Bypass filter life thoughts and ideas

[loubell]

I currently run a bypass coolant filter on my Ford F250 Diesel.

The instructions from the filter manufacturer, and from the diesel community in general are to change the filter when the filter starts to get plugged. This is easy to check by feeling the filter to see if it is much cooler than the radiator hoses, or to check for flow, which is also easy because the bypass filter outlet is into the degass bottle, which is clear.

So if it is OK to run a bypass coolant filter out to its full service life, is it OK to do the same for an oil bypass filter? Amsoil, Franz, Motorgaurd, etc., all have a recommended change interval, some longer than others.

The big question that I have is, why not run these oil bypass filters until they at least partiallly plug up? Do they stop filtering as efficiently after XX amount of miles?

 

[deeter16317]

A filter becomes more efficient at removing particles as it plugs.

To be honest, I have never had a bypass become plugged in any of the intervals I use...up to 25k. I'm going to cut my b50 open when the time comes to see what, if anything, it caught.

 

[Kaboomba]

I know you can get little pressure gauges that will tell you the pressure drop across the filter to show when it gets plugged.

There is no harm in running with a plugged bypass filter as long as the system oil pressure stays within limits and you are not starving anything, except that now you are not actually filtering anything anymore. Most bypasses just rely on their resistence to oil flow to regulate how much flow they see, anyway.

 

[loubell]

These responses are just as I expected. Then why do manufacturers of these bypass systems suggest change intevals? Most of them (especially Frantz) make $0 off of a filter change due to the consumer using a different brand of filter.

 

[slalom44]

Originally Posted By: loubell
These responses are just as I expected. Then why do manufacturers of these bypass systems suggest change intevals?


They likely suggest change intervals for various reasons:

• Even when unplugged, they filter particles over a few microns in size - Added efficiency is overkill
• If you have any moisture accumulating (coolant leak, lots of short trips, PCV problems), changing the bypass filter will remove it and extend your oil's TBN
• Most consumers don't check stuff like that. If they forget and it plugs up, they lose any advantage of having a bypass system

I'm up to 35,000 mile OCIs with the Amsoil EaBP-90 and still have good flow.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: loubell
These responses are just as I expected. Then why do manufacturers of these bypass systems suggest change intevals? Most of them (especially Frantz) make $0 off of a filter change due to the consumer using a different brand of filter.


What would you suggest, leaving the consumer to figure it out on their own?

I am posing that as a real question.

 

[Elder]

I'm going to see if I can get my Ebp110's to clog. Just thought the same thing as you loubell

 

[loubell]

I guess the moisture thing is a good argument, especially in rigs that are used for short trips.

At this point, in light of the responses, I don't really see any advantage to changing a bypass coolant filter until it is partially plugged. The oil bypass on the other hand.....

 

[Gary Allan]

In the case of a coolant filter, run it until it's almost plugged. Now if you're using one with additives, I suppose you should be using test strips or having it tested, but on an F250, I doubt that you're running it out that far ..filtered or unfiltered.

On the oil .in a diesel, then you don't have to go by any interval if you're tracking your soot level via UOA. Should be easy enough to do

If the filter stays in place over two sumps, the you just test at the second OEM interval. There you know that the bypass went for 2 OEM OCI's.

 

[TiredTrucker]

FS2500 recommends changing their bypass filter at 10,000 miles. I regularly use one out to 30,000 miles, when I normally change all filters and oil. Still get .1 ppm on soot using it 3x the recommended interval.

I would bet that just about all the bypass filters could be used longer than the recommended interval. Some longer than others.