Superior Filtration Leads to Reduced Costs, Extended Equipment Life

A great deal of emphasis is placed on the importance of using the most advanced high-quality lubricants, but superior filtration is often taken for granted. The general attitude displayed by many consumers is to use whatever is cheapest, even when they've invested in superior lubrication. While AMSOIL synthetic motor oils provide unbeatable protection, performance and economy, they require the assistance of filtration. Without filtration, by-products from the combustion process and abrasive materials ingested from the air will ultimately destroy an engine.

Some Contaminants Cause More Damage
The level of damage particles cause to an engine is directly related to the size of the particles. The oil stream within the engine flows between wear-sensitive surfaces that usually have clearance of between 2 and 22 microns. It is contaminants in this size range that pose the greatest threat as they can slip between moving components, causing a great deal of wear.

To appreciate how small these particles are, one must first understand the measurements involved in their classification.

A micron, or micrometer, is a very small unit of linear measurement. One micron is equal to one millionth of a meter, and 25 microns is equal to 0.001 inch. To better put this in pespective, consider that the diameter of a human hair is 50 - 70 microns.

Large particles are particles measuring one half inch or larger. They pose little threat to engines because they are easily removed by the air filter.

Medium Particles are particles measuring 25 microns to one half inch. While they are of greater concern than large particles because they are more difficult to remove, the threat they pose is diminished since they are still larger than many of the clearances within an engine. Their size will not allow them to enter the contact areas between many components to promote accelerated wear.

Small particles are particles measuring between 5 and 25 microns. Small particles are of greatest concern because they can penetrate the clearances between wear-sensitive components and promote accelerated wear. And, because they are so small, they are difficult to remove from the oil stream.

SAE Testing
In the 1988 Correlaring Lube Oil Filtration Efficiencies With Engine Wear technical paper published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the relationship between oil filtration levels and abrasive engine wear was established. Testing determined that wear was reduced by as much as 70 percent by switching from a 40 micron filter to a 15 micron filter.

The SAE conducted tests on a heavy-duty diesel engine and an automotive gasoline engine, and both provided consistent results.

New Technology Provides New Options
The SAE paper on filtration discusses the introduction of synthetic fibers into the oil filter market, which offer "the capability of achieving high levels of filtration without the traditional sacrifice of dirt holding capacity and increased flow restriction." Today, a new pinnacle has been reached with synthetic nanofiber technology and AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters. While today's filters offer even greater performance , the message then was the same as it is now; removal of particles measuring 2 to 25 microns is the key to controlling engine wear, and there is a direct correlation between oil filter efficiency and engine wear.

Test Results
To establish a relationship between levels of filtration and engine wear rates, the SAE used a variety of oil filter types in its test. Three glass filters and one traditional cellulose-media filter were used in the diesel tests, while one cellulose, one glass and two glass/cellulose-blend filters were used in the gasoline engine tests. The micron rating of each filter was determined, and testing was conducted according to SAE guidelines.

The filters were tested at their 98 percent efficiency point and their single pass efficiency curves were determined by comparing the number of particles upstream from the filter with the number of particles downstream. The engine wear rates demonstrate the correlation between superior oil filtration and reduced engine wear. The filters that provided superior efficiency also provided superior engine protection.

Conclusions
The SAE paper summarizes the test results with the following conclusions:

"Abrasive engine wear can be substantially reduced with an increase in filter single pass efficiency. Compared to a 40 micron filter, engine wear was reduced by 50 percent with 30 micron filtration. Likewise, wear was reduced by 70 percent with 15 micron filtration.

"Controlling the abrasive contaminants in the range of 2 to 22 microns in the lube oil is necessary for controlling engine wear.

"The micron rating of a filter, as established in a single pass efficiency type test, does an excellent job in indicating the filter's ability to remove abrasive particles in the engine lube oil system."

Today's Most Advanced Filtration Product
AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters have been evaluated using today's benchmark test, the ISO 4548-12 multi-pass test. AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters provide 98.7 percent efficiency at 15 microns and up to 70 percent efficiency at 7 microns. Competitive filters range from approximately 85 to 92 percent efficiency at 15 microns. When it comes to removing contaminants in the most critical size range (2 to 22 microns), AMSOIL Ea Filters greatly outperform competitive filters.

Summary
Even with all of the advances in lubrication and engine technology, filtration is as important today as it ever was. The combustion process produces by-products that slip into the oil stream, and external contaminants are introduced into the engine in a variety of ways. The challenge for filter manufaturers is balancing flow, efficiency and filter life. In order to stop particles in the 2 to 22 micron range, the pores in the cellulose media used in many filters are too small to allow adequate oil flow.

Only AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters and AMSOIL Ea Air Filters feature full-synthetic nanofiber technology. It is the nanofibers that allow Ea Filters to provide greater efficiency than any other filter available. Ea Filters stop more particles, stop smaller particles and last longer than any other filters available for auto/light truck applications.

"AMSOIL INC. warrants that the use of it lubricants will not cause mechanical damage to any mechanically sound equipment when AMSOIL INC. products are used in full compliance with the company's recommendations and instructions."

FULL WARRANTY

AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are formulated to surpass engine test specifications, offering protection far greater than competing motor oils for extended drain intervals. Most synthetic oil manufacturers make no claim to extended drain intervals, deferring to the maintenance schedule provided by the vehicle manufacturer. With its unparalleled oil and warranty program, AMSOIL offers consumers unprecedented protection and economics.

THE NOACK Volatility Test
The NOACK Volatility Test determines the evaporation loss of lubricants in high temperature service. The more motor oils vaporize, the thicker and heavier they become, contributing to poor circulation, reduced fuel economy and increased oil consumption, wear and emissions. AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil resists high temperature volatization better than other motor oils. AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil maintains peak fuel efficiency and reduces oil consumption and emissions.

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