Two for one oil to filter change UOA results.

[Swissdieselfan]

Can't figure out how to post a jpeg to this forum, but I just completed an experiment re-using an oil filter after an oil change. The wear metal figures etc were all constant over the last 3 10K km oil changes, but the insolubles figures did vary as follows:
After 1st oil & filter change: 0.4%
2nd oil & filter change: 0.5%
3rd oil only change: 0.4% (Surprise figure)
This means the oil filter did a slightly better job when used a second time from 10 to 20K km (The UOA wear metals for the 2nd and 3rd UOA were identical).
The max limit is 0.8%, so I have extended the oil filter change interval to 25K km (The recommended max oil filter change interval is 20K km), so I will be exceeding the OEM limit by 5K km. To match the new filter change interval I have extended the OCI to 12.5K km, so I will continue with the two for one schedule for a while.
Note: The engine holds 5.6 liters of oil and the filter 0.9 liters (I did not try and drain it), so if you allow for the contamination of the new oil, the oil filter did a real good job during the second phase use.

 

[Voltmaster]

you need upload the jpeg to an external site such as tinypic

 

[Jim Allen]

Filter performance cannot be reliably interpreted from a used oil analysis. You need to have a particle count done. This has long been "common knowledge" among engineers but one of the major oil filter companies proved it with a study... and produced a white paper. I am reviewing it now and will soon post a link. It's nothing earth shattering or new, just available proof that a used oil analysis doesn't tell you squat about oil filter performance

 

[Swissdieselfan]

Yes I know that, but I'm not trying to figure out which filter is best, I'm mostly concerned with making sure it is not too close to going into bypass and the only figure that seems to do that is the insolubles one. That figure seems to imply I am well clear at the max OCI of 20K km, so I will extend to 25K but no further.
Once I have figured out which oil works best I might try a non Volvo filter and a few particle counts, although my used oil analysis results in Fe, Al, Cr and Pb are very consistent, so I should be able to see a difference, without paying the extra charges.
Which is the cheapest US lab for particle counts at present??

 

[Jim Allen]

I believe you are chasing a ghost in respect to insols answering any questions with regard to filter efficiency or loading.

If you really want to know about a bypassing filter, install a differential pressure gauge set, as I have... in it's simplest form oil pressure gauges reading on the lube circuit on either side of the filter Go back and search my previous posts on that topic for some preliminary info on that experiment. It might be useful to you in a general sense and the results so far do seem to indicate there is a very large margin for loading the average filter. I have about 21K km on a Purolator filter now and will be running to at lest 26K. But it's a gas engine with bypass filtration... both factors that makes this a relative breeze compared to a (soot laced) diesel without a bypass. I believe the money spend on a simple DP setup might be cheaper than a series of PC or oil analysis... and tell you more to boot. The obvious question is how much adaptation is required on your engine. In my case it was quite difficult but in your case it could be as simple as a sandwich adapter under the filter (such as you might fit for an auxiliary oil cooler) with sensors or tubes on either side of the filter flow.

Generally, a PC alone is about the same cost as a full UOA alone. I have not made a survey to see who is the least expensive. I suggest going for an optical PC if possible as the pore blockage method is less accurate. WIth very opaque, soot laced diesel oil optical may not be possible.

 

[FZ1]

Originally Posted By: Swissdieselfan
Yes I know that, but I'm not trying to figure out which filter is best, I'm mostly concerned with making sure it is not too close to going into bypass and the only figure that seems to do that is the insolubles one. That figure seems to imply I am well clear at the max OCI of 20K km, so I will extend to 25K but no further.
Once I have figured out which oil works best I might try a non Volvo filter and a few particle counts, although my used oil analysis results in Fe, Al, Cr and Pb are very consistent, so I should be able to see a difference, without paying the extra charges.
Which is the cheapest US lab for particle counts at present??
Check out BT Anchors used oil analysis for about 20 filter particle counts and pick the filter you want.

 

[Swissdieselfan]

You can't fit a bypass filter in a Volvo car without moving the battery to the boot as there is no space, so I'm just using a genuine Volvo oil filter (Made by Mann probably) and don't intend to use anything else at present.
I've not seen a used oil analysis showing signs of increased wear from the filter going into bypass because it is blocked that did not show insolubles above limits. It seems to be the only figure available to judge how full the filter is. Fitting pressure gauges is also a no go in installation cost terms.