The oil filter is one of the most sought after items in auto parts stores. Every year the number of brands of oil filters on the shelves of our car dealerships only increases. Consumers, as well as sellers, naturally have questions: “Is there any difference between them, or is it only the inscriptions on the case and packaging that differ”? Portal "About Autobusiness" conducted an investigation and provides you with an answer to this question.

The purpose of our work is not to test the filtering abilities of each model and their resource. This is only an attempt to analyze the design of oil filters based on generally accepted knowledge and concepts, taking into account the latest trends in the field of oil filter production. As for the selected assortment, within the framework of this project, we purchased one model of an oil filter for a Toyota engine of the most common brands on the Siberian market. The original filter number is 90915-10000003. When buying filters were selected from a variety of price categories. Thus, both the most expensive products on the market and the most affordable ones “participated” in this project. This is very important for the purposes of our study, since it makes it possible to answer the question: “Are there, in principle, constructive differences between premium filters and economy class filters”? Oil filters of the following brands became participants of our test: Mann Filter (Germany), TopFills (Korea), BIG (Korea), RB-Exide (Korea), Lynx (Korea), Champion (European Union), VIC (Japan), Sakura (Korea) ), Micro (Japan), Union (Japan), Toyota Genuine Parts (original filters).

Each filter is rated
on several parameters:

1 package
2) filter housing
3) filter design
element
4) spring design
5) anti-drain valve
6) filter cover
7) filter sealing ring.

Package

Perhaps this point of the study is not so interesting for the end consumer, since we can evaluate the filter packaging only by one indicator - namely, compliance or non-compliance with the requirements of Russian legislation. This stage of our work will be interesting for car service representatives and especially for filter sellers. The fact is that if a company sells goods whose packaging does not meet Russian GOST standards, this may cause the application of various sanctions by regulatory authorities - from fines to the requirement to remove the goods from sale.

The requirements of Russian legislation are generally quite simple. The packaging in Russian should contain information about the applicability of the product, the name of the manufacturer, the address of the company.

The packaging of such filters as TopFills, BIG, RB-Exide, Lynx, Sakura fully comply with the requirements of GOST. As we can see, the South Korean filter manufacturers showed amazing unanimity in their deference to the Russian trade legislation and placed the most complete information in Russian on their packages.

European manufacturers Champi-on and Mann were less attentive. The packaging of these filters contains almost all the necessary information.

Japanese filter manufacturers Union, VIC, Micro, Toyota Genuine Parts distinguished themselves by complete nihilism in this matter. We could not find the necessary information in Russian on any of the packages!

Another point is important. Pay attention to how some manufacturers indicate the country of manufacture of the filter. In most cases, the exact country of production is indicated: Made in Korea, Made in Japan. But on the packaging of filters Sakura, Topfills, Champion, we were unable to find accurate information regarding the country of production.

Filter housing

This part of the filter, one might say, is not the most responsible for its performance. It is possible to compare various models of iron filter housings by only two indicators: the rigidity of the housing and the quality of the internal surface treatment. According to the first indicator, all participants in our study are almost equal, with the exception of the Sakura filter housing. He was the softest of all. A natural question arises whether this difference can significantly affect the performance of the filter. Under normal operating conditions, no, but if an increase in pressure occurs in the oil system or a stone gets into the filter from the outside, then a softer body can do a disservice. For example, high pressure in the oil system (which often occurs in winter when starting a cold engine with thick oil) can lead to a rupture of the filter housing. However, it must be admitted that the probability of such an emergency is not so high. The treatment of the inner surface with an anti-corrosion compound does not cause any comments from any of the participants. According to this indicator, only the Mann filter differs, in which the inner surface of the body, in addition to the main anti-corrosion composition, is also coated with an additional anti-galvanic composition.

filter element

The filter element is the main part of the filter responsible for the quality of its work. The filter element should be evaluated according to several parameters: the quality and quantity of the filter element, the valve system (bypass valve), as well as the quality of the filter paper laying. As part of our analysis, we, unfortunately, will not be able to evaluate the quality of the filter paper. Such a test requires special tests in a certified laboratory. It is important to note that neither the color, nor the structure of its surface (texture), nor the thickness in any way speaks about its quality. Therefore, the fact that some manufacturers use smooth and thin pink filter paper in their filters does not mean at all that such a filter will purify oil better or worse than a filter with very dense and fluffy gray paper.

Let's consider other design features of filter elements. First of all, the filter element of the original filter is striking. As you can see, a completely different design of the filter element is used here. It is not made of paper, but of a special sponge material. Note that this filter was purchased in Japan, from an authorized Toyota dealer, and there is no doubt about its authenticity. Accordingly, we can conclude that it was precisely this design that Toyota experts, after conducting their own tests, considered more effective. All other filters use paper. One of the indirect factors in the quality of the filter element is the volume of the filter paper. But this is only if we are talking about paper with the same density. If we compare filters that use different paper structures, then their area may differ, and the filtration quality may be identical. If we turn over all the filter elements and put them in a row, we will see in which of them the area will be larger - in those that are larger in size. The diameter of the filter element is the same for all manufacturers, but the height is slightly different. VIC, Union, Micro have the highest filter elements. Averages for this indicator: Champion, Mann, Lynx, TopFills. In filters BIG, RB-exide, Sakura - the lowest filter elements. This is due to the design of the spring, which presses the filter element.

The paper binding methods are also different. Some manufacturers use a metal bracket, others use conventional gluing. A metal bracket is considered a more reliable connection. When using this bonding method, the probability of paper rupture at elevated pressure in the oil system is zero. Of the filters presented here, the connection of the edges of the paper with a metal clip is used by Union, TopFills, Mann.
It is also worth noting that the quality of paper laying by almost all manufacturers is good. The exception is the TopFills filter, where the paper is stacked rather carelessly, which may indicate a low level of production.

bypass valve

What this valve is for, everyone probably already knows, but we still remind you. During a cold start, when the oil is very thick and cannot pass through the filter paper, the bypass valve opens and oil begins to flow into the engine, bypassing the filter. The same thing happens when the oil filter is critically clogged. This eliminates engine oil starvation, which is much more harmful than running for a minute on contaminated oil. It is worth noting that filters were found on the market, in the design of which there is no bypass valve at all. As a rule, these are fairly cheap oil filters made in Southeast Asia. There are also exceptions. For example, in one of the stores in Vladivostok, we came across a Toyota filter in its original packaging, in which there was no bypass valve. Judging by the barcode, the filter was produced in one of the countries of Southeast Asia. In the summer, such a filter will still work, but in winter, oil starvation is possible. The most interesting thing is that the filter was sold in Russia at a price of 330 rubles! You can detect the absence of a bypass valve by looking inside the filter.

The design of the bypass valve is identical for almost all filter manufacturers. Only the original filter and Sakura stand out. The original filter uses a flat coiled spring, while the Sakura has a spring-loaded part on the outside of the filter. When you press the valve, the valve constantly warps. There is a danger that after a series of operations, such a valve will completely warp and the filter will constantly etch dirty oil into the engine.

For all other filters, the valves are similar, only the material from which the valve is made and the stiffness of the spring differ. It is worth noting that many manufacturers have recently abandoned the use of metal valves, since there is a possibility that in severe frost such a valve may freeze to the filter element housing and not work at the most necessary moment. Metal valves are used by Japanese manufacturers VIC, Union, Micro.

Spring

There is not much to say about this part of the filter. We only note that recently many market leaders have switched to completing their filters with leaf springs. The coil spring takes up too much space in the filter housing. In addition, when using a high coil spring, there is a possibility of its displacement inside the filter and distortion of the filter element. However, there are reputable manufacturers that produce filters with coil springs, in particular Union and Micro. The spring has a small height and is made of high quality stainless steel. And yet, a flat spring is considered more modern.

Anti-drain valve

Structurally, this valve is a small rubber ring with wide edges that close the holes in the filter cup and prevent oil from flowing out of the filter after a pressure drop in the system. The rubber must be highly elastic, oil-resistant and withstand high temperatures. As part of our analysis, we can only evaluate the elasticity of the gum and the quality of the fit of the gum to the cup. For these two parameters, we liked the Mann filter the most, in which the valve is made of silicone. This material retains its original properties over time and under the influence of all negative factors. Therefore, you can be sure that the anti-drain valve will work for the entire life of the filter. The anti-drainage valve of the BIG filter left an unpleasant impression - the rubber band itself is quite hard, and its edges have irregularities through which oil can flow out of the filter. That is, after a long stop in such a filter, there may not be any oil left at all. The TopFills filter also has gaps between the rubber band and the cover, but for a different reason. The edges of the rubber band of this filter lie directly on the welding points of the filter cover to the body; because of this, small gaps appear between the rubber band and the case. Another unpleasant moment was found in the Sakura filter - no matter how hard we pressed on the rubber, it was not possible to achieve a full fit, that is, oil from this filter can also flow freely. For all other manufacturers, the anti-drainage valve does not cause any special comments.

filter cover

All manufacturers have the same caps, except for the Mann filter and the original filter. All manufacturers use welding. The Mann Filter and the original filters use a roll-up design, which eliminates the welding points on the back of the cap, which, as we already know, can compromise the tightness of the anti-drain valve. In addition, the Mann filter housing has special edges at the point of attachment to the filter cover. This is done on purpose - in order to eliminate the danger of turning the filter housing around the filter when winding the filter with great effort.

Sealing ring

Among specialists, one can often hear disputes as to which gum company is preferable. Someone stands up for round elastic bands, others for rectangular ones. In practice, there is no difference. The main thing is that the material from which it is made is sufficiently elastic. Despite the fact that many manufacturers have a very low and thin gasket, we will not draw conclusions from this about the quality of the fit of the filter to the engine block.

Conclusions:

In most cases, more expensive oil filters are different from cheaper counterparts: these filters use a more successful, more modern design. By the way these filters are made, one can judge the high production culture at manufacturing enterprises. If in the premium class filter segment there are practically no obvious “failures” in the design, then in the economy class filter segment there are several examples of careless execution, which can affect the quality of oil filtration.

Oil filter with replaceable filter element

Oil filter serves to clean the oil from solid particles of wear products of engine parts, soot, etc. Contaminated oil causes accelerated engine wear and clogs the channels of the lubrication system. Oil filters are called full-flow if all the oil passes through them, and non-full-threaded if only part of it passes through them. Partial-flow filters are used as additional to the main ones - full-flow ones for finer oil purification. The oil filter can be replaceable and must be replaced with a new one at every oil change, or have a replaceable filter element only. In most passenger car engines, full-flow replaceable filters are used (Fig. 2.43), although there are designs in which only the filter element is replaced.

The design of the centrifugal oil filter (centrifuge):
1 - body;
2 - rotor cap;
3 - rotor;
4 - filter cap;
5 - nut for fastening the rotor cap;
6 - thrust ball bearing;
7 - thrust washer;
8 - rotor fastening nut;
9 - nut for fastening the filter cap;
10 - upper sleeve of the rotor;
11 - rotor axis;
12 - screen;
13 - lower rotor bushing;
14 - stopper finger;
15 - stopper plate;
16 - stopper spring;
17 - oil outlet pipe

In the lubrication systems of trucks, two filters are often used: one is full-flow with a replaceable filter element, the second is a non-full-flow centrifugal (centrifuge). The centrifugal filter (centrifuge) is driven by the reactive forces of oil flowing under pressure from special nozzles (jets) directed in different directions. The hood rotating at high speed together with the nozzles, located inside the filter housing, is filled with oil, from which solid particles are removed due to centrifugal forces, which settle on the inner surface of the hood. Centrifugal filters purify oil very well, but only on a mass basis. For example, soot particles are poorly captured by them, since the masses of soot and oil are close in size.

The device of a non-separable (a) and collapsible (b) full-flow volumetric adsorbing oil filter:
1 - body;
2 - curtain (filter element);
3 - bypass valve;
4 - anti-drainage valve;
5 - anti-drain valve;
6 - oil path when opening the bypass valve;
7 - channel for draining oil into the crankcase when replacing the filter element

The filter elements of full-flow filters are made of porous material (paper, porous cardboard, synthetic materials). In case of clogging of the pores of the filter element, its throughput deteriorates. In order to prevent a drop in oil pressure in the main oil line, there is a filter inside the filter. bypass valve. The bypass valve opens at a certain pressure inside the filter and allows oil to pass into the engine, bypassing the filter element.
It should be noted that it is better to supply unrefined oil to the engine than to allow the pressure in the lubrication system to drop. The bypass valve may also open if the oil thickens excessively during a cold start of the engine. There are filter designs in which two bypass valves are installed. Sometimes special sensors are used to signal a clogged oil filter.
Drain valve, installed at the inlet to the filter, prevents oil from flowing out of the filter after the engine is stopped, so that during the subsequent start-up, time is not lost to fill the filter housing and the engine does not experience oil starvation.

It is one of the most important parts of a modern car's lubrication system. The main purpose of the oil filter is to clean engine oil from wear products of rubbing parts and engine mechanisms. The oil filter also cleans the oil of carbon deposits, which are formed as a result of engine operation at high temperatures. In this article, we will talk about oil filter device.

The history of the oil filter

Oil filter change interval

What is an oil filter and why is it needed, we figured it out. Now let's figure out when to change the oil filter? mainly associated with And this is undoubtedly correct. Indeed, after the engine oil has worked out its resource, and carbon deposits, deposits, metal chips remain in the filter, the filter needs to be replaced.

Now on sale there is a huge number of oil filters. Only one type oil filter, which is installed on most Toyota cars, is sold in our online store from more than a dozen manufacturers from around the world. This is both the original Japanese Toyota C-110, and many duplicates of the world's leading manufacturers: Vic, Bosch, RB exide, SCT and others. At the same time, the price of such a filter ranges from 90 to 250 rubles. So why such a price difference? Now we have come to the main question of our article: what is an oil filter made of?

Figure 1 - Oil filters

The oil filter consists of a housing, a bypass valve, a filter element, a check valve, a cover and a gasket. These are the main elements that make up the oil filter of a modern car. The oil filter device can be studied in the figure below:

Figure 2 - Schematic representation of the oil filter device

So, let's understand further how the oil filter works. Let's start with the oil filter housing. The oil filter housing is made in the form of a glass. The main purpose of the oil filter housing is to maintain the integrity of all internal parts of the filter. The oil filter housing does not play a big role, but when buying, you should pay attention to the quality of the metal from which the oil filter is made. If the metal is too thin, then excessive pressure in the engine oil system may destroy the oil filter housing. That's why you should buy only high-quality oil filters.

We can see and touch the oil filter housing very easily. You just need to open the box. But what about what's inside the oil filter? We'll have to cut the oil filter, because otherwise we won't understand how the oil filter works. In the photo below, we sawed through a Fram oil filter to get a closer look at the car's oil filter.

Figure 3 - Fram oil filter device

So, now we can continue to study the oil filter device. What do we see inside? The first thing that catches your eye is the filter element. The filter element is the most important part of an oil filter. The filter element is made of special impregnated paper. The paper is folded like an accordion and placed on a roll. This is done in order to increase the filtering surface of the filter, thereby increasing the efficiency of the oil filter itself.

Figure 4 - Oil filter element

Almost all modern oil filters have a bypass valve. However, when choosing a filter, preference should be given to precisely such filters that have a bypass valve. Let's try to figure out why we need a bypass (bypass valve)? The bypass valve allows unrefined oil to pass into the engine under extreme conditions. Why is this needed? Imagine a situation when you start the engine in severe frost. The oil has thickened and cannot pass through the filter element. To avoid the destruction of the filter, and also not to leave the motor without lubrication, the bypass valve starts to work.

Figure 5 - Oil filter element and bypass valve

The purpose of the check valve is to prevent oil from flowing back into the crankcase. If there were no non-return valve or if it did not work, then during engine start-up the main parts would be without lubrication. You can indirectly evaluate the operation of the check valve by the time it takes for the oiler on the dashboard to go out. During normal operation of the check valve, the oiler icon should go out immediately after starting the engine.

Figure 6 - Oil filter check valve

There is a gasket on the oil filter cover. The gasket is made of rubber and serves to prevent oil leakage from the system. The gasket plays one of the important roles in the oil filter device.

Figure 7 - Oil filter cover

Figure 8 - Oil filter gasket

Now we figured out what an oil filter is and how it works, what it is for and what it consists of. Concluding the article, I would like to say that oil filters are an integral part of any car, and the timely replacement of oil filters is no less important than replacing the engine oil itself.

I welcome you friends to the DIY auto repair site. A car engine is a complex mechanism made up of hundreds of different parts, and most of them are in constant interaction with each other.

At the same time, to reduce the friction force, increase efficiency and remove wear products, a special lubricant is provided - engine oil.

During operation, dirt, small metal chips and other “garbage” may appear in the lubricant, which effectively cleans the oil filter.

Main types of oil filters

All types of oil filters can be divided according to several main criteria:

• By design;
• according to the filtering method;
• by volume.

1. According to the design features:

Collapsible oil filters have a number of advantages - affordable price, high quality filtration, the ability to replace only the filter element.

Non-separable - are disposable and require mandatory replacement along with filling in new oil.

Modular - combine the qualities of the two filters described above. A feature of such a filter is the possibility of partial disassembly. The main disadvantage is the high price.

2. According to the oil filtering method:

Mechanical oil filters are the most popular type of device. Cleaning is carried out using a special material (filter element) - felt and paper. In such devices, as a rule, there are two stages of cleaning - coarse and fine.

Magnetic products are distinguished by the presence of special magnets. The latter capture small metal particles and pass already clean oil.

Gravity filters are based on the principle of gravity, when contaminants simply settle in the device under the influence of gravity.

Centrifugal devices clean due to the action of centrifugal force.

3. According to the volume of passing oil:

A full-flow oil filter “cuts” into the system in series. The entire flow of oil in the engine passes through it. The advantage of such a device is excellent efficiency and high speed of oil purification. The only downside is that such a filter clogs faster and needs to be replaced.

The main element of such a device is a bypass valve. As soon as the filter element becomes clogged, the pressure builds up and the valve is forced to let oil through.

Such a constructive solution can be considered from two positions. On the one hand, the oil returns to the elements of the power unit uncleaned, and on the other hand, the possibility of engine overheating due to an acute shortage of lubricating composition is excluded.

Partial flow MF works on a different principle - it is connected in parallel with the lubrication system. The main difference between such a device is the passage of only part of the oil.

Thus, the cleaning rate of the lubricant composition becomes lower, but the filtration quality increases. In general terms, the efficiency of both types of filters (both full-flow and partial-flow) is similar. The only difference is the presence of a bypass valve in the first type.

The combined MF combines the qualities of both types of devices discussed above. The meaning is simple. Approximately 90% of the oil passes through a full flow element and the remaining 10% through a part flow element.

Thanks to this feature, on the one hand, the oil is more efficiently cleaned, and on the other hand, the service life of the MF is increased.

Design features of the oil filter

Regardless of the type, the oil filter device is almost always the same. The filter element has a cylindrical shape. It contains two types of valves (return and bypass), a filter and a spring.

Also, the oil filter has several holes in the housing. A large group of holes is located around the perimeter, and there is another threaded hole at the outlet of the device (it is designed to connect the MF to the system). On the outside there is a special seal designed to protect against oil leakage.

The filter element may have a different design. As a rule, for the purposes of oil purification, ordinary cardboard is used, impregnated with a special liquid, folded in the form of an accordion and twisted around the perimeter.

This design increases the overall area and life of the filter, as well as improves the quality of oil cleaning.

As we already mentioned, one of the main elements of the MF is the bypass valve. It is designed to directly pass oil into the engine without cleaning (this is true in case of severe contamination of the filter element).

Otherwise, the power unit could be left without lubrication, which is fraught with overheating, a wedge, and then a major overhaul.

As for the check valve, its task is to block the access of oil to the crankcase with the engine turned off. In the absence of such a device, at the time of starting, the rubbing elements of the engine would be left without lubrication. The result is a significant reduction in engine life.

The effectiveness of the check valve can be judged by the oil pressure indicator on the car panel. As a rule, such a lamp should go out within 5-7 seconds after starting the engine. If this does not happen, then the valve either does not work at all, or has ceased to hold oil.

In general, the design of the oil filter is designed in such a way that the device gives maximum efficiency in cleaning oil and has a minimum cost.

Oil filter replacement rules

Most car enthusiasts do not know when to change the oil filter. As a rule, this is done in the event of an engine oil change. But this option does not always work.

Please note that the replacement terms can be set by the manufacturer himself (pay attention to this). At the same time, much depends on a number of factors - climate, operating conditions, type of engine, and so on.

So, if you operate a car in off-road conditions, high temperatures, high dust content, and so on, then the oil filter should be replaced earlier.

The life of the filter largely depends on the driving style. For active riders, it is also better to change the MF a little more often.

The optimal time to replace the filter is 5-8 thousand kilometers. But mileage should not be the only indication.

Check the oil level from time to time and pay attention to the condition of the lubricant. If dirt appears in the composition, various “chip” impurities and other “garbage” it is worth replacing.

This is a clear sign that the filter is no longer doing its job. Also, don't forget to read where it comes from. white emulsion on dipstick and what to do if it appeared.

Another question concerns the replacement of the filter without filling in new oil. Is it possible? According to most experienced motorists, there is nothing to worry about.

You can safely unscrew the filter, screw in a new one and not worry that a stream of oil will gush out of the engine. All that you will lose is a small part of the lubricant, which is located directly in the device itself (250-300 ml). After replacing the MF, be sure to check the oil level. If it has decreased, be sure to top up.

Be careful with your car. If there is a suspicion that the filter does not clean the oil enough, and various impurities have appeared in the lubricant, then it is better not to wait for the oil change and install a new filter.

At the same time, try to buy only high-quality devices from time-tested manufacturers. Have a good road and of course without breakdowns.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of oil in a car: the car consists of many metal parts, some of which are in constant motion, in contact with each other. Friction causes a lot of heat and, if there was no lubrication, the motor would quickly fail. However, its presence does not guarantee the perfect operation of the engine. During operation, small metal particles are inevitably formed that clog the lubricant. To prevent this from happening, an oil filter is installed in the car. This is a device that cleans the engine fluid and starts it up again. How the oil filter works, how it works, is described below.

Oil filter design

Outwardly, in most cases, this is a metal cylinder with a diameter of 10-15 cm with a large threaded hole and several small ones at the bottom. They serve for the inlet and outlet of the lubricant composition. There is only one requirement for the filter housing: to ensure the safety of its constituent elements. But what's inside?

1. Anti-drain valve. Its purpose is to cover a large hole. The valve comes into operation when the engine is turned off: in this case, there is a risk of draining the oil from the engine into the filter, since the latter can be at the top or in the center of the power unit. If the valve does not function, there may be no oil in the motor when starting.
2. Spring. It works in tandem with the element described above, that is, it presses on it so that it is in the closed state when the engine is not running. If earlier a conventional spring was used, today manufacturers prefer to complete filters with plate products that take up less space.
3. Filtration material. It can be cellulose, glass, polyester, other synthetics. Often, resin is added to the material, which increases the rigidity of the product, thereby increasing strength. The presence of folds in the design of the filter increases the surface area. The material itself is divided into two sections: the first traps large contaminating particles (more than 20 microns in size), the second - the smallest (<5 микрон).
4. central tube. It is usually made of steel and is the main filter element that ensures the return of purified oil to the power plant.
5. Safety valve. It is located on the end of the product opposite from the large outlet. The task of this part is to open a hole when high pressure occurs inside the engine lubrication system, which can harm the elements of the product inside.
6. A sealing rubber gasket and a cover guarantee the tightness of the structure when it is fixed on the cylinder block.

The principle of operation of the oil filter

When the engine is started, the pump begins to drive lubricant through the small holes in the filter. At the first stage, it enters the filter material, where large and small polluting particles remain. Oil flows back into the line through a large central hole.

If the filter becomes clogged, an internal valve takes over and starts working without cleaning the engine oil.

Types of oil filters

According to the principle of operation, the method of connection to the vehicle's lubrication system and design features, several types of filters can be distinguished.

Full flow

A device of this type passes the full volume of motor fluid pumped by the pump. This mode of operation is ensured by connecting the device in series to the engine lubrication system. A full-flow product is the simplest in terms of design, characterized by a high cleaning speed. Minus - relatively fast clogging of the material. In this case, a valve is turned on that allows oil to pass without filtration, but the motor does not lack lubrication (albeit not purified), which is much better than its complete absence.

Partial flow

Products with this design work in parallel with the vehicle's lubrication system. Not all oil passes through such a product, but only part of it. This contributes to a better purification of the motor fluid. However, the risk of a pressure drop in the engine increases somewhat in the event of critical and rapid filter contamination.

Combined

As the name implies, this device combines the "abilities" of the two products described above. Here 90% of the oil is passed through the full flow filter and 10% through the partial flow. This technology allows you to clean the oil by almost 100%, which increases the operational life of the power plant.

Oil Centrifuge

This is a special type of filter used in trucks, tractors, some types of construction and road equipment. Here, cleaning is carried out by using centrifugal forces. The main structural elements are a rotor with an axle screwed into the bottom of the product. How does this type of oil filter work? The pump fills it under pressure, driving the motor fluid into the rotor through the axial holes. Then the oil “breaks” into the jets at high speed and rushes to the walls of the cover. As a result, due to the occurrence of a reactive force, the rotor begins to rotate, while all the contaminants precipitate in the bottom of the cover, and the oil filtered in this way enters the line. Once upon a time, centrifuges were also installed on passenger vehicles.

Later this was abandoned: the filter did not provide the necessary purity of the motor fluid, moreover, every 2000 km of run it was necessary to clean the centrifuge from deposits.

Symptoms of a dirty filter

Determining whether the oil filter is functioning normally is not so simple: the control pressure lamp does not light up and the driver is calm, unaware that perhaps unfiltered engine fluid is entering the engine. But in some cases, it is worth taking a closer look at the operation of the engine to see the symptoms of a filter failure:

1. Overheat. The presence of unfiltered particles in the lubricant causes increased friction between engine parts, which creates an unnecessary load on the cooling system. In addition, pollution gradually turns into deposits that accumulate in the form of sediment on the walls of the BC and timing. As a result, thermal conductivity drops, and the motor starts.
2. A leak. A clogged filter may not work at all internal elements: for example, valves. As a result, rupture or partial damage to the product is possible, leading to leakage of the lubricant composition.

Oil filter change interval

It is set by the car manufacturer and depends on the features of the power unit, its operating conditions, and the climate of the region. Naturally, the intense operation of the engine, caused, for example, by dust, mountainous terrain, extremely low or high temperatures or constant traffic in traffic jams - all this requires more frequent filter changes. In these cases, the manufacturers themselves recommend installing a new product earlier by 30-50% of the specified period.

Some car owners change the filter after 7-8 thousand kilometers, causing the procedure to darken the oil. However, a change in shade in most cases only indicates the good washing qualities of the motor fluid. Usually a new filter is installed after a full one. Under normal operating conditions, it is produced after 12-15 thousand kilometers.

How to change the oil filter

This procedure, when combined with an engine fluid change, is the easiest way to increase the engine's service life. If the mileage time has not yet come, then you need to do this once every 6 months. Procedure for changing oil and filter:

At the final stage, lay a clean piece of cardboard or newspaper under the motor. The absence of traces of oil will confirm that the filter is installed correctly.