least on a short OCI. Now, if it were from the parts store, even across town, I'd probably at least try to get it exchanged.
It's probably harmless. The magnitude of that "probably" is up for one to judge, of course.
Also, one has to contend with the ROI; the risk versus reward here.
Agreed. If it were my old F-150 before the rebuild and I couldn't get an exchange on it (i.e. store refused, I was miles away from the store), I'd probably chance it, at least on a short OCI. Now, if it were from the parts store, even across town, I'd probably at least try to get it exchanged.
It's probably harmless. The magnitude of that "probably" is up for one to judge, of course.
Add me to the "don't use" list.
While the risk of failure may be low, for such an inexpensive yet highly important piece why gamble?
While the risk of failure may be low, for such an inexpensive yet highly important piece why gamble?
I'll go with "no".
No.
Give it to BlueOvalFitter so he can use it for multiple OCI's.
WiskyBadger
Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Give it to BlueOvalFitter so he can use it for multiple OCI's.
Give it to BlueOvalFitter so he can use it for multiple OCI's.
I hope Jakegday doesn't mind me posting this here.. I was disappointed to find a small dent on one of my new Subaru filters when I went to change my oil today. My dent is much smaller than the one he posted, but I'm wondering what could cause these kinds of dents? I don't think the dent on Jakes filter or on my filter were the result of being dropped.
Picture
http://home.comcast.net/~apexigsx/subaru/subarufilterdent.jpg
I recently got a new digital camera so I also decided to make a little video to test out the movie mode. The filter on the right side is just another new subaru filter without any dents.
http://youtu.be/2T7_7_XeDTY
Picture
http://home.comcast.net/~apexigsx/subaru/subarufilterdent.jpg
I recently got a new digital camera so I also decided to make a little video to test out the movie mode. The filter on the right side is just another new subaru filter without any dents.
http://youtu.be/2T7_7_XeDTY
i have no idea what could cause this, but whatever it was, it happened before the filter was painted. (at least on mine) I did end up cutting it open, and everything appeared fine. Because WIX uses a coil spring, i believe this filter would have performed as its supposed to. but i didnt chance it..
Originally Posted By: ChevyBadger
Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Give it to BlueOvalFitter so he can use it for multiple OCI's.
Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Give it to BlueOvalFitter so he can use it for multiple OCI's.
Not a chance...
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