Amsoil EaOM filter on tractor: Metal flake in oil?

[chucky2]

Bear with me at the start, I'll get to my concerns at the end:

Our Craftsman YTS4000 lawn tractor takes a Briggs & Stratton 696854 oil filter. Putting 696854 into the Wix online lookup yields a Wix part number 57035, a 3/4-16 threaded filter.

I then wrote Amsoil and requested a list of specs for all their Ea and EaOM (motorcycle) filters that had 3/4-16 threads. Then I matched up bypass, gasket thickness, OD and ID specs...and arrived at the Amsoil EaOM134 filter. It's definitely larger than the 696854, but otherwise according to Wix and Amsoil, it should be the same (except for the obvious upgrade that the Ea filters bring).

So I bought my first one of these 2 years ago, and then last year, decided to get 3 more (there is a catch: I can not positively remember I used a EaOM134 filter the first time, I had to redo my investigation into specs and believe I ordered the same thing again). Last year, when I installed the first of the 3 new EaOM134 filters, I noticed right away that the front mounted bypass valve that was clearly present on the first EaOM134 filter (which unfortunately had no labeling on it) was gone on the 3 new EaOM's. Figuring they moved it to the back, I forged ahead.

So I just changed last years oil and filter, and after draining the oil, noticed that there was definite metal flake in the remainder of the oil sliding down the pan (the pan was clean when I drained the oil, I completely wiped it out). So now finally my concerns:

1.) Am I doing damage to this engine running these filters on it? I'm at 100 hours at this point, and I did 2 short flushes when the tractor was new breaking in, and since then, it's had 2 changes now of Amsoil ASE, so I really doubt it's the oil not performing.

2.) If the Amsoil filter is truly having the oil pumped through it properly (which is another concern of mine), and the Amsoil filter is so efficient filtering, should not I see no flakes in the oil? My concern here is that despite the filter getting hot when running, which I would think indicate the filter is getting oil flow through it and thus filtering, it's not really filtering the oil.

I honestly do not know where to go at this point with this. Ditch the Amsoil filters, go back to Wix? Any help/opinions would be much appreciated!

Chuck

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: chucky2

... and the Amsoil filter is so efficient filtering, should not I see no flakes in the oil?


I've never seen any oil filter catch all of those small metal flakes, as every new vehicle I've done the first oil change on always has that super fine metallic look to it.

So I take it this engine has had a few oil changes and it's fully broken in a this point? If so, then seeing metal flake in the oil, like seen when an engine is still breaking in, doesn't sound normal. Have you seen metal flakes in the past oil changes?

 

[chucky2]

We got the tractor new. I believe I ran like 5 hours (or maybe even less) on the factory fill and filter, changed with Rotella 10w30 and probably that Wix filter or one a little longer but same specs, went through that gallon jug (so, 2 changes at 10 hours each), then went to Amsoil ASE on I think a Wix filter for a season, and then keeping the Amsoil ASE, to the first EaOM134 (that had the front mounted bypass).

So yeah, it's had some changes on it already.

I'm embarrassed to say, I don't remember checking the other Amsoil ASE runs to see how much metal flake was in there.

And to be clear, the metal flake wasn't noticeable on the thick oil film making it's way to the bottom of the black plastic oil pan that I had raised up, it was visible in the bottom where the oil was collecting. Not huge chunks, but, definite sparkle.

 

[demarpaint]

I'd say even with 100 hours on the engine it is still breaking in. I'd probably stick with a less expensive oil and filter combo for another 50 hours and change it two more times in that 50 hour time period. Then see how things look before switching back to the Amsoil combination, if you decided to continue using it.

 

[chucky2]

Thanks demarpaint, I think I might just do that. Also going to contact Amsoil about the the EaOM134. Another weird thing about these that the first EaOM134 didn't have is like the inside ring of metal of the filter canister by the gasket is unlike any I've seen before. Usually it is rolled and the gasket sits in a groove. In this case the case of the filter is not rolled, it's straight up. Maybe they didn't want anyone to tighten the filter too much?

Chuck

 

[steve20]

FWIW, I always gets metal flake from OPE--if you look hard enough, with either the sun or a flashlight, it'll be there.
Even get it in the Honda Accord

 

[chucky2]

But if the filter is truly doing what it is billed to be doing, how would anything as large as metal flake get by it? I changed the oil completely hot...there was about 30 seconds from shut down to drain.

 

[Cooper]

A lot of "debris" will drop into the oil pan. It will be filtered before it is circulated, but not all oil gets filtered that sits in the bottom of the pan because 100% of the oil doesn't get circulated, hence the metal flake.

A good example would be to open the top of your toilet at home and flush the toilet. The stuff stuck in the corners of the tank still sits there and doesn't circulate during the flush. I know this isn't the same, but a similar concept.

 

[chucky2]

That's interesting, I really would have thought there would not be that much flake just sitting around in the engine..

 

[ZeeOSix]

^^^ Yeah, something sounds "flaky".