2 x E-Core (shocker) , 20k+ Fram, P Classic - Pics

[daman]

Originally Posted By: labman
In some minds. Others wonder why so many Ecores hold up fine and that one didn't.

Well the thing to point out is the risk is highly there that this failure could happen,maybe not with every filter but the risk is always going to be there.

 

[mechanicx]

In my thinking an oil filter should never ever under any circumstance blow a chunk of media out and enter the engine. And if the filter had a metal center tube it never would.
This piece of filter media could conceivably get lodge in an oil gallery and starve engine parts of oil.

Also when I read that thread of the boken ecore that destroyed an engine and Champion blew the owner off, it turned me off to ecores. So that's another problem with the plastic center cage, it can break instead of bending like a steel tube. And Champion won't make good on the damaged engine.

 

[mechanicx]

I think oil filters and air filters have importance, especially air filters. I think in parts of the south and southwest they become even more important. I've seen some tests that showed finer air and oil filtration reduces wear and prolonged service life.

What I don't know is how important is the difference between a regular Purolators 97.5% efficiency vs P1 99.9%. I think as long as you stick with a filter with metal constucted end caps and center tube, an oil filter causes no problems and reduces engine wear.

 

[labman]

Do you mean the engine where the idiot blocked off the bypass? Champ didn't owe him the time of day.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
In my thinking an oil filter should never ever under any circumstance blow a chunk of media out and enter the engine. And if the filter had a metal center tube it never would.
This piece of filter media could conceivably get lodge in an oil gallery and starve engine parts of oil.

BINGO!!!!

 

[mechanicx]

The filter still should not break internally like that and block the oil outlet if the filter bypass is not working. Champ claimed the filter saw a higher than 70 psi pressure differential. How would that be possible.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
The filter still should not break internally like that and block the oil outlet if the filter bypass is not working. Champ claimed the filter saw a higher than 70 psi pressure differential. How would that be possible.

Impossible,,unless the BP faild.

 

[AuthorEditor]

This article on oil filters with collapsed center tubes might be pertinent to the blown ecore. If a filter with a standard metal center tube can experience collapse, it is not at all inconceivable that paper media can burst on an ecore with such big openings in the center cage. Collapsed center tubes

 

[tenderloin]

I sent the pics and this link to Champion.

 

[OilNerd]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
The filter still should not break internally like that and block the oil outlet if the filter bypass is not working. Champ claimed the filter saw a higher than 70 psi pressure differential. How would that be possible.


Champ can't escape guilt here. The combo valve should have bypassed long before 70 psid.

The fact that the OP had two PF53 filters with signs of over-pressure doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies about the Ecore bypass design.

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: labman
In some minds. Others wonder why so many Ecores hold up fine and that one didn't. It doesn't add up. To ignore a coolant leak or excessive condensation and blame it on the Ecore would be a mistake. I would be getting a sample off to Blackstone.


Oil was dumped into a washer fluid container, after being dumped into the catch can. It's contaminated. Keep in mind this car is meticulously maintained, with 3.2k mile oil changes. Oil on the dipstick always look clean, no varnish, no sludge in the fill hole, no loss of coolant. I will however send a sample off the next oci, more because I'm worried about where that media has stuck itself.

My perspective is no coolant/water contamination can cause the filter media to be constructed at the factory with large uneven spaces, resulting in a 'weak' point in the structural integrity of the media. Of course oil pressure is going to find the point of least resistance. That happens to be the one point in the filter where the the media is flat and susceptible to tearing.

If Champlabs wants to solve this issue, do one of two (or both) things:

1. Make sure a filter never comes off their assembly line without perfectly tight and even pleats.

2. Add a screen backing to the ecore center tube, or to the entire filter media itself like the Amsoil EaO.

Either one of those scenarios, preferably both, will prevent this issue from happening again.

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: OilNerd
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
The filter still should not break internally like that and block the oil outlet if the filter bypass is not working. Champ claimed the filter saw a higher than 70 psi pressure differential. How would that be possible.


Champ can't escape guilt here. The combo valve should have bypassed long before 70 psid.

The fact that the OP had two PF53 filters with signs of over-pressure doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies about the Ecore bypass design.


Agreed. The bypass should have kicked in before enough pressure was experienced to blow the media out.

I've asked my dad to swing by tomorrow so I can take the ecore off that we put on 500 miles ago and put on a newly purchased wix. I'll post pics of that ecore to see how it held up for 500 miles.

I'll also be cutting open one of the wix I purchased today. What impressed me the most before buying it was the Napa store had 3 flavors of oil filters on display already cut open for customers to see for themselves! They look very well constructed, with metal center tube and small holes. A prerequisite for all future filter purchases.

 

[labman]

Of course, River Rat reported several Wix filters with leaks right out of the box.

 

[webfors]

There's always the possibility of something being wrong with any filter. I'll take a leaky gasket over blown media every day, and twice on Sundays

 

[bigmike]

webfors,

Were or are you able to pour the used oil through a screen to see if the media came out during the oil change?

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: tenderloin
I sent the pics and this link to Champion.

Pfft!!..they'll just Deny it and blame it on operator error and vehicle maintenance problems.

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
webfors,

Were or are you able to pour the used oil through a screen to see if the media came out during the oil change?


I have 6 jugs of used oil. I suppose I could go through all of them, since I'm not 100% sure which one was from the OC that had that particular filter. Probably a good idea. I'll keep you posted.

It is a good lesson though. From now on I'll be marking all filters that come off and the used oil jugs with the date/mileage so I can easily cross reference if needed. It's not something you think about until you well.. think about it.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: webfors
It is a good lesson though. From now on I'll be marking all filters that come off and the used oil jugs with the date/mileage so I can easily cross reference if needed. It's not something you think about until you well.. think about it.

Run a real filter web and this worry should be eliminated,you got better things to do no?

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: daman
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
The filter still should not break internally like that and block the oil outlet if the filter bypass is not working. Champ claimed the filter saw a higher than 70 psi pressure differential. How would that be possible.

Impossible,,unless the BP faild.



Totally possible ..and a very serious risk that many (would be) Chevy race boys take with every start up. Many (again, would be) race boyz plug their in block filter bypass valve. Hence, the limit for PSID is the relief limit on the oil pump. If you rev it, like the bowtie guy's son did ..and out pace the relief port with gross pump output, you'll exceed it.

I've never found out where this practice originated. It's just way too (kindly worded) unwise. For the casual street rodder, who may not be using a racing filter sieve, he could (at best-worst) be driving around totally ignorant that he's got a hole in the media ..or (at worst:worst) collapse the metal center tube and destroy the engine.

Even if you use the sieve racing filters, what's the point? If you're blowing chunks ..you've got issues. Heck, leave the thing in and still run the sieve.

 

[daman]

Gary,thats what the by pass if for,thats why i said unless the BP fail, were talking PC.

but yea i hear ya...