do you really need an oil filter

[jldcol]

Most contanimants are to small to be caught by filter, unless the oil is left is service to long and the particles start to stick together and size up. Eventually they will get big enough to catch in filter. I think its better to change out oil before the particles get large enough to get filtered. As the oil gets worn enough to no longer suspend these things they can/will stick to everything and each other and start sludging up the inards. Since in this scenario the filter is doing nothing (ie no filtering, not catching anything), by this definition the filter is doing nothing and thus not needed.

 

[deeter16317]

I own a 53 Dodge, it doesn't have a filter.

We cannot compare the lifespan of an engine in the 50s to that of a current production...the older engines were less precise, looser so to speak. They would be consider "worn out" when they were fresh by today's standards. They also lacked overdrive (which allows less RPM at cruising speeds), etc...not to mention the fact the modern day oils are so much better than those of yesteryear.

Can an engine be operated without an oil filter?? Short answer, yes. As told to me by a Dodge technician, the filter is merely a "customer convenience."

Will an engine without a filter have the same life span as one with a filter? Hard to say, too many variables to "test" from an computer keyboard.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: jldcol
Mr. Allan would you also care to comment on the idea that if oil is changed frequently enough and is of high enough quality to still suspend contaminants, that the filter will most of the time will really catch nothing, and since its essentially doing nothing, then not needed.




Well, let me say this and you form your own opinion.

Particles accumulate in numbers and distribution of size. The longer you run on a given sump, the more there are. If you're changing out the sump often enough, then you will see little benefit from finer filtration. $3 filters work just fine. You're resetting the counter often enough. If you're stretching it out ..and using the same sump and filter over longer duration, and need to attenuate that particle accumulation at some lower size level, then you can take advantage of finer filtration.

There's more to it from my view ..but I think that explains my position.

 

[hillclimber]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Yes, oil filter is needed but you may not needed to change oil filter every time you change oil...


This is what I've been thinking lately. I've got a large Mobil 1 filter on my VW and plan to reuse it at the next oil change. I don't even plan to empty it; I'll just use the PELA to suck all the old oil out of the sump and then dump the fresh oil in. I'll try to cut it open whenever I do change it to see how the media held up over 9,000 - 10,000 miles. My guess is it will be fine.

 

[John K]

I came across this article, which could be taken as a pretty strong endorsement of the effects of oil filters. It is from 2006 so has probably been cited before..
article

 

[John K]

Be sure to notice pages 2 & 3 where they talk about a GM study...