Does Filter Actually Do Anything After Initial Use

[Hazmat]

I work with a Maintenance Technician that claims he was involved with a hydraulic test done by Ingersol Rand showing that oil filters lose their ability to filter almost immediately after they are put into service and begin to bypass.

Has anyone heard of such a thing?

This would mean that the oil filter goes almost directly into bypass mode and really does not do anything.

I am a Mechanical Engineer with a Fluids background and have never heard of such a thing, but I have never been directly involved in any testing specifically for this phenomenon either.

If this is true, it does not matter what the brand or design of the filter is.

I would appreciate any input.

Thanks!

 

[Steve S]

Depends upon how "dirty" the fluid is when the filter is installed.

 

[jldcol]

The real expert will come here soon and correct all my stupidity but until then, I imagine a fluid with a total load in it that is the filters carry capacity beyond which either flow rate is to low or there is to much bypass. I am more familiar with air filters, they do seem to go from clean to dirty rapidly and then slowly fill up till removed. Perhaps a new filter has some electrostatic attraction that is slowly or quickly removed and this help the initial loading. The load is important and so is the match between filter and the filtrate if stuff to filter is to small for filter to catch will take a long time to load filter and visa versa. Back to pain meds, thanks for a hopefully not hard read, as dumb as it was.

 

[John_K]

I would have to disagree. I had a bit of sludge in my Dakota, so I wasn't surprised when I checked the oil 200 miles after an oil change and it was already brown. Uh-oh.

200 miles later, it was less brown. In another 100 miles it was clear.

I hadn't added more than a few drops, so obviously the filter was catching something!

John

 

[BuickGN]

Not even close. Tests have been done here showing pressure differential from the inlet to outlet of a filter and it's nowhere near the bypass level even with cold, thicker oil.

 

[SuperBusa]

Originally Posted By: Hazmat
I work with a Maintenance Technician that claims he was involved with a hydraulic test done by Ingersol Rand showing that oil filters lose their ability to filter almost immediately after they are put into service and begin to bypass.


Sure doesn't sound realistic to me ... unless of course like others have said, the initial flow was so dirty that it basically clogged the filter at first use. In and everyday application, that's highly unlikely unless the system was heavily contaminated between filter changes somehow.

I'd ask you buddy for more specifics of this particular test. Something doesn't add up IMO.

 

[labman]

I think we have seen enough pictures of filters pushed way beyond their time and packed full of crud. Yes, they filter. Do we need them?

 

[oilboy123]

Maybe if they run 60wt oil....