1 - AUTOMOTIVE OIL FILTER
An automotive oil filter is a replaceable component of an automotive that removes contaminants from engine oil.
Now, an automotive engine needs motor oil for cooling, lubrication, and to clean it.
As the engine runs, chemical and particulate contaminants are created, which can result in damage to the engine.
The contaminants get suspended in the oil as it runs through the engine.
When the contaminated oil is passed through the automotive oil filter, these contaminants are removed and clean oil comes out on the other side ready to recirculate in the engine. This way, the oil filter acts to protect the engine.
In simple term, the oil filter function is to protect the engine by filter the oil...
An automotive oil filter usually consists of a metal can (oil filter canister) and a gasket by which it's held to the mating surface of the engine.
The gasket itself is held by a metal plate that's perforated with a series of holes. A central hole with threads mates with the automotive engine block and the oil filter's assembly.
A filter material, usually synthetic fiber, is found inside the filter canister. This is the material that removes contaminants from the engine's oil.
Oil containing contaminants is pumped from the engine through the perforated metal plate into the filter. As it goes through the filtering media, impurities are trapped. Clean oil comes out of the media or membrane and into the central hole. From here, it goes back to the engine.
Filtering material can be primary or secondary. Primary filter media can remove particles of size between 25 and 30 microns while secondary materials are capable of filtering particles as small as 5 to 10 microns.
A filter will work for as long as oil can flow through it.
With time, contaminants build up to a point where oil cannot get through.
During such situations, the overflow valve that's incorporated in an oil filter comes into operation. It allows oil to still reach the engine by bypassing the filter, but without being cleaned of impurities.
At this point, the oil filter would be needing to be changed to protect the engine of your car.
Types Of Oil Filter
Oil filters come in many types with differences ranging from the mode of action, kind of filter material, working principle, and durability to cost. By the automotive filter industry classification, the oil filter can be centrifugal or full flow type, with the full flow oil filter being the most commonly used.Centrifugal oil filter
The centrifugal oil filter has a rotor sleeved on a shaft and has two nozzles with opposite spray directions. When the oil enters the rotor and exits the nozzle, the rotor rotates rapidly, so that the oil in the rotor body is cleaned. The impurities in the oil are centrifuged onto the inner wall of the rotor, and the oil from the nozzle flows back to the oil sump.
Centrifugal oil filters are characterized by stable performance and no need to replace the filter element. As long as the rotor is removed regularly, the dirt deposited on the rotor wall can be cleaned and reused. Its life can be equal to the engine. Its shortcomings are the complex structure, high price, heavyweight, etc., which have high technical requirements for users.
The full-flow oil filter is divided into replaceable, spin-on, bypass type. In order to allow all the oil entering the main oil pipe of the engine to be filtered, the oil filter is connected in series with the main oil tube of the engine.
The Oil filter parallel to the engine main oil tube. It is a refine oil filter in the engine, which is generally used in conjunction with full flow. The bypass oil filter only filters oil from 5% to 10% of the oil supply of the oil pump. main oil tube of the engine.
The spin on oil filter consisting of a filter element and a can housing and cover, it is the most common oil filter types on the market.
It can be directly screwed onto the oil tube of the engine by the thread on the cover to filter the oil, or it can form a spin-on oil filter assembly with the filter base.
Most of the low-power engines use full-flow filters, and the larger-capacity diesel engines use full-flow and bypass flow filtration devices.
Canister oil filters are usually made of steel and are screwed directly to the engine.
They consist of metal can, filtering media and base plate for attachment to the engine. Cartridge oil filters are a type of filter thats inserted into a filter housing. They are formed of filtering media and other components that allow them to be fitted into a filter housing.
Automotive oil filters can be categorized according to the filter media, or according to the methods used to carry out filtration.
The Other Types of Automotive Oil Filters According to the Filtering Method
Primary oil filters are also called full filters. They filter 100% of the oil coming from your engine and are the type that most manufacturers will install on their automotive. They offer less restriction to oil flow by allowing extremely small particles to pass through. They will also incorporate a valve that allows oil to bypass the filtering media should it become clogged.
Secondary oil filters clean from 1 to 10% of the motor oil. They work alongside the primary oil filters to ensure the oil returning to the engine is further filtered of contaminants and, therefore, cleaner. A car may or may not come installed with a secondary oil filter. You can always fit one in the case your car doesn't come with a secondary oil filter installed.
They separate impurities from oil by use of rotation. A rotor rotates at high speeds with the rotation causing impurities to be thrown towards the inner walls of the rotor. This separates contaminants from oil passing through the filter and clean oil passes on leaving behind particles and other impurities.
Magnetic oil filtering involves the use of a permanent magnet to attract ferrous metal particles out of oil. This method can remove very small metal contaminants. The only problem with it is that it doesn't detect non-ferrous particles, such as dust, which pass onto the engine and cause damage. These filters do not need to be replaced; you only clean them.
These filters remove contaminants from motor oil by filtering and also by heating the oil to destroy some types of impurities. To heat up the oil, these type of oil filters use electricity.
With the many kinds of oil filters available, you may be asking,
"What oil filter do I need in my car?"
Well, the type of oil filter your car needs will depend on the size and type of engine the car comes equipped with.
Oil filter compatibility will also depend on the manufacturer; different manufacturers make cars that only use specific oil filters. I would advise that you use an oil filter made for your type of car and engine to achieve the best results.