OK I had a nice report, but I couldn't post the pictures. If anyone wants to post or host the pics I'll be glad to send them along. If anyone wants the word doc report with pics send me an email.
I have to say I was very skeptical as most probably still are about the Trasko. I would have never bought the unit based on their web information, but after seeing another user getting 30k+ on the oil, I figured it was worth a try. At first, I wanted a remote full flow system, but due to the lack of room and the effort to do so was more time than I had, I bought the Trasko for my Taurus dohc V6.
The Trasko web site isn’t all that convincing, mostly sales fluff. They need to explain more about the product and how it works. Now that I have one, taken it apart, and figured out how it works. I’ll show others what it really is. Below is an exploded view of the filter. The TP is 2.95”long, 2.95”OD, 1.5”ID
This unit uses a #60-mesh screen as a full flow filter. 60 mesh is equivalent to .0126”, which is about 320µm, in other words it’s a sieve. This screen is a little different than standard square weaved 60 mesh, it’s diagonally weaved, so all the holes are parallelograms. Using a microscope, I measured the holes to be .009” in its shortest direction and .014” in its longest direction. This is equivalent to 203µm x 355µm. So, that explains how they get the full flow that an engine needs. Below is a 100x view of the screen.
The heart of the unit is what I’ll call the check valve, because that’s really all it is. This check valve opens under a certain amount of oil pressure, judging by the light spring, I’m guessing it’s around 5-10 psi. This 5-10 psi delta is what forces some of the oil through the TP and allows the filtrate to flow back into the downstream side, since the downstream side has 5-10 psi less than the upstream side. Only 1-2 psi is needed to push hot oil though a filter like this.
The TP filter: Trasko claims it’s specially engineered filter paper, I’m not sure I believe it yet. Below is the Trasko sample under 100x and a sample from our men’s room TP roll.
Trasko @ 20x Trasko @ 100x
Single ply “cheap” TP
TP @ 20x TP @ 100x
OK this brand or type of TP is much more open than the Trasko TP. So maybe it is special stuff, still skeptical that I haven’t found the “right” brand of TP yet.
Someone posted that the TP fits loosely, but it doesn’t, it fits snug in the canister, nothing rattling in this filter. I would like the center tube tighter fitting along more of its length to insure no channeling. I can hear the skeptics now, especially RW, who as we know is very passionate about the full size TP filters. The only explanation that I can offer as to why they claim this TP last 10k miles is this: Wrapped depth filters will stop a specific size particle at specific depth within the filter. Large particles near the surface, smaller one’s deeper within the filter. Simple stuff right? The stop depth is directly proportional to the flow velocity and density of the media. Perhaps the flow velocity is even slower than the other full size TP filters, this would allow it to be more efficient for a longer time interval, and Trasko’s TP is more efficient. From the pic’s you can see it will have more dirt capacity than the TP I sampled.
An interesting experiment for Ralph W. or anyone else that has a full size TP filter would be to add an even smaller flow restrictor (say 30-50%) and watch and see if the filter last longer. Come on Ralph or others we’re all on a quest for continuous improvements here, what do you say?
Now back to the Trasko subject. The filter seems well made, there are several parts, and you couldn’t make this unit for less in the states. Some parts are cast, but all have had some machining operation performed to them, mostly threading. You’re getting your money’s worth on the housing but the $9 for filter elements is a racket. If this thing works and I don’t have to change my oil but every 30-40k then I’ll be satisfied. For now I’ll keep an open mind, try it, and report back.
I have to say I was very skeptical as most probably still are about the Trasko. I would have never bought the unit based on their web information, but after seeing another user getting 30k+ on the oil, I figured it was worth a try. At first, I wanted a remote full flow system, but due to the lack of room and the effort to do so was more time than I had, I bought the Trasko for my Taurus dohc V6.
The Trasko web site isn’t all that convincing, mostly sales fluff. They need to explain more about the product and how it works. Now that I have one, taken it apart, and figured out how it works. I’ll show others what it really is. Below is an exploded view of the filter. The TP is 2.95”long, 2.95”OD, 1.5”ID
This unit uses a #60-mesh screen as a full flow filter. 60 mesh is equivalent to .0126”, which is about 320µm, in other words it’s a sieve. This screen is a little different than standard square weaved 60 mesh, it’s diagonally weaved, so all the holes are parallelograms. Using a microscope, I measured the holes to be .009” in its shortest direction and .014” in its longest direction. This is equivalent to 203µm x 355µm. So, that explains how they get the full flow that an engine needs. Below is a 100x view of the screen.
The heart of the unit is what I’ll call the check valve, because that’s really all it is. This check valve opens under a certain amount of oil pressure, judging by the light spring, I’m guessing it’s around 5-10 psi. This 5-10 psi delta is what forces some of the oil through the TP and allows the filtrate to flow back into the downstream side, since the downstream side has 5-10 psi less than the upstream side. Only 1-2 psi is needed to push hot oil though a filter like this.
The TP filter: Trasko claims it’s specially engineered filter paper, I’m not sure I believe it yet. Below is the Trasko sample under 100x and a sample from our men’s room TP roll.
Trasko @ 20x Trasko @ 100x
Single ply “cheap” TP
TP @ 20x TP @ 100x
OK this brand or type of TP is much more open than the Trasko TP. So maybe it is special stuff, still skeptical that I haven’t found the “right” brand of TP yet.
Someone posted that the TP fits loosely, but it doesn’t, it fits snug in the canister, nothing rattling in this filter. I would like the center tube tighter fitting along more of its length to insure no channeling. I can hear the skeptics now, especially RW, who as we know is very passionate about the full size TP filters. The only explanation that I can offer as to why they claim this TP last 10k miles is this: Wrapped depth filters will stop a specific size particle at specific depth within the filter. Large particles near the surface, smaller one’s deeper within the filter. Simple stuff right? The stop depth is directly proportional to the flow velocity and density of the media. Perhaps the flow velocity is even slower than the other full size TP filters, this would allow it to be more efficient for a longer time interval, and Trasko’s TP is more efficient. From the pic’s you can see it will have more dirt capacity than the TP I sampled.
An interesting experiment for Ralph W. or anyone else that has a full size TP filter would be to add an even smaller flow restrictor (say 30-50%) and watch and see if the filter last longer. Come on Ralph or others we’re all on a quest for continuous improvements here, what do you say?
Now back to the Trasko subject. The filter seems well made, there are several parts, and you couldn’t make this unit for less in the states. Some parts are cast, but all have had some machining operation performed to them, mostly threading. You’re getting your money’s worth on the housing but the $9 for filter elements is a racket. If this thing works and I don’t have to change my oil but every 30-40k then I’ll be satisfied. For now I’ll keep an open mind, try it, and report back.
