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GO4BROKE · 08-29-2004, 11:15 AM

Conclusion

One must read the complete pore and flow discussion before drawing any conclusions.

In that discourse, the point is made that the oil used for the oil flow tests was at room temperature. Hot oil will flow many times the rate over room temperature oil.

Yes, it appears that there are better alternatives to the Mercruiser oil filter in this application.

While the pore and flow tests were very accurate, there are certainly imperfections in the rating system. Filters within two or three places of each other should be considered and their raw data scores evaluated. This data is described in detail in the pore and flow discussion.

Not surprisingly, filtering ability relates inversely to flow. However, many filters with high filtering ability compensate by having higher filter area.

For example, the Baldwin rates as 9 of 12 in pore size but 6-7 of 12 regarding flow. It also has the most filter area of all filters in this study. The Baldwin, AC Delco, and WIX 51060 all appear to be a good compromise between pore size and flow.

If one is interested in flow for this application, the K&N provides the best flow with better filtration than the Mercruiser filter.

If one is considering the small canister size because of physical room in the engine compartment, the Mercruiser and WIX 51086 have about the same filter area. The WIX has a larger intake area, silicon ADBV, and a sturdy spring to keep everything together. The WIX filter media is much better, but the Mercruiser flows better – among the top three in this study even though it has less media than all.

The PureOne filter has the best filtering ability of all compared filters; however, it has the second worst flow ratings. One would have to ask, “would the PureOne flow enough in this application when the manufacturers filter is specified to flow many times more?” That is the danger of using an oil filter that is not specifically mapped to your application.

In a direct mapped application such as an auto oil filter, the PureOne, AC Delco, Baldwin, and WIX would appear to be good choices (provided their media is similar in different applications). One would have to feel comfortable with the Fram cardboard end construction of the EG and TG series and low filter media area to choose them over these four filters.

In this application, a good compromise would be to use a full flowing larger sized filter such as the Mercruiser, K&N, Hastings, SuperTech, or STP and add a by-pass filter such as an Oilguard, Amsoil, or Motor Guard.

Disclaimer and cautions

Since many filter manufacturers contract out their filters, one must be careful that future filters from these vendors are the same as what is presented here. One way to do this is to compare the outside markings of new filters to these pictures.

Just because one filter appears to be a good choice for this application, does not mean that it will be the best for other automotive applications. Other applications involve by-pass valves and other features that may or may not make that same filter the best choice.

Be sure to check your application. There is no guarantee, express or implied, that these filters will work in your application.

Additions / corrections since original publication

January 28, 2004

· Fixed error in pore and total rating system in both .xls file and main document. Raw data did not change. Some filters changed position by one ranking. Some stayed the same. One filter changed by two rankings. As mentioned in the summary, filters that are within 3 positions of each other should be considered very similar. This rating system is a rough attempt at trying to establish a ranking system by weighting different filter attributes.

January 25, 2004

o Added pore and flow data. Added link to pore and flow detail report. Added introduction regarding pore and flow data. Added ranking numbers. Removed first person narrative. Modified conclusion to account for pore and flow data.

November 20, 2003

· The can height of the two WIX filters was swapped in the merc.xls file. This has been corrected.

November 19, 2003

· The original publication had filter area half of what it should have been. This has been corrected in this document as well as the merc.xls file. The area was indicated as one pleat times the number of pleats and it should have been times two again since each pleat count has two sides to it. Since everything was half of what it should have been, it still kept the comparisons between these filters equal.

08-29-2004, 11:15 AM	#13
GO4BROKE Charter Member #1055/Moderator Charter Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: CNY Posts: 3,113 2002 Sonic 386	Re: Oil Filter Study Conclusion One must read the complete pore and flow discussion before drawing any conclusions. In that discourse, the point is made that the oil used for the oil flow tests was at room temperature. Hot oil will flow many times the rate over room temperature oil. Yes, it appears that there are better alternatives to the Mercruiser oil filter in this application. While the pore and flow tests were very accurate, there are certainly imperfections in the rating system. Filters within two or three places of each other should be considered and their raw data scores evaluated. This data is described in detail in the pore and flow discussion. Not surprisingly, filtering ability relates inversely to flow. However, many filters with high filtering ability compensate by having higher filter area. For example, the Baldwin rates as 9 of 12 in pore size but 6-7 of 12 regarding flow. It also has the most filter area of all filters in this study. The Baldwin, AC Delco, and WIX 51060 all appear to be a good compromise between pore size and flow. If one is interested in flow for this application, the K&N provides the best flow with better filtration than the Mercruiser filter. If one is considering the small canister size because of physical room in the engine compartment, the Mercruiser and WIX 51086 have about the same filter area. The WIX has a larger intake area, silicon ADBV, and a sturdy spring to keep everything together. The WIX filter media is much better, but the Mercruiser flows better – among the top three in this study even though it has less media than all. The PureOne filter has the best filtering ability of all compared filters; however, it has the second worst flow ratings. One would have to ask, “would the PureOne flow enough in this application when the manufacturers filter is specified to flow many times more?” That is the danger of using an oil filter that is not specifically mapped to your application. In a direct mapped application such as an auto oil filter, the PureOne, AC Delco, Baldwin, and WIX would appear to be good choices (provided their media is similar in different applications). One would have to feel comfortable with the Fram cardboard end construction of the EG and TG series and low filter media area to choose them over these four filters. In this application, a good compromise would be to use a full flowing larger sized filter such as the Mercruiser, K&N, Hastings, SuperTech, or STP and add a by-pass filter such as an Oilguard, Amsoil, or Motor Guard. Disclaimer and cautions Since many filter manufacturers contract out their filters, one must be careful that future filters from these vendors are the same as what is presented here. One way to do this is to compare the outside markings of new filters to these pictures. Just because one filter appears to be a good choice for this application, does not mean that it will be the best for other automotive applications. Other applications involve by-pass valves and other features that may or may not make that same filter the best choice. Be sure to check your application. There is no guarantee, express or implied, that these filters will work in your application. Additions / corrections since original publication January 28, 2004 · Fixed error in pore and total rating system in both .xls file and main document. Raw data did not change. Some filters changed position by one ranking. Some stayed the same. One filter changed by two rankings. As mentioned in the summary, filters that are within 3 positions of each other should be considered very similar. This rating system is a rough attempt at trying to establish a ranking system by weighting different filter attributes. January 25, 2004 o Added pore and flow data. Added link to pore and flow detail report. Added introduction regarding pore and flow data. Added ranking numbers. Removed first person narrative. Modified conclusion to account for pore and flow data. November 20, 2003 · The can height of the two WIX filters was swapped in the merc.xls file. This has been corrected. November 19, 2003 · The original publication had filter area half of what it should have been. This has been corrected in this document as well as the merc.xls file. The area was indicated as one pleat times the number of pleats and it should have been times two again since each pleat count has two sides to it. Since everything was half of what it should have been, it still kept the comparisons between these filters equal. __________________ [img][/img]