From: Kalalahti Matti (k124476@ee.tut.fi)
Subject: Oil filter test results!
To: toyota-l@cyberspace.cyberauto.com (Toyota mailing list),
        toyota-mods@cyberspace.cyberauto.com (Toyota-Mods mailing list),
        supras@cyberspace.cyberauto.com (supras),
        mr2-interest@cyberspace.cyberauto.com (mr2)
Date: Fri, 7 Jul 1995 00:57:49 +0300 (EET DST)
Sender: owner-toyota-mods@CyberAuto.Com

The Finnish car magazine "Tuulilasi" compared oil filters in its latest
issue. The filters tested were all for Toyota Corolla with A-series engine.

Results in short:

Champion	C138		Very good
Clean		DO 851		Very good (with size reservations)
Biltema		502077		Good (with size reservations)
Purolator	Micronic	Good
Teho		OK 174		Good (with reservations)
Fram		PH 4967		Satisfactory
Motorcraft	EFL391		Satisfactory
Mann		W68/80		Passable
M-Filter	MH 3347		Passable
Toyota		90915-10001	Inferior
Vic		C-110		Inferior

"Clean" filter was was wider than others, and "Biltema" longer.


What did they test?

1) Filtration

Filters were tested with a test equipment conforming to standard ISO 4572.
The test oil was recirculated through the filter, and dirt was continuously
added to it. The test dirt consisted of particles smaller than 200 micrometers.
I've picked the figures below from the graphs on the magazine. 15 mg of
dirt was added to each liter of oil passed through the system. Oil flow
rate was 25 liters per minute.

After 5 minutes, % of each particle size [micrometers] filtered:
		40	30	20	10

Champion	98	91	64	19
Clean		99	91	66	16
Biltema		99	91	62	16
Purolator	97	86	60	11
Teho		96	89	61	17
Fram		98	87	55	9
Motorcraft	99	90	61	12
Mann		98	88	56	10
M-Filter	96	85	50	10
Toyota		88	77	31	0
Vic		87	71	39	4

After 10 minutes, % of each particle size [micrometers] filtered:
		40	30	20	10

Champion	97	90	63	18
Clean		97	91	62	13
Biltema		95	88	56	11
Purolator	97	82	52	9
Teho		98	86	56	15
Fram		97	85	51	5
Motorcraft	97	92	62	16
Mann		96	83	50	7
M-Filter	94	80	47	9
Toyota		81	60	25	1
Vic		81	68	39	4


time until blocked (bypass valve opens):

Champion	16-18 min
Clean		21-23 min
Biltema		29-33 min
Purolator	22-26 min
Teho		16-18 min
Fram		22-26 min
Motorcraft	13-15 min
Mann		25-27 min
M-Filter	19-27 min
Toyota		16-23 min
Vic		20-20 min



2) Anti-drainback valve operation

All except Vic held the oil. 

You can test this yourself, if you want. Find a bolt that fits on the
thread in the filter, fill the filter with oil, and with the bolt
screwed in, turn the filter to its side, like it is on the engine
block. Does it leak?

3) Bypass valve operation

Some filters leaked slightly through the bypass valve early before
the filter elements were blocked, but at worst only 22ml/min.
Compare that to the 25000ml/min total flow in the test, and you
see that it is totally insignificant.


Make your own conclusions. Before this I thought Toyota filters
would be the best one could get (even though I've used Teho myself
because it's 5 times cheaper).


-- 
Matti Kalalahti         | Toyota Carina Coupe GT-T TwinCam Turbo '82
k124476@ee.tut.fi       | RWD * IRS * 3T-GTEU * 195+-15hp@4200-6700rpm
A Huge Evergrowing WWW Home Page * http://www.students.tut.fi/~k124476/