DO all oil filter have the same path for the flow of oil? From the outside to the inside. It seems like that way it would hold more dirt because there is more surface area on the outside.
Last edited:
direction the oil flows through the filter????
- Thread starter Loobed
- Start date
- Status
I would think so. Definitely the ones with the ADBV's in the normal place.
Yes.
AFAIK from an old Fram commercial, I recall the dirty oil going into the centre, and clean oil coming out of the smaller holes.
Makes sence to me...
Makes sence to me...
No.
Most of the filters that we would use the dirty oil goes through the little holes to the outside of the element then up the center (big single hole).
So the largest part of the filter (the outside) does the filtering.
Bill
So the largest part of the filter (the outside) does the filtering.
Bill
dnewton3
Staff member
No, not all filters flow from the outside to the inside. But for the "traditional" filter that exists in the market for about 99% of applications, the answer would be that they do flow from the outside to the inside. The distinction is that your question was about "all" filters, so the answer is technically "no". But "yes", to most.
No, there is no difference regarding the media surface area for filtration in most traditional filters. I'll explain.
In a "normal" cellulose pleated filter (the vast bulk of the market) the media is cut from a linear stream of material and then folded. There is no way that the "inside" side of the media is any longer/shorter than the "outside" side of media. So, when it's folded, the length of the inside is (for all practical purposes of conversation) the same as the outside. Want an easy-to-understand example? Go home and see which side of the toilet paper is longer; not on the roll, but after your pull it out. Get the idea? Even after you fold the TP for use, is one side "longer" than the other? Nope. So the surface area does not change.
The media in a traditional pleated cellulose element is basically a single thickness of "paper" folded in alternating directions, and then attached at the two ends to make a continuous path. There can be no realized difference in media surface area. At the super-anal micro-analysis level, what you actually have is a stretching of the media on the outside, and a compression of the media on the inside. But when the thickness of the material is so very low in relation to it's length, the point is moot.
This cannot be said of depth type filters, though. String wound filters and such do have degrees of variation. But it also depends upon the path of travel across the media.
In the end, the lubricant will flow to the least path of resistance, so even if one "side" of media would have more area, the flow will always be in a balancing act moving away from the heavily "plugged" portion of media towards the less "plugged" portion of media.
Good topic for interesting conversation, but overall just an excercise in theory. The reality is that it's a moot point in most all filters of single pleat design (the vast bulk of the market).
So, "yes" most all do flow from outside to inside, and "no" there is not a practical difference in pleated-media surface area, for today's typical filters.
No, there is no difference regarding the media surface area for filtration in most traditional filters. I'll explain.
In a "normal" cellulose pleated filter (the vast bulk of the market) the media is cut from a linear stream of material and then folded. There is no way that the "inside" side of the media is any longer/shorter than the "outside" side of media. So, when it's folded, the length of the inside is (for all practical purposes of conversation) the same as the outside. Want an easy-to-understand example? Go home and see which side of the toilet paper is longer; not on the roll, but after your pull it out. Get the idea? Even after you fold the TP for use, is one side "longer" than the other? Nope. So the surface area does not change.
The media in a traditional pleated cellulose element is basically a single thickness of "paper" folded in alternating directions, and then attached at the two ends to make a continuous path. There can be no realized difference in media surface area. At the super-anal micro-analysis level, what you actually have is a stretching of the media on the outside, and a compression of the media on the inside. But when the thickness of the material is so very low in relation to it's length, the point is moot.
This cannot be said of depth type filters, though. String wound filters and such do have degrees of variation. But it also depends upon the path of travel across the media.
In the end, the lubricant will flow to the least path of resistance, so even if one "side" of media would have more area, the flow will always be in a balancing act moving away from the heavily "plugged" portion of media towards the less "plugged" portion of media.
Good topic for interesting conversation, but overall just an excercise in theory. The reality is that it's a moot point in most all filters of single pleat design (the vast bulk of the market).
So, "yes" most all do flow from outside to inside, and "no" there is not a practical difference in pleated-media surface area, for today's typical filters.
Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller
AFAIK from an old Fram commercial, I recall the dirty oil going into the centre, and clean oil coming out of the smaller holes.
Makes sence to me...
Shows what Fram knows about filters.
AFAIK from an old Fram commercial, I recall the dirty oil going into the centre, and clean oil coming out of the smaller holes.
Makes sence to me...
Shows what Fram knows about filters.
Originally Posted By: Loobed
DO all oil filter have the same path for the flow of oil? From the outside to the inside. It seems like that way it would hold more dirt because there is more surface area on the outside.
They usually flow from outside smaller holes through the media and exit out the center hole.
If they would flow from the inside out, they would need the metal tube (or in the case of ecore, nylon tube) on the outside of the media.
DO all oil filter have the same path for the flow of oil? From the outside to the inside. It seems like that way it would hold more dirt because there is more surface area on the outside.
They usually flow from outside smaller holes through the media and exit out the center hole.
If they would flow from the inside out, they would need the metal tube (or in the case of ecore, nylon tube) on the outside of the media.
Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: Loobed
DO all oil filter have the same path for the flow of oil? From the outside to the inside. It seems like that way it would hold more dirt because there is more surface area on the outside.
They usually flow from outside smaller holes through the media and exit out the center hole.
If they would flow from the inside out, they would need the metal tube (or in the case of ecore, nylon tube) on the outside of the media.
yes, that is usually the case.
way to tell is looking at the anti-drainback valve. its only made to open one way. on the typical canister style, its always under the small holes around the top, meaning oil pressure pushes it open, thus oil flows thru the smaller holes then back out the larger one in the center.
In absence of seeing the ADV, finding the bypass valve will also tell you direction of flow. it too is only made to open in one direction, the direction of flow.
Originally Posted By: Loobed
DO all oil filter have the same path for the flow of oil? From the outside to the inside. It seems like that way it would hold more dirt because there is more surface area on the outside.
They usually flow from outside smaller holes through the media and exit out the center hole.
If they would flow from the inside out, they would need the metal tube (or in the case of ecore, nylon tube) on the outside of the media.
yes, that is usually the case.
way to tell is looking at the anti-drainback valve. its only made to open one way. on the typical canister style, its always under the small holes around the top, meaning oil pressure pushes it open, thus oil flows thru the smaller holes then back out the larger one in the center.
In absence of seeing the ADV, finding the bypass valve will also tell you direction of flow. it too is only made to open in one direction, the direction of flow.
Thanks dnewton3. Nice practical explanation.
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
- Messages
- 39,799
Originally Posted By: froggy81500
Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: Loobed
DO all oil filter have the same path for the flow of oil? From the outside to the inside. It seems like that way it would hold more dirt because there is more surface area on the outside.
They usually flow from outside smaller holes through the media and exit out the center hole.
If they would flow from the inside out, they would need the metal tube (or in the case of ecore, nylon tube) on the outside of the media.
yes, that is usually the case.
If the flow is interior to exterior you'll see a wire mesh like you see on the Euro-filters with high bypass valve settings on the outside instead of the inside. It could also be a massive "outer tube". Either way the pleat points/folds form structural braces to keep the stuff in place and undeformed under media stress.
Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: Loobed
DO all oil filter have the same path for the flow of oil? From the outside to the inside. It seems like that way it would hold more dirt because there is more surface area on the outside.
They usually flow from outside smaller holes through the media and exit out the center hole.
If they would flow from the inside out, they would need the metal tube (or in the case of ecore, nylon tube) on the outside of the media.
yes, that is usually the case.
If the flow is interior to exterior you'll see a wire mesh like you see on the Euro-filters with high bypass valve settings on the outside instead of the inside. It could also be a massive "outer tube". Either way the pleat points/folds form structural braces to keep the stuff in place and undeformed under media stress.
- Status
Similar threads
