K&N: Micro-Glass Media

[SavagePatch]

K&N say that they use micro-glass media in their Heavy Duty Deisel filters. Is that considered synthetic? And what's the micron filtration rating of these? Looking for a good after market filter to use on a Kubota farm tractor mostly used for mowing with a flail mower.

K&N Micro-Glass

 

[Noobie]

Anything that is not paper media is considered synthetic i think.

 

[A_Harman]

Yes, fiberglass media is synthetic.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Pushing the definition of synthetic again - first mineral hydrocracked oil is "synthetic" now common glass fibre is now synthetic.

North American Marketing to the max, dang the torpedos!

 

[A_Harman]

Fiberglass media has been the definition of "synthetic media" in oil filters since I first heard the term applied to Fleetguard Stratapore filters in the mid-1990's. What other characteristics would you look for in a synthetic media oil filter? It goes beyond just the choice of material, the sizing and "lay" of the fibers also contribute to "syntheticness".

 

[goodtimes]

Synthetic filter media is made from glass fibers? I don't think glass is synthetic, made from melted silicon dioxide basically.

 

[SavagePatch]

So would these heavy duty diesel filters with micro-glass media be better than their pro series (black) and HP (white) filters?

Would you use them over OEM on a farm tractor?

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: goodtimes
Synthetic filter media is made from glass fibers? I don't think glass is synthetic, made from melted silicon dioxide basically.
Pretty sure syn media is fiberglass, not "glass" glass.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

glass wool is extruded glass. Some are borosilicate, some soda-lime, some tinned or leaded, there are different amendments you can put in the melt for desired properties - just like steel furnace melts. Its not nylon or polycarbonate polymer fibre.

Most filter papers are not just wood pulp and cotton - its an art/science and likely "proprietary" blend. Same situation with air filter paper. Look to ASTM/ISO performance results in situ not basic composition to assess performance.

 

[901Memphis]

For filters microglass is as synthetic as it gets even if the terminology doesn't suit everyone. Microglass has a higher holding capacity than cellulose. I would like to see one of those cut open as well as knowing the ISO 4548-12 efficiency at 20 microns

 

[DudeNiceRide]

I worked in a media/paper mill for a few years.

For 100% microglass, the ISO4548-12 eff should be 99-99.5% @ 20mic and 99.9-99.99% at 30mic.

For your regular paper media (most of which contains some polyester but mostly cellulose & resin), you're looking at 90-95% @ 20mic and 98-99% at 30mic.

Then there are probably some of the synthetic blends in-between with in-between performance.

But with the 100% glass stuff pretty much everything is better... the flow is better, heat resistance is better, capacity is better, and price is a hellovalot HIGHER.

On a gas motor, the first 2-3 oil changes are the most important to catch all that nasty [censored] left in all the miscellaneous sub-components the automakers source from every arm-pit and sweaty-crotch of the earth. For a lot of the motor's life, a filter really isn't even necessary (but not recommending you go without). And then once your engine is up and mileage and starts burning some dino-juice (blow-by, etc), you want to catch the soot & carbon.

The synthetic media filter really goes hand-in-hand with the synthetic oils that have longer change intervals. Need the filter guts (media, glues, gaskets) to last as long as the syn oil.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: DudeNiceRide
I worked in a media/paper mill for a few years.

For 100% microglass, the ISO4548-12 eff should be 99-99.5% @ 20mic and 99.9-99.99% at 30mic.

For your regular paper media (most of which contains some polyester but mostly cellulose & resin), you're looking at 90-95% @ 20mic and 98-99% at 30mic.

Then there are probably some of the synthetic blends in-between with in-between performance.


I think the porosity of the media has a lot to do with it also - regardless of the material composition. For instance, the WIX XP is full synthetic, yet it's efficiency is only rated at 50% @ 20 microns. And some of the non-synthetic filters (Honda, Toyota, etc) are only rated at 50~60% @ 20 microns.

 

[DudeNiceRide]

Media-makers can vary the size of the fiber and layer different substrates to provide pretty much whatever the customer wants. The 100% microglass usually has to be supported by something, which is why you see the Amsoil/Mobil1/Ultra with some type of screen mesh. Purolator has a syn media that's on a scrim backing, but not sure if its 100% syn. Looked like it had some paper in it.

XP is only rated 50% at 20mic??? Eek. Its the 20-30mic particles that can kill bearings right? The powertrain engineers oughta' ban them! lol Most of the oil filter media grades in the portfoilio of offerings I saw were no worse than 85% @ 20min on average on the iso4548-12 scale.

Added later...
I always heard the media Honda uses is "very forgiving" aka not-so-great efficiency.

 

[Triton_330]

Originally Posted By: goodtimes
Synthetic filter media is made from glass fibers? I don't think glass is synthetic, made from melted silicon dioxide basically.

Fiberglass doesn't grow in trees.
That is why "standard" filters are NOT synthetic; their media is essentially reshaped and restructured cardboard.
Fiberglass is synthetic because it's not made from plant materials; doesn't grow on trees.

At least, that's how I see it.

~ Triton