Oil Filter Operating Pressure

[Tjbouwhu]

Probably over thinking this, but recent discussions around a failed Fram Ultra filter leading to subsequent engine failure along with the fact that we just purchased a new vehicle last Thursday got me thinking...

So as engine normal operating oil pressures vary with manufacturers...along with oil filter pressure relief valves set to prevents the engine from building up to much oil pressure? Tolerances and the oil pressure regulating valve determine engine operating pressure...so I assume after market oil filters are built to handle the worst case scenario?

I have been changing oil and slapping on oil filters of all sorts since the 1970’s and have not had a problem, as far as I know, but given the Fram Ultra failure example I could see how a manufacturer could deny a warranty claim due to a “non OEM” part failure?
Sorry, just over thinking this.

 

[dwendt44]

Most Asian manufacturers seem to like 70-80 lbs of oil pressure.
Not that out of line with some American engines.
I think you are correct about 'worst case' situations. An momentary 'overpressure'
event is likely part of the engineering involved.

My 2¢

 

[ZeeOSix]

Probably over thinking this, but recent discussions around a failed Fram Ultra filter leading to subsequent engine failure along with the fact that we just purchased a new vehicle last Thursday got me thinking...

So as engine normal operating oil pressures vary with manufacturers...along with oil filter pressure relief valves set to prevents the engine from building up to much oil pressure? Tolerances and the oil pressure regulating valve determine engine operating pressure...so I assume after market oil filters are built to handle the worst case scenario?

Yes, filters are designed and built to handle worse case scenarios ... at least from the big name filter makers who spend lots of money to develop and test their filters. Some off brand filter may not have the research and testing behind it like the big name filters would have, so beware IMO.

Realize that the delta-p forces going on inside of an oil filter are determined by the oil viscosity and oil flow volume going through the filter, and not the engine oil pressure. Yes, it's true that with any given engine that an increase in oil pressure equates to an increase in oil flow (PD oil pump) ... but it doesn't really tell you what the delta-p across the filter is at any given instance.

The oil filter can and base gasket must be able to take the maximum oil pressure (with a decent safety factor), but the delta-p across the filter is a function of the oil viscosity and flow rate. There could be high oil pressure and low flow, or there could be low oil pressure and high flow. The delta-p forces across the filter will be greater in the latter case.

I have been changing oil and slapping on oil filters of all sorts since the 1970’s and have not had a problem, as far as I know, but given the Fram Ultra failure example I could see how a manufacturer could deny a warranty claim due to a “non OEM” part failure?
Sorry, just over thinking this.

Of course the car manufacture can deny a factory warranty in that case. Some people claim the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act would protect someone in a case like the failed Fram, but it's been talked about many times here, and the end result is that the car manufacturer can certainly deny a warranty if a non OEM part caused damage, and the car manufacture will tell you to go after the manufacture of the part that failed and caused the damage. If you're paranoid about a 1 in millions failure, the use OEM while you have a factory warranty.

 

[Tjbouwhu]

Thanks ZeeOSix...think I can move forward!