Originally Posted By: TallPaul
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Now if I could safely remove and drain the filter then reuse it I would.
Oh I think you are quite safe. Filter gaskets seem to be manufactured to overkill standards. The are pretty tough. Now if you can gently wedge open the antidrainback valve at one of the holes, a lot more used oil will come out. Need to do it hot to get most oil out. If one wanted to be anal, they could refill the filter with fresh oil, plug the hole, and shake it up good, then re-drain it, but I don't recommend going to that length.
I have pulled, drained, and re-installed filters before, so I guess that makes me a used gasket user. Last time I re-used a filter, I just drained the oil, then started the engine to hopefully push some of the oil out of the filter, then refilled. By the refill amound, I didn't get more than half the oil out of the filter. Still, leaving the used oil in the filter would represent about 800 miles of a 5000 mile OCI, so you're still getting cleaner oil than you have most of a normal OCI.
Hey, Idea. Don't they sell pool filter gaskets separately? I wonder if one could use a pool filter gasket for an oil filter. If it was the right size, it might work. Also pool filters should be able to take some heat as many people heat their pools.
I'd be happy just standing the filter so it could drain, for say an hour, then reinstall it. I just changed oil today on my van and had a good look at the gasket on the old filter. It was perfect with no indentations, I'm willing to bet the filter could have been used again. I tossed it, because it was on for 1 year and lots of stop and go this time around.
Frank D