Nominal oil filter rating equals 50 percent

[The motor guy]

Wix is real big about this. What most people dont understand is nominal means 50 percent, but I do question if this really matters in a well maintained clean engine. Just means the filter will get it the second time around and if the oil stays clean enough, I'd imagine its going to reach the filter before ever getting to that size to begin with. Is my theory correct?

 

[ZeeOSix]

50% efficiency if at 3 microns is good. If at 20 microns or more, not so good. Why let debris keep going through the oiling system when it can be caught the first time.

 

[Glenda W.]

50% efficiency if at 3 microns is good. If at 20 microns or more, not so good. Why let debris keep going through the oiling system when it can be caught the first time.

No problem, it’ll get caught on the next pass.

 

[The motor guy]

No problem, it’ll get caught on the next pass.

Thats just dumb though lol

 

[ZeeOSix]

I'd imagine its going to reach the filter before ever getting to that size to begin with.

What's that mean?

 

[The motor guy]

What's that mean?

Im saying if its an engine that actually gets an oil change when its supposed to, then the oil additives themselves should keep the particles dispersed good enough to keep it below whatever the micron size is that it will circulate around enough to be caught before going above 21 micron size or whatever the rating is. Thats my theory, not sure if their is any truth to it

 

[kschachn]

Im saying if its an engine that actually gets an oil change when its supposed to, then the oil additives themselves should keep the particles dispersed good enough to keep it below whatever the micron size is that it will circulate around enough to be caught before going above 21 micron size or whatever the rating is. Thats my theory, not sure if their is any truth to it

Dispersants only prevent agglomeration. Those particles are still there however. Besides, agglomeration is a weak attraction anyway.

It doesn't make existing particles (that will cause wear) any smaller or make them go away.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Im saying if its an engine that actually gets an oil change when its supposed to, then the oil additives themselves should keep the particles dispersed good enough to keep it below whatever the micron size is that it will circulate around enough to be caught before going above 21 micron size or whatever the rating is. Thats my theory, not sure if their is any truth to it

Oil filters catch a whole range of particle sizes, they have an efficiency vs particle size curve. A particle doesn't have to be larger than a certain size to be caught in the filter if that's what you're saying. A filter rated at 99% @ 20u catches a whole bunch of particles less than 20u too. A filter rated at 50% @ 20u lets a whole bunch more particles through the filter. Oil additives aren't going to change the way an oil filter captures debris.

 

[edhackett]

No problem, it’ll get caught on the next pass.

Actually... the odds of it getting caught on the second, or any other subsequent pass, are the same 50%. Yea, eventually the odds will catch up with it.

Ed

 

[ZeeOSix]

Actually... the odds of it getting caught on the second, or any other subsequent pass, are the same 50%. Yea, eventually the odds will catch up with it.

Ed

And the odds of the smaller stuff that caused wear too may take way more than two passes, or may never be caught and just keep going round-and-round through the oiling system.

 

[Glenda W.]

Thats just dumb though lol

Actually... the odds of it getting caught on the second, or any other subsequent pass, are the same 50%. Yea, eventually the odds will catch up with it.

Ed

Oh I know, just being a smart azzzz. I was quoting the folks who think leaks/torn media don’t matter.

 

[edhackett]

Oh I know, just being a smart azzzz. I was quoting the folks who think leaks/torn media don’t matter.

I figured you understood that. We need two quote buttons; one for a direct reply, and one for quoting for context.

Ed

 

[Jetronic]

Wix is real big about this. What most people dont understand is nominal means 50 percent, but I do question if this really matters in a well maintained clean engine. Just means the filter will get it the second time around and if the oil stays clean enough, I'd imagine its going to reach the filter before ever getting to that size to begin with. Is my theory correct?

no, there's a 75% chance it gets caught the second time, and an 87.5% chance it gets caught in 3 passes... this continues until eternity and there's never a 100% guarantee the particle will be caught at all

 

[ZeeOSix]

I figured you understood that. We need two quote buttons; one for a direct reply, and one for quoting for context.

Ed

Typically the sarcasm is easily detected around here, at least by those who regularly read this forum.

 

[4WD]

Oh I know, just being a smart azzzz. I was quoting the folks who think leaks/torn media don’t matter.

Bad Leafs Matter

 

[Glenda W.]

Bad Leafs Matter

I’d buy that shirt!

@TiGeo needs to sell BITOG bingo shirts as well!

 

[fantastic]

Wix is real big about this. What most people dont understand is nominal means 50 percent, but I do question if this really matters in a well maintained clean engine. Just means the filter will get it the second time around and if the oil stays clean enough, I'd imagine its going to reach the filter before ever getting to that size to begin with. Is my theory correct?

It's actually whatever the OEM's want it to be. Anything under the 96-98% range can count as "Nominal". However, there are companies that like to float the 50% since it "looks" more efficient.

 

[ZeeOSix]

The terms "Nominal" and "Absolute" efficiency were used as far back as the early 1970s. I seems to usually mean 50% efficiency (that's what Beta=2 means). To say "Nominal" efficiency means anything not Absolute efficiency is a nonsense way to define efficiency.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

" Look at the big brain on Brett !.....Is that a Big Kahuna Burger ? May I have a bite of you're tasty burger ? LOL I just chimed in for ****z & giggles. I try to use OE filters most of the time, but, sometimes you just can't pass on a bulk sale of whatever brand, so I mix it up in between OC's. 5k is my limit on full syn / syn blend . Dino oil gets dumped into lawn mowers, power washers. Sorry, was just lookin to inject some levity in this thread. No harm meant

 

[SC Maintenance]

I don't sweat having the absolutely most efficient filter anymore given my short OCI. Having said that I have no idea why you would pay more for a filter that catches less?