Pick an oil filter for racing use

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09_GXP

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I thought I would get some opinions from the BITOG community on what filter to use for my Miata that sees only road race duty. I'm currently running a M1 filter since that is what came with the M1 oil change specials for other cars.

The car will see around 600-1000 per oil change all on the track running up to the rev limiter. Oil will be Redline 30wt Race Oil. Price is no concern.

I was leaning towards a Royal Purple filter but the Wix XP shows excellent filtering ability based on the Beta ratio reported online. What would you run?

(Before anyone says I should be more concerned about the air filter, it is specified by the rules and can't be changed.)
 
Originally Posted By: 09_GXP
I was leaning towards a Royal Purple filter but the Wix XP shows excellent filtering ability based on the Beta ratio reported online.


I wouldn't say that 50% @ 20 microns (beta B2=20) is "excellent filtering ability".
 
Originally Posted By: Bgallagher
If I remember correctly Wix makes a racing series of filters as well. Worth looking into.


Those are more aimed at pure racing engines. My engine is stock except for a tune to run 100 octane fuel. Sry, should have mentioned that.

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: 09_GXP
I was leaning towards a Royal Purple filter but the Wix XP shows excellent filtering ability based on the Beta ratio reported online.


I wouldn't say that 50% @ 20 microns (beta B2=20) is "excellent filtering ability".


B2=20 would be 95% efficient at 2 microns using standard industry language. Now if they aren't using the standard reporting formula it's a different story and easy to eliminate that filter.

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/sites/...es/3301016A.pdf
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: 09_GXP
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: 09_GXP
I was leaning towards a Royal Purple filter but the Wix XP shows excellent filtering ability based on the Beta ratio reported online.


I wouldn't say that 50% @ 20 microns (beta B2=20) is "excellent filtering ability".


B2=20 would be 95% efficient at 2 microns using standard industry language. Now if they aren't using the standard reporting formula it's a different story and easy to eliminate that filter.

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/sites/...es/3301016A.pdf


You're late to the party - this has been beat to death in the past. WIX doesn't use the "standard industry language" for beta ratios. Give WIX Tech Dept a call (number is on their website) and see what the guy tells you.

There's not a filter made for everyday passenger vehicles that is 95% efficient at 2 microns.
 
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix


You're late to the party - this has been beat to death in the past. WIX doesn't use the "standard industry language" for beta ratios. Give WIX Tech Dept a call (number is on their website) and see what the guy tells you.

There's not a filter made for everyday passenger vehicles that is 95% efficient at 2 microns.


Good to know. Kind of disappointing when a company can't adhere to an industry standard and has their "premium" product less capable (filtration wise) than their standard.
 
Originally Posted By: 09_GXP
B2=20 would be 95% efficient at 2 microns using standard industry language. Now if they aren't using the standard reporting formula it's a different story and easy to eliminate that filter.

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/sites/...es/3301016A.pdf


That PDF actually agrees with the WIX beta format of "B2=20".

B2 means 'beta 2' (filtration ratio 2), which per the table below (from the PDF) means 50% efficiency.

 
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: 09_GXP
B2=20 would be 95% efficient at 2 microns using standard industry language. Now if they aren't using the standard reporting formula it's a different story and easy to eliminate that filter.

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/sites/...es/3301016A.pdf


That PDF actually agrees with the WIX beta format of "B2=20".

B2 means 'beta 2' (filtration ratio 2), which per the table below (from the PDF) means 50% efficiency.




That's where Wix differs from the standard. The normal way to write a beta ratio is BP=R, where P is the particle size and R is the ratio. This is read as the filtration ratio of particle size P is R. Wix is writing it BR=P which changes everything.
 
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^^^ Yep, so if WIX used the 'standard' way of expressing beta ratio it would read "B20=2". I was misreading the table from the PDF, and not reading the examples given.
 
If I was racing anything and found "THE" filter brand. I would get the biggest can I could find in that brand. Increasing system capacity even a little bit wouldn't hurt and increased flow would be less likely to bypass.
 
Running mostly clean oil (changing at low OCI's as befits a racing motor) and at high RPMs you want to look at minimal restriction to flow; this might mean using a filter that is less efficient at removing smaller particles. You could then compensate by using more filter area (perhaps a double remote filter mount, for example, and choosing taller filters with a high mounted remote mount).

I would guess the oil would be mostly contaminated with byproducts of combustion rather than wear metals. Changing often should take care of that.

The OEM Miata filter has the filter heater/cooler mechanism (connected to the cooling system) for faster warmups and more temperature regulation. This may be a detriment in a racing application, where you are going to warm up the motor properly in any case before running hard, and where elevated coolant temperatures may mean unnecessarily high oil temperatures. So a remote filter would probably be recommended anyway.

All the above provided it is allowed in the rules of your class, of course.
 
For racing IMHO a Baldwin would be a great choice. The can is very heavy gauge and is unlikely to fail (first concern in racing).
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Flow will not be an issue using any of the microglass offerings, Royal Purple, Amsoil, Fram Ultra or Wix XP.


+1
 
I think Fram already makes a racing or some type of heavy duty use filter. I'd go with one of those, no use spending a bunch of money on a filter that's going to be changed every 1000 miles. I wouldn't think a Miata engine would build enough oil pressure to be a big concern so a regular filter would probably be okay. But, it's all up to you in the end!
 
Lots of good thoughts here. Sounds like a Royal Purple may be the winner. Bonus that the auto parts store by my house can get them in 2 days.

I like the idea of the billet oil filters posted by GMBoy but don't think my stock Miata motor on my duty cycle would be the right fit for one. Looking down the road it may be a good option if I start running another class or start running more to require more frequent changes.
 
I have used system 1 filters for over 20 years on my race engines.Dont know if they make them for your application.You might give them a call. I think its worth looking into.
 
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