Help me understand the relevance of wide pleats

[paulri]

Every so often I have seen pics and youtube videos of people showing their oil filter and wide pleats (for example: http://edelweiss.smugmug.com/Cars/2013-V...l%20-%202-M.jpg.

Now the point behind this is that the oil is flowing in between the pleats, and is not being filtered as it then passes back into the engine, correct? So if you have perfectly even pleats, all the oil will get filtered by one side or the other, but if there are large gaps, the oil isn't getting filtered?

 

[440Magnum]

No, the issues with wide pleats are:

1) it demonstrates an inconsistency in the assembly process, which begs the question of how good the total quality control is.

2) the oil flowing through the spot where a wide pleat exists creates a potential "tearing" force on the filter media that doesn't exist (or is much, much smaller) if the pleats are consistently spaced. That tearing force is presumed to be what causes a lot of the observed tears, which are almost always at abnormally wide pleats, in filters that are found to be torn when cut open.

 

[paulri]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
No, the issues with wide pleats are:

1) it demonstrates an inconsistency in the assembly process, which begs the question of how good the total quality control is.

2) the oil flowing through the spot where a wide pleat exists creates a potential "tearing" force on the filter media that doesn't exist (or is much, much smaller) if the pleats are consistently spaced. That tearing force is presumed to be what causes a lot of the observed tears, which are almost always at abnormally wide pleats, in filters that are found to be torn when cut open.


Most of the time, I have seen these wide pleats in used filters. I just assumed (I know, I know) that this happened in the course of being used in the engine. Are you saying that most likely, the filter came out of the factory with wide pleats, or just that poor assembly made that more likely to happen?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: paulri
Now the point behind this is that the oil is flowing in between the pleats, and is not being filtered as it then passes back into the engine, correct? So if you have perfectly even pleats, all the oil will get filtered by one side or the other, but if there are large gaps, the oil isn't getting filtered?


Only with a Tearolator.

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
No, the issues with wide pleats are:

1) it demonstrates an inconsistency in the assembly process, which begs the question of how good the total quality control is.

2) the oil flowing through the spot where a wide pleat exists creates a potential "tearing" force on the filter media that doesn't exist (or is much, much smaller) if the pleats are consistently spaced. That tearing force is presumed to be what causes a lot of the observed tears, which are almost always at abnormally wide pleats, in filters that are found to be torn when cut open.





^ this

 

[Nate1979]

Google: Tearolator.

 

[Lubener]

Well said..
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
No, the issues with wide pleats are:

1) it demonstrates an inconsistency in the assembly process, which begs the question of how good the total quality control is.

2) the oil flowing through the spot where a wide pleat exists creates a potential "tearing" force on the filter media that doesn't exist (or is much, much smaller) if the pleats are consistently spaced. That tearing force is presumed to be what causes a lot of the observed tears, which are almost always at abnormally wide pleats, in filters that are found to be torn when cut open.

 

[dlundblad]

They aren't visually appealing, but they get the job done. I prefer to see tight pleats, but I doubt it's better one way vs. the other.

The speculation as to how Purolator filters tear was the wide spacing near the seam, but wide pleats or not, I have yet to see any other filter brand tear this way.

 

[camrydriver111]

What about the amount of filtering media?

Filters with a small amount of filtering media like the orange can of death will have large pleats.

In that picture you posted it's due to the filter collapsing under oil pressure. As you can see the pleat spacing is uneven and the ends are deformed. It's a common problem with aftermarket filters in German cars. The OEM filter usually does not collapse.

 

[Clevy]

Wide or narrow pleats are irrelevant. What matters is square inches of media. So if a filter canister is small but needs lots of media inches the pleats will be whatever size they need to be to fit in the can,or cartridge. Actual pleat size is whatever it is based on how much media is required to meet whatever spec that applies.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: camrydriver111
What about the amount of filtering media?

Filters with a small amount of filtering media like the orange can of death will have large pleats.

In that picture you posted it's due to the filter collapsing under oil pressure. As you can see the pleat spacing is uneven and the ends are deformed. It's a common problem with aftermarket filters in German cars. The OEM filter usually does not collapse.

OEM and German made filters in my E430 looked like new even after 20k miles.

 

[DudeNiceRide]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Wide or narrow pleats are irrelevant. What matters is square inches of media. So if a filter canister is small but needs lots of media inches the pleats will be whatever size they need to be to fit in the can,or cartridge. Actual pleat size is whatever it is based on how much media is required to meet whatever spec that applies.


I disagree. By only looking at media area, you are assuming the media in every filter is identical. There are a lot of variables/ingredients that go into a filter media formula whether it be for your oil filter, air filter, furnace filter or even coffee filter. Some media performs better than others in regards to efficiency, capacity, flow restriction, collapse-resistance (stiffness), etc. Don't assume they're the same. Read the fine print. Inquire for more details.

Wide pleats, as mentioned above, can be a weak point & risk for media breach/tear/bypass. You'll typically see this a lot right around where the media first & last pleats are glued/sewn/welded together. I think they call this the "pleat seam". Anyways, a machine has to get in there and hold the 1st/last pleat together while its glued/sewn/welded. The side-effect of the intruding machinery is a little more space between the "pleat seam" and the next pleat before and after. Pretty normal phenomenon, but the preference is 100% even pleats all around.