How to choose an oil filter

The best oil filter manufacturers

The release of filtering equipment at the moment is carried out by many companies, however, the choice should be given in favor of exclusively proven products supplied to the conveyor of many world manufacturers:

1. Purflux;
2. Knecht;
3. Mahle;
4. Filtron;
5. Mann;

You should not lose sight of the opportunity to study user reviews regarding a particular product. You can find them on the Internet, on the pages of forums and communities in social networks.

The principle of operation and types of oil filters

The design of the oil filter is quite simple and functional. It is an element made of soft and dense cellulose, which has a high hygroscopicity with respect to oil. The corrugated structure is designed to hold contaminants and prevent them from entering the car’s cylinder block. As the car is used, a significant amount of deposits accumulates, and therefore, after 7-10 thousand kilometers, the filter needs to be replaced.

Insert filter

A soft element of a cylindrical shape, devoid of an outer shell. It is installed in a special seat – an oil cup – and is rigidly fixed by the top cover. It is made from cellulose in its pure form or in combination with synthetic fibers.

Advantages

• Inexpensive;
• Variety of models and sizes;
• Qualitatively filter the oil;

Flaws

• Require partial disassembly of the engine compartment of the car;
• Assumes frequent replacement;

External oil filter

It is installed on the outside of the engine and is a metal container in which the filter element is placed. Replacement is carried out without much difficulty and the need to dismantle the valve cover or other elements. Designed for installation in structurally compatible vehicles.

Advantages

• Compact dimensions;
• Do not require special tools and engine disassembly;
• Easy to install;
• Protection against mechanical impact;

Flaws

• More expensive than insert filters;
• The resource does not exceed 10-15 thousand kilometers;

The main criteria for choosing an oil filter

First of all, it must be remembered that it is not worth saving on the quality of filter elements. It is on them that the functionality and performance of the car depends, and therefore preference should be given to either original spare parts with the brand of the manufacturer, or products of supplier companies for the conveyor, the list of which is listed above. In addition, you need to pay attention to the following features:

How the filter works

1. Full-flow filters provide for the passage of the entire volume of oil before supplying to rubbing parts. Cleaning in this case is close to the maximum, but there is also a significant drawback. If the replacement intervals and operation in difficult conditions are violated, the engine may experience oil starvation, which is fraught with its failure;
2. The partial flow filter occupies a certain part of the volume of the oil bowl and does not filter the entire volume of incoming oil. The degree of its purification in this case is lower, however, oil starvation and the problems associated with it are excluded as a class.

The quality of the cellulose filter element

You can control this parameter only in insert models. The paper should not be too thick to prevent oil starvation, however, soft models are not a panacea – such filters quickly become unusable and require replacement.

The principle of operation of the check valve

The non-return valve is installed either in the filter itself, if we are talking about closed non-separable models, or in the oil cup. It is intended to keep the volume of oil in the filter when the engine is turned off, which greatly facilitates the cold start of the car. The valve diaphragm must have a small travel range and be of good quality.

Limiting degree of filtration

A parameter that reflects the amount of impurities that the filter is capable of holding while performing its duties. It is measured as a percentage and the higher this parameter, the better for the engine. Preference should be given to those models whose filtration is at around 90-95%

Minimum Fraction Frequency

Indicates the physical size of the particles that the filter can stop. An extremely important parameter for the operation of a car, since particles of any size carry an abrasive effect on the cylinder walls, which is fraught with scoring and engine failure as a result. It is better to choose the filter, the minimum size of the filtered fraction is at around 1-2 microns.

Replacement interval

Depending on the specific model and manufacturing technology, this parameter may vary and range from 5-7 to 20-30 thousand kilometers. It is not worth bringing the mileage to the upper limit, because after 15 thousand kilometers the filter ceases to fulfill its duties. The optimal mileage on one filter is 7-10 thousand kilometers.