Ok guys.. Why a Bypass filter ??

[kevinrea]

Hi guys,
i am relatively new to this board..
i have been looking around at some of the posts..
and I just thought I would ask, probably what has been asked a lot., but...,
why a bypass filter ?

I drive a 1997 cadillac eldorado..
is there something it could do for this car ?

thanks,
kevin rea

 

[burntkat]

put simply-- what it will do for ANY vehicle, or for that matter, any engine, is to scrub the oil darn near absolutely clean.

 

[RJCorazza]

The pros & cons have been debated for a long time...
My opinion is this : With TP bypass filters on my wife's van, my truck, and a diesel tractor I have not crawled under a vehicle to change oil in almost 2 years. Not counting the tractor I have added 10 quarts of oil ($50.00) for filter changes, 20 TP filters and 2 full flow filters ($14.00) for a total of $64.00.

With normal 5k OCI's I would have used 54 quarts of oil and 10 full flow filters ($290.00).
The filter setup is about $250 for each vehicle, so my break even point is in a little over 4 years total.

That's the dollars 'n cents of it... more importantly the oil in my vehicles is kept free of almost all wear particles (likely cleaner than new oil out of the bottle) and in serviceable condition.

 

[burntkat]

:nods: I just can't imagine ANY downside to a properly designed BP filtration setup.

 

[LateArrivalforLSU]

You will have clean oil lubricating your engine at all times, or it could be because you don't want abrasive particles floating around in your oil that the full flow filter can't catch. Maybe you doesn't like the expense, and hassle of having to drain and refill 15 qts. of oil at regular OCI's. Those were my reasons for installing a bypass filter.

 

[Gary Allan]

I just do this type of stuff for that "warm and fuzzy feeling" that it gives me.

If we were satisfied with "it works" ...heck, we would still be back somewhere around "Quest for Fire".

 

[LarryL]

When figuring the cost, the actual bp filter has to be considered. Some take a lot of makeup oil, others don't.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by RJCorazza:

My opinion is this : With TP bypass filters on my wife's van, my truck, and a diesel tractor I have not crawled under a vehicle to change oil in almost 2 years. Not counting the tractor I have added 10 quarts of oil ($50.00) for filter changes, 20 TP filters and 2 full flow filters ($14.00) for a total of $64.00.

---

What does the oil look like in each vehicle in terms of normal oil changes with a full low filter an no bypass? Is it as clean looking as at 1k, 2k, 3k ???

I relaize looks aren't everything, I'm just curious how clean it looks.

 

[RJCorazza]

The truck's oil looks almost as clear as day one. The van oil is dark brown, but very translucent. The Diesel tractor oil is black, but still very transparent if you can visualize that. (ie I can read the markings on the dipstick through the oil.)
As far as comparing to miles on no bypass oil color, I can only say that the diesel was jet black (not at all translucent) after only say 10 hours. It's got over 200hrs on the oil now, and is due for another UOA. (the 100hr UOA was excellent).

 

[LarryL]

The only problem with a bypass filter is getting the thing installed correctly. Sometimes its a tight fit and you can be tempted to run the lines in places that expose them to damage. It appears that a bypass filter combined with a free flowing full flow filter make an ideal combination. For the full flow filter, I'm testing some stainless, cleanable filters that would be a perfect match to a bypass filter.

 

[jmacmaster]

I'm also new to this site, tho not to motor vehicles. I've never heard of a bypass filter. I have two questions. Don't you have to remove and clean the bypass filter now and then? And you still have to change the oil at regular intervals don't you? Oil, no matter how clean, doesn't last forever, even synthetic oil.

 

[rg144]

Yes, filters is replaced. No, oil need not be changed. The introduction of a quart or so of new oil, lost during filter swap, replenishes the additives. For example if your TP filter is lasting 3K miles, by the 4th filter change you have essentially changed your oil.

 

[RJCorazza]

Exactly. My initial plan was to change the oil and full flow filter after 2 years on the (3) installations I have, but I may just change the full flow filter if the 2 yr UOA's continue to be good.
My Motorguard filter housings drain when slightly cracked open, so I only add 1/2 qt during filter changes.