DeTomaso Mailing List: July 97, Message #197
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There is still one inherant flaw with the reasoning behind a bypass filter, like what Amsoil offers. It actually may NOT filter 100% of the oil. Follow me on this now. Amsoil's claim that "It will filter all the oil in a six quart system in about 5 minutes at an engine speed equivalent to 45mph." is just plain hype. The filter will "process" 6 qt's in that time, but will not necessarily process 100% of the oil in the system even if you only have 5 quarts. Why is that? Think about it a second. This is a bypass oil system, that means exactly what it says, it's filtering oil bypassed to it. Do this little experiment: Take a quart of water and fill it with coffee grounds, this is your oil pan. Pour about a half pint out through a filter into an appropriate container, this is the bypass filter. Observe the quart container still has some grounds in it and the filtered water has none. This is the bypass operation. Now pour the filtered water back into the quart, this is the return line of the bypass filter. Now take the quart and repeat the half-pint filter process. Do this 4 times, thus simulating "filtering" the whole quart of water (2 pints to the quart right?) , heck, even do it 8 times. Now, observe, are there still coffee grounds in the water in the quart jar? Probably, because you always returned the filtered 'oil' back to the system where it was allowed to mix with all the other 'dirty oil', and then you tapped off a sample to filter again. Now this example isn't necessily accurate, since a majority of the oil in a system is really circulating at one time and we are simulating all the oil in the pan at once. A bypass filter system is the same way. It will process oil, but may not get all the particles out. Bypass filtration systems are very good, because they DO process a portion of your oil and remove much smaller particles. Look at the filter you used in the experiment, it DID remove a lot of grounds right? Just not all of them. The theory here is actually pretty simple, the more damaging particles you remove from the oil, the longer it will last, and the less damage it can do. Snake oil? No, a placebo? No. It really does work, just don't be led to believe it's a cure-all for getting ALL the dirty stuff out of your oil, the ONLY way to do that is to CHANGE your oil. Change early, change often, and don't foget the filter. I used to sell Amsoil, and I still use it in a lot of my vehicles. I'm getting away from it now since there are so many other synthetics readily available now. Typically, I would change my filter about every 3K miles, and change the oil around 12K. With the synthetics it pretty much seemed to work. However, I just lost all the oil pressure in my Mach I and I don't know why, I'm anxious to tear into it and see what failed, this will really tell me which way I'm going to go in the future for oiling systems. Anyway, there's my 2 cents. Just be aware of the facts. Asa Jay At 22:09 07/10/97 -0700, Dennis Antenucci wrote: >Jimmy, > >Ya tryin da starta war again my brother? :-] > >This is a tough one. this is like the last conventional dino oil versus >the good synthetic stuff debate we had. Okay, always willing to take a >stand I'll say it sounds as if it has some hypothetical merit and >somebody within our select group outta take a shot at it an test bed the >practical use of this product's claims! Hey, I'm keepin' a open mind here >folks. Which is more then I can say for most of you Pantera geeks! :-] > >Sooo, Jimmy why don't you try it, "Mr. I don't want to share the story >about the Pocono's because Mike Drew said he'd kick my ass if I didn't >sign my soul away and give him soul exclusive rights to the entire story? >Huh? Come on East Coast Boy? Can you talk the talk and walk the walk? >Buy the unit, test your belief in this unit? >If you do I'll send you $1.00 USD. Sorta a rebate (ain't dat' legal >Shane?) if you decide to buy it and test it! Now if everyone in our group >gives Jimmy a dollar he can pay for the test. >Whatta ya think? > >Seriously, I hate to agree with Chief DeRyke or my older brother on >anything but. . . > >Check the filter and change the oil. > >Mad Dog >Radical is Best (most of the time) > >Jim Firanzi wrote: >> >> Mad Dog, >> >> I found some propaganda on the 'net about bypass oil filters... not filters >> with a bypass, but systems that channel a small percentage of the engine >> oil through a smaller guage filter... >> >> Any comments? Snake oil, or panacea? >> >> Jim >> >> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >> >> The Ultimate Oil Filter >> >> by Mark DeSantis >> >> Automotive experts agree that dirt is the number one cause of engine wear. >> At first glance, it does not seem possible. Engine dirt particles are so >> small - mere dust specks - and an engine is a highly sophisticated piece of >> machinery, crafted from the most durable metal alloys. How can these minute >> particles bring down such a high-tech giant? The answer lies in the fact >> that >> dirt particles are extremely abrasive. They consist of razor-like flakes of >> road dust and airborne grit drawn into the engine through the air intake, >> as well as manufacturing scarf and wear metal particles generated inside >> the engine. These particles are carried by the oil into the precision >> clearances between bearings and other moving parts. Once they work in >> between these >> parts, they grind and gouge surfaces, altering clearances, and generating >> more abrasive debris. As this wear cycle continues, precision components >> become progressively sloppy and fatigued, until they fail altogether. In >> addition to physically assaulting engine components, dirt and other >> contaminants work to degrade the oil that provides vital engine >> lubrication. Sooty carbon particles generated during combustion can be >> forced past piston rings and into the oil. These particles by their very >> nature act like tiny sponges, absorbing critical additives, thus shortening >> oil life. Soot also wreaks havoc with viscosity by causing oil to thicken. >> And in the presence of moisture, common by-products of combustion will >> react chemically to produce corrosive and rust-producing acids. Because the >> typical spin on full-flow oil filter is designed directly in the line of >> oil circulation, it must filter >> oil quickly in order to keep from starving the engine of oil. This means >> that only the larger particles of dirt can be filtered out of the oil since >> finer, slower filtration would cause a "bottleneck" in circulation at the >> filter. In cold weather, unfiltered oil is shunted pass the relief valve to >> keep up with engine demand. >> >> Unfortunately, the smallest particles of dirt between 5 to 20- micron in >> size are also some of the most damaging inside an engine. Experiments show >> that over 60% of all engine wear is caused by particles too small to be >> filtered by commonplace oil filters. Standard spin on oil filters remove >> particles around 20 microns. A-C type filters are 17% efficient at 15 >> micron particle >> size. This means that particles below 20 microns still remain in >> circulation. These particles are small enough to enter the spaces between >> bearings, rings, etc., but are too large to "float" harmlessly between the >> metal surfaces in the film of oil. Instead, like a sharp pebble inside a >> shoe, the particles gouge and dig into the surfaces, leaving them slashed >> and battered. So what can be done? The answer is the simple addition of a >> spin on by-pass filter. Unlike a full-flow filter, a by-pass filter is >> situated outside the main line of oil circulation. The by-pass filter taps >> off the area where the main line is fitted with the oil pressure switch, >> bleeding off and cleaning only a portion of the oil at one time. This means >> the by-pass filter can retain the oil longer and do a thorough job of >> removing contaminants without the worry of obstructing oil circulation. >> Certain by-pass filters, such as those >> from AMSOIL Inc., can remove particles smaller than " 1 micron" and will >> even remove destructive water from the oil, helping to prevent rust and >> corrosion inside your engine. It will filter all the oil in a six quart >> system in about 5 minutes at an engine speed equivalent to 45mph. >> >> By cleaning the oil so completely, by-pass oil filters increase not only >> engine life, but also the life of the oil itself. With by-pass oil >> filtration, the service life of the oil can be extended well beyond >> "normal" depending upon the quality of oil and the conditions and severity >> of use. When using a synthetic motor oil, 25,000 mile drain intervals are >> common place. I know this will alarm most of you but remember that the >> additive package in the oil is not depleted as fast, keeping the >> anti-oxidative and >> anti-wear additives intact. The 100% synthetic oil in my 375hp SS-396 is >> well over 2 years old, and well above 25,000 miles. Sounds a little crazy, >> but I guarantee you my oil is cleaner than someone who just changed their >> petroleum oil yesterday. >> >> The AMSOIL spin-on by pass filter taps into the oil pressure sending unit >> by a T-fitting and oil is then returned to a valve cover or the oil pan. >> The oil circulates to a larger than standard size filter can loaded with a >> non paper type of filtration material. The by-pass filter also adds an >> extra quart of oil to the present capacity. While using by-pass oil >> filters, the best way to >> determine the serviceability of your motor oil is by having the oil >> analyzed. An oil analysis allows you to monitor the condition of your motor >> oil, determine its protective capabilities, and decide from this >> information whether an oil change is necessary. Most companies that offer >> oil analysis keep records of the metals used in manufacturing the engine >> block, pistons, valves and camshaft etc. By examining a spectrum of the >> metals in your oil, an oil analysis will tell you what parts are wearing >> away first. >> This technique is quite popular in the heavy trucking industries. >> >> >> >> Title: Don't Bypass... Bypass Filters >> >> Author: Gelinas, Tom >> >> Journal: Fleet Equipment Vol: 14 Iss: 7 Date: Jul 1988 pp. 39-41 >> >> Abstract: >> >> According to some estimates, 60% of the potential causes of engine wear and >> failure can be eliminated by a well-designed and properly applied >> filtration system. Cummins Engine Co. recommends that both a bypass filter >> and a full-flow filter be used. A bypass filter shunts 10% of the total oil >> pump output through a filter and then back to the sump, bypassing the >> engine. Because >> this filter has high-pressure differential and low flow rate, it can filter >> out fine particles in the 5-micron range. In contrast, a full-flow filter >> has a low-pressure differential and filters out only large particles in the >> 40 micron to 60 micron range. However, the full-flow filter is located so >> that all of the oil must flow through it before reaching the bearings. The >> combination of these 2 filter types gives double protection against wear. >> Studies at the Cummins Technical Center indicate that wear can be >> reduced up to 91% by using a bypass filter in combination with a full-flow >> filter. > > ==============================================================================