Purepower says...

[Schism]

Oil does not go through the paper or cellulose in a "throw away" filter but rather it goes by it(the pleats) and it randomly catches the particles! I say really?!

I don't see this as true, infact I see it as total bs, it might work like that if the bypass is on constantly but I know it is not in a properly working filter.
So how can they say this without getting sued?

http://www.gopurepower.com/site/products/brochures/high-performance-filters.pdf (this page will take a while to load on dialup.) They say this nonesense(And a little more.) on the second page, right below a pic of a filter. Their filters might be good, but I won't be buying one if they are going to put bs like that in their brochure. It's total nonsense, paper has the same size holes as their metal screens but somehow, it can't flow through the paper...

Unless ofcourse, I am totally misinformed and confused, and they are correct..?

 

[kingrob]

Schism, the beachcomber guy behind that filter has ruined his credibility on this forum. Read up some of the threads from this past week and you'll see. Someone I think is going to be testing one out anyway so we'll stay tuned.

 

[LarryL]

The tester is me, stay tuned. We'll let the lab, pictures and Terry Dyson chime in, not a lot of uninformed comments to decide if these things work. The test started last Saturday afternoon with a second oil sample before touching anything. The filter was installed and we are on our way. I'm paying for anything involved, so far, like the filter and uoa's. If anyone wants to donate a few bucks you know where to find me. This test will be as good as I can afford. I hope to do particle counts and TBN. I think this is going to be interesting because from what I can see, no one knows what these filter are or if they work, including me. Vetteman asked me to do a seperate thread so everyone can see what is going on. I'll keep my comments to what I see and measure and take pictures to show the filter and what it's trapping, if anything. I'll consider comments from anyone as long as you are not selling or promoting this filter. More info will be posted when results start coming.

Anyone have any advise or comments?

 

[kanling]

Larry: How much did that PurePower!!!!! filter cost anyway? I would have tried to get "beachracer" to send it to you for free.

As hard as he was defending it, he should have been willing.

One comment on the test: I think it needs to be a longer-term test. The filter might work fine for a couple of cleanings. But I have my suspicion that after several cleanings that there will be dirt impacted deep inside the filter that is impossible to get out. Then the filter will need to be replaced. (I will be shocked if this doesn't turn out to be an extremely expensive "extended life" disposable filter.)

 

[kanling]

Ouch! $200 for a filter? I thought it was only half that.

I wouldn't even consider using (or testing) this filter. I could buy good quality standard filters 4 times/year for ten years for the price of that. I wouldn't even do it if I thought the performance would exceed that of a standard design.

I commend the testing effort, but I think that kind of money would be better spent testing other products with higher potential.

By the way, I think about four oil changes would be enough to see if uncleanable dirt becomes a problem.

Beachracer: Where are you? If you are so confident about the performance of PurePower!!!! you will surely be eager to cover ALL of the costs of this test. What have you got to lose? Most BITOGers, in my view, have already written off PurePower!!! But, if this test should show positive results, you might be getting dozens and dozens of orders.

 

[LarryL]

kanling, because of comments like yours, the night before I installed the filter I took the element and rubbed it around in the sludge in the bottom of my oil change pan, which is really grundgy. I smashed the gunk into the screen and let it set over night. In the morning, I washed it with soap and water (wife's laundry soap) and blew it out with compressed air. I then sprayed a little carb cleaner on, let it soak for several minutes and blew it out again. It looked like brand new, with no discoloration. I looked at it very carefully with a 20x macro lens and there was nothing there. The only problems was that I had to wash my hands several times and still could not get all the gunk off. I judge the element to be easy to completely clean. So it passes test two (first test, it's well engineered and made and looks pretty). More to follow.

 

[Schmoe]

As soon as I saw "will reduce emissions," I would have moved on. I would also be skeptical on the US postal service part. Those are usually GSA vehicles and they have contracts with local quickie lubes to change the oil at regular scheduled times.

 

[Chimay]

I hope you get good results LarryL keep us informed. Are you planning to do a UOA/particle count? Good luck..

 

[LarryL]

You'll get the results. If you want to donate to get more lab work let me know.

Something new, I'll be testing the Ultrafilter, too, not as many miles and on a newer vehicle.

 

[goodvibes]

I bet it works fine. I see filters as something required for catching that odd large particle or muck. Something else to consider is how well the adbv and bypass work after long term use. I wouldn't hesitate to use one but I'd never buy one when I'm sure I'll get the same results for $3 or less without the extra effort or using cleaning solutions. Heck, you can do over 450,000 on ST filters and 5k OCIs and still not pay for the pure power if your car lasts that long. 90+ cleanings. If you do extended drains, you'll never break even.

[ September 28, 2005, 12:12 AM: Message edited by: goodvibes ]

 

[LarryL]

I don't know what you are expecting of the element, but soap and water with some compressed air will get it back to like new. I cleaned it before installing it to remove anything left on it during manufacturing. How long are you looking for? I plan to run it until it proves to be a problem.

The filter retails for $199.95 plus $7.00 shipping, plus I had to pay California sales tax, too. I paid for the filter. This test is on me because I want to know how it works without any influence from any outside parties. If you want to donate to the lab tests, I would be happy to accept the help.

 

[LarryL]

This type of filter does not use an adbv. It looks like they solve the problem with higher flow rates. With the PurePower filter on my wife's 850 Volvo the oil light went out the instant I hit the starter with an empty filter. I did this to test start up performance. Since the oil filter is mounted pointing straight down there was no other way to test the lack of an adbv unless I did it with an empty filter. In this case it's not needed. Not science, just an obverstation. I'll do the same with the Ultrafilter on a V8 4Runner this week.

 

[Schism]

Awesome, keep us informed.

 

[Filter guy]

LarryL:

If you check the various threads on PP...PeteC of Wix commented on Wix testing of the PP.

As has been claimed, the PP and others like if have been used on racing engines. Where flow is more critical than filter performance. Not to mention that racing engines get torn down and repaired more frequently than your average passenger car.

It seems, from memory, that Pete said the filter was not very efficient when compared to the normal spin-on. Which makes sense to me as ..it needs to flow.

PP talks in circles about their testing. They talk about average micron size. Where their "independent test" by Southwest Research** labs tests out doesn't show me that it is a very effective filter at the smaller micron particle sizes.

Which is where the ---look see what's in the bottom of the can--- claims by some come from. As the average consumer never, or rarely, ever cut open a spin-on filter to see what it stops. So they are "impressed" when someone tells them about claims of metal in the filter.

Those that do cut open filters, find metal in the bottom of spin-ons as well. Along with sludge, etc. ( i've personally seen a remnants of shop towels in a spin-on from a rebuilt engine).

Will the PP filter work. Sure.

In my opinion where it falls short is in the removal of lower than 20 micron particles. As it need to flow. Spin-ons, with their by-pass valves, have the ability to remove smaller particles more efficiently.

As i stated in a previous thread..automotive engine companies have published information over the years that particles in the 5-25 micron range are what causes the most damage internally.

** I know a certain poster claimed Southwest Research "certified" the PP filter system.

Southwest Research ONLY certifies their test OF the product tested. Not the individual product itself. So Southwest was just certifying their test results as they do with their tests commissioned by other filter companies.

 

[Winston]

A few random impressions;

1. I am impressed that they put up the money for SWRI to do any tests at all.

2. The marketing guys get to write the crap that goes on the boxes and the brochures. While outrageous and stupid claims are annoying, it does not mean that the product does not work.

3. It is cool that it is reusable and cleanable.

4. It looks like a well built industrial quality unit.

5. The first thing I want to see is the particle count on the used oil so I can compare it to the Mobil 1 particle counts.

6. Thanks Larry for testing the filter!

 

[Schmoe]

But, let's say someone uses the new Mobil EP for OCI's of one year. New filter, let's say 10 dollars. Now most people will keep the their cars shorter than 10 years, but let's say ten years. So that is 100 bucks. This thing costs, what 200 some odd dollars? You won't be saving no money and by the time you get another car, the filter probably won't fit, so you have to toss it. Unless this thing will clean the lint out of your clothes, it just ain't worth the costs and the hassle.

 

[LarryL]

I think the Ultra filter more than cuts that price in half.

 

[Winston]

The same arguement could be made for Synthetic oil...

 

[kanling]

quote:

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The same arguement could be made for Synthetic oil...

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It could, but at $200 for the PurePower!!!! compared to $10 for another filter... it means that synthetic would cost $40 a quart compared to $2 for dino.

 

[Dad2leia]

kanling, eh, a, we DO have a synthetic lubricant that costs $32 per liter..called Synlube. But that's another topic, and not one that I want to start.