Originally Posted By: jk_636
I know that everyone on here has their favorite filter, but has there been any media or specific research published on which filter has the best filtration ability? A lot of manufacturers are not extremely forthcoming with this information, but I have seen manufacturers advertise 99% efficiency at 20 microns, 25 microns etc. Having said that, is there any one filter (besides a bypass system) that is definitevly the most efficient when it comes to microns and filtration? Or does this even matter? Surely there has to be contaminants smaller than 20 microns floating around an engine. Im not trying to start a war, just research other filters for future use.
Depends upon how you define what "matters".
There is LOTS of efficiency data to show certain brands (at the top tier) do a great job of reducing a particulate load at given measured levels. That is all lab testing and it translates to theory of operation.
OTOH, there's real world data in UOA analysis and anecdotal observations.
I see ZERO proof that it matters in the work-a-day world. There are a bazillion of Toyota and Honda vehicles on the road that run OEM filters that are about as loose as a kitchen strainer, but that does not stop them from running a quater-million miles or more.
Plenty of cars on the road that run moderately efficient filters.
Plenty of cars on the road that run highly efficient filters.
I see no data to draw a clear conclusion that filtration efficiency above "normal" will make any tangible difference in the long-term ownership and costs of operation.
Do you need a decent filter? Absolutely yes. A filter is an important thing to have.
Do you need a top-tier filter? Absolutely not. It's not an important thing to obsess over.
So you need to define how it matters, to know if it matters.
Or more specifically, what you want and what your engine needs to give a long life are two totally differnt things.