[Cut Open] Microgreen 301-1

[kohnen]

Gents,

I recently replaced a Microgreen 301-1 filter, so I cut the old one open. This is the filter that has a built-in bypass filter, so I figured some of you might want to see how it works. This filter has about 10,000 miles on it in a 2007 Prius with about 170,000 miles on the clock. I've been running Mobil 1 5w-30 EP in the car. So:

This is the overview shot.



The anti-drainback valve appears to be a high quality silicone part. It was perfectly rubbery when it was removed.

This is the active part of the filter:



On the top, you see the bypass filter - it's a flat wafer, and it's on the top of the main filter. The main filter appears to be identical to a typical oil filter.

Here's another shot of the main filter:



(kindly ignore the drops of blood on the bottom of the filter - some parts are sharp.)

This is the bypass filter with the spring-loaded top out of the way:



Then, you can remove the bypass filtering element. It looks like this:



and it sits in this metal pan:




The flip side of this pan shows the outlet tube for the bypass filter:



which flows into the small hole in the top of the main filter:



The bigger hole in the center of the top of the main filter is just a standard bypass valve.

The main filter appears to be well made, with a metal center tube:





So, that's all there is to a Microgreen filter. It appears to be a well made traditional filter with a bypass filter added on to the top.

The only downside I can see with this filter is the connection between the bypass filter and the center of the main filter is not fluid-tight. A small amount of oil can sneak past the bypass filter outlet tube without being filtered. Do I think that makes a significant difference? Nope.

By watching for periodic sales, I've been able to buy these filters, after any tax, delivered to my door, for less than $8 each. At that price, I just use them as regular filters on my cars, changing them (and M1 5w-30 EP) every 10,000 miles.

I figure that filtering down to 2 microns or so helps minimize wear on my cars, and it can't hurt.

Love to know your thoughts!

 

[53' Stude]

Thank you sir for the C&P. Looks very well made also, and thank you again

 

[spasm3]

The Main element looks good for 10k does it appear to be a synthetic, or paper?

I bought a few of these to try for my next oci.

 

[kohnen]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
The Main element looks good for 10k does it appear to be a synthetic, or paper?

I haven't a clue how to tell. I still have all the parts - if you let me know how to tell, I can go check.

I checked Microgreen's website - they don't say whether either filter medium is synthetic or not.

 

[Dyusik]

Love the bypass rock catcher. I might have to give one of these a try. Thanks for the C&P.

 

[spasm3]

I sent them a message , asking about the media. We'll see what answer i get.

 

[robo339]

How thick is the bypass filter?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Interesting design. Only thing I wonder about is the seal between the tube coming off the bypass filter assy and the hole in the end cap where that tube fits into. I don't see any kind of seal there, so I'm assuming the tube must fit pretty darn tight inside that hole in order to make a seal (?).

 

[goodtimes]

New one cut awhile back to add to discussion. Made in Mexico.

 

[KCJeep]

Great cut and post, thanks!

 

[kohnen]

Originally Posted By: robo339
How thick is the bypass filter?

About 2mm, or roughly 1/12 of an inch.

 

[kohnen]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Interesting design. Only thing I wonder about is the seal between the tube coming off the bypass filter assy and the hole in the end cap where that tube fits into. I don't see any kind of seal there, so I'm assuming the tube must fit pretty darn tight inside that hole in order to make a seal (?).

It's a close fit, but not snug. The tube goes in and out freely. I'm sure some unfiltered oil gets by, but not a whole lot. I don't think it's a problem though.

 

[goodtimes]

When was your filter purchased? Mine was about last November. The bypass tube on mine is like riveted, no circlip, no leaking. The other difference is yours appears to have a longer neck for the adbv to sit on. On mine the neck is too short. When the adbv opens on mine, the element must move up on the coil spring, which breaks the seal at the baseplate/adbv joint. I actually tried to move the adbv with a small screwdriver and what I say is correct. The filter is a nice design, since oil can be filtered slowly to fine micron levels, while still giving the rough full flow filtering. I would use them and pay full price even, sale price is better of course, if the problem on the model I show is corrected. It would be nice to see on yours how the adbv looks when the parts are pressed together, like they are when inside the canister.

 

[ZeeOSix]

The 'seal' I'm talking about is between the tube and the hole in the end cap, not the seal of the tube in the bypass filter's holder.

Originally Posted By: goodtimes
The other difference is yours appears to have a longer neck for the adbv to sit on. On mine the neck is too short. When the adbv opens on mine, the element must move up on the coil spring, which breaks the seal at the baseplate/adbv joint.


Yeah, that doesn't look like a good design if the ADBV is smashed flat like that when everything is held tight by the coil spring.

 

[Nate1979]

When Microgreen will post actual specs for their filter I will consider them. For now no thanks. Their marketing is very shady.

 

[kohnen]

Originally Posted By: goodtimes
When was your filter purchased? Mine was about last November. The bypass tube on mine is like riveted, no circlip, no leaking. The other difference is yours appears to have a longer neck for the adbv to sit on. On mine the neck is too short. When the adbv opens on mine, the element must move up on the coil spring, which breaks the seal at the baseplate/adbv joint. I actually tried to move the adbv with a small screwdriver and what I say is correct. The filter is a nice design, since oil can be filtered slowly to fine micron levels, while still giving the rough full flow filtering. I would use them and pay full price even, sale price is better of course, if the problem on the model I show is corrected. It would be nice to see on yours how the adbv looks when the parts are pressed together, like they are when inside the canister.
I'll take a look at what it would take to get a picture of the stack-up like yours. Stay tuned!

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
I sent them a message , asking about the media. We'll see what answer i get.


Got this answer today;

Thank you for your inquiry.

Our spin-on oil filters are made of high quality, pleated cellulose/synthetic blend media very similar to leading brands with equivalent efficiency ratings. Our cartridge oil filters are a full synthetic media.

Regards,

Customer Care
SOMS Technologies

 

[ZeeOSix]

Quote:
Our spin-on oil filters are made of high quality, pleated cellulose/synthetic blend media very similar to leading brands with equivalent efficiency ratings. Our cartridge oil filters are a full synthetic media.

Regards,

Customer Care
SOMS Technologies


In other words ... "99% Dirt Removal Power".

 

[kohnen]

I took things apart further, and this is what I found. If I reassemble the bottom plate, the anti-drainback valve, and the main filter, it looks like this:



I didn't have a big clamp like ZeeOSix did handy, so I used my fingers. But, I was pushing down pretty snugly, and things fit well into place.

The valve was kept shut by the flexibility in the silicone rubber piece itself. To show this, I inserted two quarters on one side - they easily moved the rubber without changing the distance between the mounting plate and the main filter:

It's clear to me that during operation, the orange rubber valve would be deflected down against the main filter as oil flowed into the filter via the holes in the baseplate.

So, at least for this filter (bought between 1 and 2 years ago by the way), the anti-drainback valve looks like it's perfectly functional, and does not need to move the main filter any in order to work.

 

[KCJeep]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I sent them a message , asking about the media. We'll see what answer i get.


Got this answer today;

Thank you for your inquiry.

Our spin-on oil filters are made of high quality, pleated cellulose/synthetic blend media very similar to leading brands with equivalent efficiency ratings. Our cartridge oil filters are a full synthetic media.

Regards,

Customer Care
SOMS Technologies


Ridiculous. Sounds like I can do as well or better with a TG and they know it.