UPF48R; observations and (for the future) cut open

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Slick17601
A dry sump on a street car? Why?


The engine can be made to sit lower in the frame, lowering the center of gravity of the car.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: Slick17601
A dry sump on a street car? Why?


The engine can be made to sit lower in the frame, lowering the center of gravity of the car.


A dry sump oiling system also ensures no oil pump starvation from high G cornering like what can sometimes happen on conventional oil pan design.

 

[blmlozz]

Well, I apologize for the lack of a dozen photos or so, I suppose I rushed a bit as I was fairly excited for my first viewing.


Initial thoughts;
True to their word, the UPF48R's case is significantly thicker than the regular PF48's. WOW, it took me a solid 5-7minuites to crack the can even with a brand new oil filter tool.

First up, the filters, I'm not going to hot-link this and instead I've uploaded a high-resolution file so that you can zoom-in and inspect the filter element differences (if any, I couldn't spot them aside from color, but I also have a 14MP version of this file for those than want it )
http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz56/blmlozz/DSC_0470.jpg

I'll hang onto samples of the media for a while if people think some light-through transfer might help distinguish differences.


Base plate and oil bypass valves are *clearly* different. I also wanted to say the blue-can PF48's metal end cap spring required more pressure to depress than the black-can, but the finger-dyno is an unreliable source at best.

This is highlighting the fact that once the element was removed, the UPF48R's can came right off without any force. As opposed to the Plain PF48's can which was still secured by residual glue.

very unscientific method naturally, but the total filter medium legnth is about equal. The Black PF48's medium is slightly thicker,and the PF 48's is taller. I want to say there's probably more surface area in the blue PF-48 than the Black though.

So where does this leave us?

With more questions than answers unfortunately.

Every GM Tech tip I've seen completely contradicts what we have here today. The UPF48R is in no way(except maybe the drilled pattern for the core) 'identical' to the regular PF48. The filter can is different, the filter media is at least a different shade of yellow (almost looks like the M1 media doesn't it?..) the bypass is different, and the base-plate is different.


Is this conclusive of anything? Not really, however, right now, if I were a betting man (and I am) I'd place the chance that this is has mobil 1/ medium top tier filter media as just as likely that this is an over-designed PF-48 media filter that's a slightly different color because it's made by a different manufacturer.



Anyone know how much it costs to get some beta Ratios around here?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: blmlozz
Every GM Tech tip I've seen completely contradicts what we have here today. The UPF48R is in no way(except maybe the drilled pattern for the core) 'identical' to the regular PF48. The filter can is different, the filter media is at least a different shade of yellow (almost looks like the M1 media doesn't it?..) the bypass is different, and the base-plate is different.


I didn't see any photos of the bypass valves ... how are they different?

Originally Posted By: blmlozz
Anyone know how much it costs to get some beta Ratios around here?


I looked into it and found a lab that does oil filter testing per ISO standards. Cost was quoted at $15,000 per filter.

Originally Posted By: blmlozz

So where does this leave us?


Buying PureOne filters instead.

 

[steve20]

not trying to derail this thread--just the observations you are posting may be unique to the 48R, and not all Ultraguard Gold Filters. I think the 48R is built differently from other Ultraguard Golds.
The UPF52 box I have in front of me says 100% synthetic wire backed media, and also has a graph on the side of the box which lists 98% efficiency at 8-10 microns vs 72% for premium filters and 40% for conventional filters.
Seems almost opposite of the 48R

 

[blmlozz]

Quote:
I didn't see any photos of the bypass valves ... how are they different?


My apologies, I meant to say the pressure spring. The valves are the same except for a perceived difference in operating pressure required to actuate the valve.
Quote:
Cost was quoted at $15,000 per filter.

Well let me whip out the credit card!

Quote:
Buying PureOne filters instead.

Or any other medium-top tier filter period.

Quote:
not trying to derail this thread--just the observations you are posting may be unique to the 48R, and not all Ultraguard Gold Filters. I think the 48R is built differently from other Ultraguard Golds.

Yes, it's unique, I believe Z06 and I discussed that the normal ultraguards were donaldson media filters on page 1, but I've never seen one(a UPF48R) opened. I wanted to know if there was acutally anything internally different that could substantiate it's $16 MSRP even to OEM inflated price standards. The answer is maybe, but in relation to aftermarket filters and without so much as betas to know if this 'unique' filter acutally works better, it's an overpriced PF48 as far as I'm concerned. I'm unsure a clarification is needed for comparison to other ultraguard gold filters as this is the only ultraguard gold filter still in production, and even the parts counter guy who had worked at that location for 7 years needed me to tell him twice that it was on the shelf back there.