Are standard oil filters better than synthetic mesh filters?

[Joenpb]

I found this youtube video interesting, and have never heard anything bad about wire backed synthetic oil filters. This video shows poor filtration by the synthetic filter after injecting iron particles into the oil and running it through an engine. An interesting test case imo. The engine with the synthetic filter actually loses power after about an hour run time. I will likely start using traditional oil filters in the future.

Which One Of These Oil Filters RUINED This Engine?

 

[kschachn]

I found this youtube video interesting, and have never heard anything bad about wire backed synthetic oil filters. This video shows poor filtration by the synthetic filter after injecting iron particles into the oil and running it through an engine. An interesting test case imo. The engine with the synthetic filter actually loses power after about an hour run time. I will likely start using traditional oil filters in the future.

Which One Of These Oil Filters RUINED This Engine?

I struggle to place that much importance on a YouTube video, but maybe that's just me.

 

[Joenpb]

I just find their testing interesting, I've never heard their conclusions before, and thought this topic would make for a good discussion here.

 

[BrendanC]

i wouldn’t put weight in it. while i don’t believe you will destroy your engine running a “traditional” oil filter, synthetic filter media has the potential to filter much finer material. look at a OG wire backed fram ultra/titanium, the endurance, donaldson blue media, and fleet guard stratropore etc.

 

[Urshurak776]

I struggle to place that much importance on a YouTube video, but maybe that's just me.

Agree.

 

[Glenda W.]

I struggle to place that much importance on a YouTube video, but maybe that's just me.

It’s not just you.

 

[blufeb95]

I'm pretty sure I watched that before, it's not a wire backed filter they were using, it's a washable wire screen filter that they're using.

 

[Joenpb]

After going through the videos comments I found this:

"By wire screen, we are only referring to filters with a wire mesh screen only. We are not referring to a synthetic media with a wire screen backing."

Unfortunately I didn't see that before.

 

[kschachn]

I'm pretty sure I watched that before, it's not a wire backed filter they were using, it's a washable wire screen filter that they're using.

Exactly. Who even buys those things and where do you get them?

 

[Brian123]

I just find their testing interesting, I've never heard their conclusions before, and thought this topic would make for a good discussion here.

Not here, you have been on this Forum for 13 years, I will go with what Zee0Six says versus a You-Tube Video.

 

[sohccammer427]

I'm pretty sure I watched that before, it's not a wire backed filter they were using, it's a washable wire screen filter that they're using.

Wow... I never knew such an animal existed. A washable mesh screen oil filter? I do remember those oil filtration kits that used a roll of toilet paper for the filtration media.

 

[RagnarokCamaro]

Exactly. Who even buys those things and where do you get them?

System 1 sells them for drag racing applications. They're definitely more suited for dry sump applications where an engine will actually need a "high flow" filter.

 

[kschachn]

System 1 sells them for drag racing applications. They're definitely more suited for dry sump applications where an engine will actually need a "high flow" filter.

I see, so that doesn’t really apply to street cars and the video isn’t very representative of a typical filter comparison.

 

[twX]

Exactly. Who even buys those things and where do you get them?

There's a company called K&P that sells them. A user here recently used one on his Subaru and got a particle count test done. Link

The particle count was about what you'd expect to see with a traditional filter that's 99% efficiency at 40-45 micron (ISO 23/21/14), though maybe a bit better for larger particles and a bit worse for smaller ones compared to a cellulose filter.

 

[JohnnyG]

Mahle felt filter material gets my vote, as well as the cartridge filter system that MB uses, on TOP of the engine.
When you install it, you can check it for imperfections, such as tears, etc. If you want to drain it during an oil change, just remove it, all oil drains back into the pan. If you want to check it for cleanliness, just remove it, nothing to spill, easy to reinstall.

 

[Kira]

I never knew such an animal existed. A washable mesh screen oil filter?

Older VW engines had that "screen ring" you could wash....so common, aftermarket cheapies were sold on pegboards at Bradley Stores.

I do remember those oil filtration kits that used a roll of toilet paper for the filtration media.

And I always thought those were just another scam product...available from J.C. Whitney.
I learned here, "bypass filtration" is what it's called. A small percentage of your pumped oil is routed through it.

 

[ZeeOSix]

FYI, the particle counts he's talking about are particles per mL of oil.

No surprise that dirtier oil caused more wear … why wouldn't it?

 

[zfasts03]

Deleted

 

[Jetronic]

I found this youtube video interesting, and have never heard anything bad about wire backed synthetic oil filters. This video shows poor filtration by the synthetic filter after injecting iron particles into the oil and running it through an engine. An interesting test case imo. The engine with the synthetic filter actually loses power after about an hour run time. I will likely start using traditional oil filters in the future.

Which One Of These Oil Filters RUINED This Engine?

It's not a synthetic media filter, it's a steel gauze filter: the reuseable/ washable type. Often found as "performance" oil filters

 

[Jetronic]

I'm pretty sure I watched that before, it's not a wire backed filter they were using, it's a washable wire screen filter that they're using.

yes, that!