46 Years On An Oil Filter

RalphG

RalphG

Well-known member
Or maybe 47 years. The old Varcon oil filter looked shiny and new even though I am sure it been in the filter canister since 1969. Varcon probably never showed up South of the border but it was a well known brand sold by Macleods hardware stores here in Canada. Got some video of the oil change I did last week just for laughs.
https://youtu.be/ZURo4WGuCnM
 
51 MERC-CT said:
When I used to change my filter, the choice for sucking out the oil in the bottom, was a turkey baster.
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I bet that would work well too. Just need to make sure it never gets used as a turkey baster again. That old motor oil is probably as toxic as it smells.
The old suction gun I used in the video is likely older than me and the Mercury but it works.
 
Forgot to add: Since this is a bypass filter, maybe the orifice in the inlet hose is plugged so no dirty oil even reached the filter in 46 years!
 
Don't tell my wife where her last turkey baster went, besides I've used it more times than her. Works great for filling the carb bowel on autolite carbs at springtime fire up.
 
40 Deluxe said:
Varcon was sold by Gambles stores, if I remember correctly. Or old-timer's is messing with my mind!
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I worked for Gambles in their home office in Minneapolis from '65 to '67. I think you're right about them selling "Varcon".
 
tubman said:
I worked for Gambles in their home office in Minneapolis from '65 to '67. I think you're right about them selling "Varcon".
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My guess is that Gambles was the U.S. version of the Macleods stores here in Canada. They sold quite a line of automotive repairs. You could even buy short block rebuilt engines including Ford flatheads I've got the catalogues.
And I think the oil was circulating through the filter , at least at some point. I found mud in the bottom of the housing and some dirt on top of the filter. You can see it in the video. I gave the canister a good flushing with gas so at least it is starting the new year out clean.
 
The inlet of my filter feed was plugged with a nail on the input line by the previous owner. No idea why. Of course the lines were plugged solid as was the bottom of the filter canister after years of stagnant oil sitting in them.

Kirk
 
Just out of curiosity I should try running the engine with the cap off the filter canister to see how much flow is happening there. For all I know the lines could be plugged. I just assumed the oil is flowing.
 
RalphG said:
Just out of curiosity I should try running the engine with the cap off the filter canister to see how much flow is happening there. For all I know the lines could be plugged. I just assumed the oil is flowing.
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You may or may not see fluid but the only way you would actually see flow is if you removed the filter.
 
Here are some pictures of the roofing nail that was used to plug off the inlet to my filter.
Gotta give the PO credit, it fit the line nicely and did a fine job of blocking it off.

Lol

Kirk
 

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RalphG said:
Just to refresh my memory, I'm guessing the line on the side of the filter is the in line?
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With the filter element removed you should be able to see oil flow coming out of the fitting on the side of the filter.
At the same level as the side fitting there are two drain holes in the center
tube. These are what drains the oil back to the engine on the side of the block.
 
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