Reusable oil filter

[Snowflake]

You are correct if in fact you pull perpendicular to the wrench. My observation is that people often don't. They tend to pull perpendicular to the 'line of action'. See post #286. Its a minor point either way.

Yep. With the 24" wrench and 3" offset of the example above, it's in the 1% range as you mentioned, which has to be within the tolerance range of torque for the fastener... So whether people pull perfectly straight or not, doesn't really matter. What casual users get wrong is that they hear someone who has done the math say "you can use a torque wrench with a crow's foot" and assume that means it can be inline with the torque wrench. *That* could cause a serious error.

Great discussion on the topic though, I had to go to my whiteboard and draw it out too, just to make sure I had the free body diagram right.

 

[Snowflake]

I'm not an expert in the field by any measure. Having said that, let me give you an example: when I installed the Tempest I got more or less a full 360 turn from initial contact of the seal with engine block till the filter was properly torqued. Not sure if Champion is any different in that aspect?
Why did Tempest and Champion design their filters with a big, fat, sticking out seal and not a fancy tiny quad ring?

Maybe cost? I expect the X-rings are more expensive (but I admit I haven't checked). Also, I would expect the x-rings require more precision in the mating shapes. That's easier to ensure with a one-piece machined aluminum block than with stamped and crimped together pieces of sheet steel.

 

[DanH]

Gentlemen, with all due respect, in this case an oil ring debate is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Filter Test Results

The results are in. Previous organizational thread here: https://vansairforce.net/threads/oil-filter-testing.223689/ Please support and thank our many individual donors, and our two vendor sponsors, Barrett Precision Engines and CamGuard. There are many interesting details, and research...

vansairforce.net

 

[Dan 57]

Gentlemen, with all due respect, in this case an oil ring debate is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Filter Test Results

The results are in. Previous organizational thread here: https://vansairforce.net/threads/oil-filter-testing.223689/ Please support and thank our many individual donors, and our two vendor sponsors, Barrett Precision Engines and CamGuard. There are many interesting details, and research...

vansairforce.net

Not really DanH... the results of the tests are not really surprising. Just one look at the S15 element suffices.

I also reported my experiences with that filter element here, and underlined the fact that no trace, as minute as they were, of metal was ever found since using the reusable. And this in opposition to when I was still using standard paper filters, when I always found minuscule amount of metal. Proof is in the pudding

Now speaking cost... I fly around 365 hours a year, and that equals to 7 filter changes. Yes, a year... for those flying some meagerly hours in that same year, the paper filters may well cost $100 a piece and it wouldn't matter much

And as a last remark, Lycosauruses have only been equipped with proper filters for a few dozen years. Remember the screen? My bet is that they were more permeable than the reusable filters we are talking about.

 

[YellowJacket RV9]

So, ummm, anybody want to buy an S-15?

 

[DanH]

I also reported my experiences with that filter element here, and underlined the fact that no trace, as minute as they were, of metal was ever found since using the reusable. And this in opposition to when I was still using standard paper filters, when I always found minuscule amount of metal. Proof is in the pudding

I'm a little slow sometimes. What does it prove?

 

[YellowJacket RV9]

Not really DanH... the results of the tests are not really surprising. Just one look at the S15 element suffices.

I also reported my experiences with that filter element here, and underlined the fact that no trace, as minute as they were, of metal was ever found since using the reusable. And this in opposition to when I was still using standard paper filters, when I always found minuscule amount of metal. Proof is in the pudding

Now speaking cost... I fly around 365 hours a year, and that equals to 7 filter changes. Yes, a year... for those flying some meagerly hours in that same year, the paper filters may well cost $100 a piece and it wouldn't matter much

And as a last remark, Lycosauruses have only been equipped with proper filters for a few dozen years. Remember the screen? My bet is that they were more permeable than the reusable filters we are talking about.

I'm left wondering the implications for those of us who are limited in flying time currently but still religiously change their oil every 4 months. Do I really need a new $50 filter every 4 months even though I've only put maybe 10 hours on it? Debating changing filter every other change, if I ditch the S15.

 

[Dan 57]

What does it prove?

It "proves" that simple visual observations were now corroborated by lab testing...

 

[DanH]

I'm left wondering the implications for those of us who are limited in flying time currently but still religiously change their oil every 4 months. Do I really need a new $50 filter every 4 months even though I've only put maybe 10 hours on it? Debating changing filter every other change, if I ditch the S15.

Good question. The capacity values from a 4548-12 test offers good clues. Go back and look at the posted numbers. The Tempest and Champion filters required 17.9 and 25.6 grams of test dust to push them to 10 psi deltaP. That's a lot of dirt.

Unposted detail...in fact, the Tempest would hold 14.39 grams before the deltaP rose 1 psi. The Champion held 21.82 grams at 1 psi.

Point is, a key feature of depth media filtration is the ability to hold a lot of garbage before going to bypass. The idea is not so much the ability to extend filter changes, but rather, the ability to remain in the air while the engine reduces itself to ground up metal bits.

If i were running one of these only 10 hours between oil changes, I would not change the filter.

Actually had a discussion with the lab folks regarding a test to determine how long we could run a decent filter. For an engine in good condition, it's more than 50 hours; consider how many hours you run a filter on your car. However, in the end we decided it was moot. Very expensive test, no good way to account for variations between engines, and there is too much value in cutting a filter for content inspection every 50 hours.

 

[DanH]

It "proves" that simple visual observations were now corroborated by lab testing...

The screen filters don't catch any significant quantiity in the required range as defined by ARP1400, specifically more than 90% of 40µm particles and more than 75% of the 25µm particles.

 

[aturner]

Perhaps a moot point, I know. 90 hours, second oil change.

 

[moosepileit]

Perhaps a moot point, I know. 90 hours, second oil change.

View attachment 62662

Context check, please. Do I see trouble with the X/O ring at 9 o'clock on the left side?

 

[bjdecker]

It looks like that X-seal is getting snagged on something…

 

[riseric]

So... FWIW,
Like many, following the Champion/Tempest filter shortage and important price hike, I too considered the reusable filters.
Seemed a good deal down the road and eliminated the "hostage" feeling of depending on supply woes and price gouging.
Yes, they seem to be a bit better than the original oil pressure screens, and could do OK if one chose to change oil every 25 hours.
After the filter test results, thanks Dan and all, I decided to revert back to traditional filters.

I flew about 90 minutes with the FLO PSC4.
Still, with some having issues with the seal, I wasn't at ease.

I did oil the seal (inside and out) and torqued properly, as per manufacturer.
Upon dissasembly, the first observation is that the seal stayed on the filter adaptor, I would say no issue.
Some carbon deposits (no metal) were caught by the mesh and some ferrous powder found on the magnet.
+1 for the magnet but no real advantage if the traditional filter is cut up and inspected correctly.

But the seal already showed some distortion/expantion as seen here.
No leaks were found at the base though.
I can only guess that it would stay that way as long as the filter stays in place.
For me, that seal is not OK to re-install.
The seal material/composition seems inappropriate.
Some might be better, depending on the supplier.

I understand people installing them on motorcycles when they are visibly apparent, they are sexy looking.
It's not going back on the Lyco...
YMMV

 

[aturner]

Context check, please. Do I see trouble with the X/O ring at 9 o'clock on the left side?

Yes. Little or no leakage apparent. Discovered this during my removal to replace with Champion.

 

[Dan 57]

I decided to revert back to traditional filters

same here, though my engine will still run on the S15 on the 30 hrs or so remaining to the next oil change.

I received a box with enough Tempest filters to keep me going for a while, and will keep my reusables for when the next crisis takes hold...