I Built a See Through Oil Filter

[Owen Lucas]

I took laboratory beakers and bonded them to the head of 4 Purolator filters in various configurations to illustrate how oil flows through a filter assembly.

The fuel pump fuse was removed so that the engine couldn't start and develop full oil pressure to blow up the glass beakers. I just cranked the starter to get oil circulation going which provided more than enough pressure. Why did I do this? I am experimenting with a YouTube channel where I focus on cars, tools, technology and display some of my mechanical (mis)adventures. It's a fun project to do on the side and keep me busy.

 

[spasm3]

That's pretty cool!

 

[xgmad]

this looks cool, i wanna do this to my jetta

 

[Malo83]

Glad I prefill my filters.

 

[Owen Lucas]

this looks cool, i wanna do this to my jetta

If you can make a clear filter housing last more than a few rpms and withstand 50+ psi, then I'd like to see that haha. This was just for illustrative purposes and I don't see any practical use, though it would be nice to have some type of visual indicator of filter status.

 

[ZeeOSix]

The end of the video with the dirty oil coming into the filter was interesting because it showed that the dome end beyond the filter media is essentially a dead pool of oil until the bypass valve would open.

It would be cool if a clear filter could be made strong enough to run the engine at higher RPM with cold oil to see how the media can bend over and tear under high delta-p loads.

 

[Owen Lucas]

The end of the video with the dirty oil coming into the filter was interesting because it showed that the dome end beyond the filter media is essentially a dead pool of oil until the bypass valve would open.

It would be cool if a clear filter could be made strong enough to run the engine at higher RPM with cold oil to see how the media can bend over and tear under high delta-p loads.

Makes you wonder what kind of proprietary test equipment the labs at the OEMs and filter companies have, maybe a rig like that already exists.

 

[Motu]

Remove the sparkplugs so it winds over better.

 

[CleanSump]

Patent and sell to Fram! They can put displays next to the Lucas Oil gear crank demo thingy.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Patent and sell to Fram! They can put displays next to the Lucas Oil gear crank demo thingy.

That would be a great way to promote an oil filter honestly, can probably blow mold a housing pretty easily. Like those hard drive display's models with the clear plastic cover so you could see the disks inside that staples used to have...I think it was a Western Digital display.

 

[xgmad]

Patent and sell to Fram! They can put displays next to the Lucas Oil gear crank demo thingy.

virtually NO high oil pressure's guaranteed!

 

[JavierH19]

pretty cool. i wouldve liked to see how quickly it fills up with 1 second at startup instead of cranking. i always wondered how quickly they can fill up when dry.

 

[Hall]

It would be cool if a clear filter could be made strong enough to run the engine at higher RPM with cold oil to see how the media can bend over and tear under high delta-p loads.

A filter could be made out of clear acrylic or other type of plastic. I worked in R&D for a major pump manufacturer and we had "real" pumps with acrylic inserts bonded into the casings so we could see the internal flow. The marketing department had complete pumps with most of the wet-end components made out of acrylic for an almost complete see-through pump. It ran but not at full power.

 

[xgmad]

A filter could be made out of clear acrylic or other type of plastic. I worked in R&D for a major pump manufacturer and we had "real" pumps with acrylic inserts bonded into the casings so we could see the internal flow. The marketing department had complete pumps with most of the wet-end components made out of acrylic for an almost complete see-through pump. It ran but not at full power.

HDPE or clear ABS would be good enough for demonstration before the engine runs at operating temperatures.

you could probably make a sealed acrylic housing with metal reinforcments.

 

[Hall]

Haha ! Didn't think about the temperature issue.... Oooops. Well, it looks like acrylic doesn't start to melt until 266º F which is borderline for automobile engines.

 

[Sayjac]

Makes you wonder what kind of proprietary test equipment the labs at the OEMs and filter companies have, maybe a rig like that already exists.

Linked thread shows pics of the Fram test labs in Ohio. Says Dayton in link, but there's one in Perrysburg Ohio too. Or, there was when Rank Grp. owned them. I've been to the Perrysburg location. Can read some of the testing done along with lab equipment pics.

Kudos to your curiosity and ingenuity.

https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/...isit-fram-s-r-d-facility-dayton-ohio-1261517/

 

[Hall]

Linked thread show pics of the Fram test labs in Ohio. Says Dayton in link

Almost certainly their plant in Greenville OH. Dayton is the largest nearby city.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Linked thread shows pics of the Fram test labs in Ohio. Says Dayton in link, but there's one in Perrysburg Ohio too. Or, there was when Rank Grp. owned them. I've been to the Perrysburg location. Can read some of the testing done along with lab equipment pics.

Kudos to your curiosity and ingenuity.

https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/...isit-fram-s-r-d-facility-dayton-ohio-1261517/

Noticed the comment in that thread is backwards: " You can also see the nitrile anti-drainback valve on top of the Extra Guard filter on the left and the silicone anti-drainback valve on the right in the Extended Guard. The center filter is the Tough Guard and it gets the silicone anti-drainback valve. "

 

[zzyzzx]

Competitor to Garage 54?

 

[The_Jeff]

Haha ! Didn't think about the temperature issue.... Oooops. Well, it looks like acrylic doesn't start to melt until 266º F which is borderline for automobile engines.

If it were in the Subaru "Ring of Fire" it would be well past the border.

Being able to watch the bypass valve under various scenarios would be incredible BITOG fodder.