Pentius PCXL Extended Filter Efficiencies

[fantastic]

I emailed Pentius Filters & asked about their PCXL filter efficiencies. This is what they emailed back to me below. They confirmed this is not just for an individual filter but would not give me the tested filter they used or how many they used. They claim 99%@20 on their website but I've learned that advertising is not always what it seems. Still good efficiencies though & I would still run this filter if the construction was good. From what I've saw with 1 filter for my truck is that they are built in South Korea.

Pentius CustomerService email]>
Customer Service
Pentius Automotive Parts
(877)852-5000

 

[ZeeOSix]

They claim 99%@20 on their website but I've learned that advertising is not always what it seems.

Just like some other companies (like Purolator and Wix) who reference one of their largest sized filters to make their efficiency claim. When they reference which filter the efficiency is based on, then it's all "legal" advertising. But most people don't reallize that the size of the filter has an effect on the efficiency ... at least in the ISO 4548-12 test.

 

[fantastic]

Just like some other companies (like Purolator and Wix) who reference one of their largest sized filters to make their efficiency claim. When they reference which filter the efficiency is based on, then it's all "legal" advertising. But most people don't reallize that the size of the filter has an effect on the efficiency ... at least in the ISO 4548-12 test.

That's exactly right "Lawyer Language". I couldn't get them to share what filters they've tested & they took some time to get back with me on those efficiencies I posted but I'm happy they gave us something to chew on for the time being.

 

[Glenda W.]

I’m curious if the Pentius XL is the same as the Microgard Select? Sure looks like it in c&p’s. If so maybe explains where the 99% at 25 microns is coming from.

 

[twX]

The efficiency curve is similar to a typical PurolatorOne. They most commonly have absolute/nominal micron ratings of 25/10, 26/11, or 30/15 micron, though some models are as low as 17/8 or as high as 40/18.

Just like some other companies (like Purolator and Wix) who reference one of their largest sized filters to make their efficiency claim. When they reference which filter the efficiency is based on, then it's all "legal" advertising. But most people don't reallize that the size of the filter has an effect on the efficiency ... at least in the ISO 4548-12 test.

The type of media used might not be the same for every model either, such as some PurolatorOne models that use pure cellulose media instead of a synthetic blend. It's common for media thickness to vary between models as well.

ISO tests can also be gamed by testing filters at a lower flow rate, which has the same effect as testing a larger filter at the same flow rate. They can also choose a lower end-of-test dP increase limit, which would increase the average efficiency. These test parameters are up to the discretion of the lab or their customer.

So there are plenty of ways a filter company can achieve a better ISO result for marketing purposes if they're so inclined. It really comes down to how much you trust the company, and if there's any evidence from independent sources to back up their claims.

 

[Fair enough]

Just like some other companies (like Purolator and Wix) who reference one of their largest sized filters to make their efficiency claim. When they reference which filter the efficiency is based on, then it's all "legal" advertising. But most people don't reallize that the size of the filter has an effect on the efficiency ... at least in the ISO 4548-12 test.

Fram states several sizes and one has no bypass valve in the filter to leak, as all having the same rating. So how does that work in plain language, not charts and formulas?

 

[Fair enough]

I emailed Pentius Filters & asked about their PCXL filter efficiencies. This is what they emailed back to me below. They confirmed this is not just for an individual filter but would not give me the tested filter they used or how many they used. They claim 99%@20 on their website but I've learned that advertising is not always what it seems. Still good efficiencies though & I would still run this filter if the construction was good. From what I've saw with 1 filter for my truck is that they are built in South Korea.

Pentius CustomerService email]>
Customer Service
Pentius Automotive Parts
(877)852-5000

View attachment 175702

Maybe they didn’t read which series you wanted, or it passed over them? You assume an email rules over the website?

 

[DannyM]

I’m curious if the Pentius XL is the same as the Microgard Select? Sure looks like it in c&p’s. I

Different company afaik.... Try to find a number of canister PG products made in Korea or try to find a Pentius XL canister made in China or Vietnam. The lower level China filters might be coming from the same factory but I don't think it is connected to PG operations.

Also.. there was an update to those Pentius numbers. The ones you are looking at are for the lower level PLB/PLG filters. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/pentius-update-xl-extended-life-filters.375686/

 

[DannyM]

Maybe they didn’t read which series you wanted, or it passed over them? You assume an email rules over the website?

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/pentius-update-xl-extended-life-filters.375686/

 

[Glenda W.]

Anyone have a picture of the bypass style? Everything I can see mirrors PG built filters exactly, down to the silicon adbv and gasket color. Same unpainted crimp too. If they share the same bypass they’ve got to be connected somehow.

 

[fantastic]

I’m curious if the Pentius XL is the same as the Microgard Select? Sure looks like it in c&p’s. If so maybe explains where the 99% at 25 microns is coming from.

View attachment 241974

I'm positive their is at least some overlapping filters from both Pentius & PG as you've also seen. That being said the graph shows 99% @ 34.54 microns. You wouldn't think 0.33% can matter so much in efficiency but it can.

 

[Urshurak776]

Anyone have a picture of the bypass style? Everything I can see mirrors PG built filters exactly, down to the silicon adbv and gasket color. Same unpainted crimp too. If they share the same bypass they’ve got to be connected somehow.

I can't find aything other than one application that has no bypass valve - PLXL3675.

I do see a standard:

 

[fantastic]

Maybe they didn’t read which series you wanted, or it passed over them? You assume an email rules over the website?

Maybe they didn't listen to anything I said . Anything is possible. However, This was more than an "Email" with a graph illustrating that particular line of efficiencies, according to Pentius CS (Apparently that graph is for their standard tier as @DannyM points out). That being said.. please read my third sentence. I stated they did not give me any information on which ISO tested filter they used for this graph or for their website. So to answer your question neither this nor their website "rules". Only ISO tested data can truly show where or what the efficiencies are. This was an effort to share with this site any information I'd gotten out of them. You can take it with a grain of salt or as gospel.

 

[Glenda W.]

I can't find aything other than one application that has no bypass valve - PLXL3675.

I do see a standard:

View attachment 242004

Certainly leans toward the end cap style bypass. In fact the end caps are identical to PG’s.

 

[Urshurak776]

Certainly leans toward the end cap style bypass. In fact the end caps are identical to PG’s.

View attachment 242008

View attachment 242009

View attachment 242010

I agree 100%. I just didn't know PG had any manufacturing in Korea, but these look the same to me.

 

[twX]

I do see a standard:

That's a tiny bypass valve. Comparing it to the size of the M22 thread, I'd say it's around 6.7 mm in diameter, not much larger than one of the eight 5 mm inlet holes in the baseplate. If the filter clogs, the entire oil volume will need to flow through that little hole.

According to a pressure drop calculator, the dP across the bypass valve would be around 36 psi at 10 GPM, and 92 psi at 16 GPM. The same calculation for a 14.3 mm diameter FRAM Ultra bypass valve is 4.4 psi at 16 GPM. Bad things might happen to the engine if this filter were allowed to clog.

@Vorlauf
Do you have any photos of the bypass valves on the Pentius XL filters you cut open?

 

[CharlieBauer]

Certainly leans toward the end cap style bypass. In fact the end caps are identical to PG’s.

View attachment 242008

View attachment 242009

View attachment 242010

Remember that PG & companies like Pentius are only distributors. We don't know who exactly the manufacturers are. Pentius XL are made in Korea. Their basic is made in China like many of the PG filters. It wouldn't be a surprise if the manufacturer of all these similar looking filters is the same and has multiple sites in Asia.

 

[Fair enough]

Maybe they didn't listen to anything I said . Anything is possible. However, This was more than an "Email" with a graph illustrating that particular line of efficiencies, according to Pentius CS (Apparently that graph is for their standard tier as @DannyM points out). That being said.. please read my third sentence. I stated they did not give me any information on which ISO tested filter they used for this graph or for their website. So to answer your question neither this nor their website "rules". Only ISO tested data can truly show where or what the efficiencies are. This was an effort to share with this site any information I'd gotten out of them. You can take it with a grain of salt or as gospel.

I was thinking website is an official statement that goes through company procedures, while customer service maybe they looked at the lower tier series. Whoever answers the emails, well that’s the expertise one gets.
Yeah they should say according to some test standard, I noticed that too.
Maybe this was already noticed but they say 20 “micom”rating using multi pass efficiency test. Still not any specific test.

 

[Vorlauf]

@Vorlauf
Do you have any photos of the bypass valves on the Pentius XL filters you cut open?

Going through my pic's, it oddly seems I do not. I will remember to include one next time. I recall them looking pretty standard.

 

[ZeeOSix]

The type of media used might not be the same for every model either, such as some PurolatorOne models that use pure cellulose media instead of a synthetic blend. It's common for media thickness to vary between models as well.

Yes, different filter model in the same filter line (ie, XG line, TG line, PH line, etc) could use different media. I would think that if every filter in the line used the same exact media that the size of the media area would be a real big factor on efficiency, unless the media was horrible at retaining already captured debris and was a big slougher as the dP increased during debris loading.

ISO tests can also be gamed by testing filters at a lower flow rate, which has the same effect as testing a larger filter at the same flow rate. They can also choose a lower end-of-test dP increase limit, which would increase the average efficiency. These test parameters are up to the discretion of the lab or their customer.

Yes, and doing that with filters that have media that sloughs off debris at a higher rate as the dP increases would benefit from those test methods.

So there are plenty of ways a filter company can achieve a better ISO result for marketing purposes if they're so inclined. It really comes down to how much you trust the company, and if there's any evidence from independent sources to back up their claims.

True ... and as see in Andrew's certified ISO 4548-12 testing his results were pretty much in line with the claims from most of those filter manufacturers. Even better in some instances.