PART 1 OF 3
OIL FILTER MEDIA EFFICIENCY SPECIFICATIONS
I had time on my hands last week, so I compiled a list of oil filter media filtration specs pilfered from the InterTubes. I opted to not take the time to spreadsheet the data. A few notes…
1. CURRENT AND HISTORIC SPECS
The specs below include both current (2023) and historic specs, the latter for purposes of comparison and also for folks with new-old-stock filters in their garage.
2. BELLAVITA 2023 THREAD
For newer filters and media you might visit the excellent 2023 BITOG thread by Bellavita titled “Oil Filter Value Analysis.”
3. DATA SOURCES
The data below generally originates from four sources: 1) Manufacturers’ published specs; 2) Specs from major retailers; 3) Lab testing by various entities; and 4) Forum postings by individuals who directly received responses from filter manufacturers (“Motorcraft responded to my email and said the specs were…”). I suspect my sources are mostly authoritative, but occasionally imperfect, and many specs came from BITOG.
4. GENERAL VERSUS SPECIFIC MEDIA
Most data below are “general” specs for a broad line of filters, and some are specific to a given filter part number. So there’s plenty of room for inconsistencies – a given part number’s media can deviate GREATLY from the “general” media used by that same manufacturer. When such discrepancies arose, I often listed a range, such as 99%@40-50u. And sometimes manufacturers provide such ranges as well.
5. TESTING METHODOLOGY
I did not record the testing methodology used, SAE, ISO or otherwise, and in some cases it wasn’t provided anyway. So perhaps apples-to-oranges…the data is what it is.
6. EXPLAINER
I used the letter “u” for microns, close enough to the actual symbol. A human hair is roughly 75 microns thick, and beach sand is typically 0.3 to 60 microns. “99%@20u” means a filter media can remove 99% of particles 20 microns and larger. “99%@50u” means a filter media can remove 99% of particles 50 microns and larger. The “20” media is much more effective than the “50.” Figuratively think of the 20 as a paper coffee filter and the 50 as a pasta strainer, a greatly exaggerated example. The larger the first number the better, and the smaller the second number the better. A General Motors study concluded that “Compared to a 40 micron filter, engine wear was reduced 50% with 30 micron filtration. Likewise, wear was reduced by 70% with 15 micron filtration.”
7. OLDER AND LOW-VOLUME APPLICATIONS
Based on experience with my 20 year old camping trailer tow vehicle (a 2003 Range Rover with factory BMW engine), I’m fairly convinced that older and low volume filter part numbers simply don’t get updated. So in such applications you may be stuck with whatever media they were using 10, 15 or 20 years ago, and little if anything newer than that. It’s not worth their time to update the filter part number with a cool, new media if few people buy it. For example, I have various media specs for old BMW V-8 engines (not included below because they’re dated outliers), filters still made and sold today, and they’re basically lame compared to the latest media offerings.
8. STANDOUT MEDIA
There’s some standout media below, both good and bad. I’ll let others comment on that. Not all the cellulose media suck, and not all the synthetic media rock.
OIL FILTER MEDIA EFFICIENCY SPECIFICATIONS
I had time on my hands last week, so I compiled a list of oil filter media filtration specs pilfered from the InterTubes. I opted to not take the time to spreadsheet the data. A few notes…
1. CURRENT AND HISTORIC SPECS
The specs below include both current (2023) and historic specs, the latter for purposes of comparison and also for folks with new-old-stock filters in their garage.
2. BELLAVITA 2023 THREAD
For newer filters and media you might visit the excellent 2023 BITOG thread by Bellavita titled “Oil Filter Value Analysis.”
3. DATA SOURCES
The data below generally originates from four sources: 1) Manufacturers’ published specs; 2) Specs from major retailers; 3) Lab testing by various entities; and 4) Forum postings by individuals who directly received responses from filter manufacturers (“Motorcraft responded to my email and said the specs were…”). I suspect my sources are mostly authoritative, but occasionally imperfect, and many specs came from BITOG.
4. GENERAL VERSUS SPECIFIC MEDIA
Most data below are “general” specs for a broad line of filters, and some are specific to a given filter part number. So there’s plenty of room for inconsistencies – a given part number’s media can deviate GREATLY from the “general” media used by that same manufacturer. When such discrepancies arose, I often listed a range, such as 99%@40-50u. And sometimes manufacturers provide such ranges as well.
5. TESTING METHODOLOGY
I did not record the testing methodology used, SAE, ISO or otherwise, and in some cases it wasn’t provided anyway. So perhaps apples-to-oranges…the data is what it is.
6. EXPLAINER
I used the letter “u” for microns, close enough to the actual symbol. A human hair is roughly 75 microns thick, and beach sand is typically 0.3 to 60 microns. “99%@20u” means a filter media can remove 99% of particles 20 microns and larger. “99%@50u” means a filter media can remove 99% of particles 50 microns and larger. The “20” media is much more effective than the “50.” Figuratively think of the 20 as a paper coffee filter and the 50 as a pasta strainer, a greatly exaggerated example. The larger the first number the better, and the smaller the second number the better. A General Motors study concluded that “Compared to a 40 micron filter, engine wear was reduced 50% with 30 micron filtration. Likewise, wear was reduced by 70% with 15 micron filtration.”
7. OLDER AND LOW-VOLUME APPLICATIONS
Based on experience with my 20 year old camping trailer tow vehicle (a 2003 Range Rover with factory BMW engine), I’m fairly convinced that older and low volume filter part numbers simply don’t get updated. So in such applications you may be stuck with whatever media they were using 10, 15 or 20 years ago, and little if anything newer than that. It’s not worth their time to update the filter part number with a cool, new media if few people buy it. For example, I have various media specs for old BMW V-8 engines (not included below because they’re dated outliers), filters still made and sold today, and they’re basically lame compared to the latest media offerings.
8. STANDOUT MEDIA
There’s some standout media below, both good and bad. I’ll let others comment on that. Not all the cellulose media suck, and not all the synthetic media rock.
