Motorguard By-Pass Filter and Racing

[pezzulli]

Hi:

Would the installation of a Motorguard By-Pass Filter be fine in a car that was occasionally used for drag racing and road racing? In other words, would the lubrication of the engine be adversely affected at higher rpms and load?

Thanks.

John

 

[slalom44]

In my opinion if you're pushing the car to its limit, a bypass system may not be appropriate.

If you have it set up to return to your oilpan or head cover, then you are reducing the pressure and amount of oil being pumped to critical components. Some cars are known to have engine failures (scored cylinders) due to inadequate lubrication during racing conditions. Speed shops sell high volume oil pumps for this purpose. If you were to stay with a standard oil pump you're going in the wrong direction.

If you have a Dual Remote bypass system like Amsoil's, you get full flow, but you lower your peak oil pressure, which is crucial at the engine's limits. You could replace the engine's bypass valve spring to increase the max pressure and go with a high flow oil pump and that would probably be fine.

But even if flow wasn't an issue, you wouldn't want to increase the weight of your car even one pound. With a bypass system, you're adding a significant amount of weight in the bypass filter and plumbing, along with the added weight of the extra oil. That will work against you when racing.

If you like the idea of better filtration with a race car, consider a simple setup that can be installed or removed in a short time. That way you can take it off when you race. another option is to go with a Canton filter.

BTW: I have a Dual Remote bypass system in my '03 Honda S2000, but I don't track it.

 

[RalphPWood]

I like to leave the full flow filter where it is and use a sandwich adapter. The sandwich adapter doesn't take oil off the pressure system. All of the oil goes thru the full flow filter to get to the engine parts. All the Perma-Cool sandwich adapter does is divert a small amount of oil per minute to the submicronic bypass filter to be cleaned first. I posted before and after oil analysis reports on a racing engine once. An Amsoil dealer said his oil analysis results were better on his Dodge Caravan. As near as I could tell from the oil analysis the wear rate was cut in half after the bypass filter was installed.
An oil analysis report on a racing engine is frightening. It's not like my Camry going to work and back. It would be a waste of time installing a submicronic bypass filter on a dragster.
I have been drilling the sandwich 7/32 to drop the pressure on the Motor Guard. Relieve the adapter too much and the Motor Guard won't heat up. the only time the Frantz, Motor guard and the other submicronic filters cause an oil pressure drop is if the oil pump isn't able to supply the engine and have enough oil left to supply the filter when the filter is hooked up in the conventional way. I try not to hook the Motor Guards up in the conventional way.
Bottom line is if you are racing you probably have an oil pressure gauge. If your oil pressure gauge reads good and the Motor Guard heats up you are OK. Sometimes when teeing off at the oil pressure gauge you will get a false reading because you are robbing oil pressure off the gauge. Most engines are not running with a worn out pump or worn bearings.

Ralph

 

[pezzulli]

Thanks for the information.

Regards,
John

 

[Lube Dude]

Bypass filter systems usually have an orifice to limit the flow through the bypass filter.

The oil pump in an automotive engine is "fixed displacement". It makes more than enough oil for the job. When the oil pressure in the engine reaches the setting on the pump relief valve, it will dump the excess back to tank. The point on your RPM/Oil Pressure curve where the pressure doesn't go any higher is where the relief valve starts dumping. If your engine operates at 45 PSI, any engine speed faster than the one required to reach 45 PSI is causing oil to dump back to tank.
Adding a small load to the pressurized oil circuit will essentially lower the releif valve dump at speed. That is a good thing.
I think the best point made so far is the weight issue. Also, you probably don't want any un-essentail items on the car when getting after it on the strip. More pieces to pick up.
Me, I won't run an engine without a bypass filter, but I don't drag race!