Right now we are using 10 micron filters for our new oil, would anyone recomend going smaller, say to 4 micron? What do you use to filter your new oil? Thanks

-Josh

Hey Josh, I'm in Ravenswood, WV. Basically 10 is good enough but there are a number of factors.

Noria is hold a semina in Marrietta, OH Sept 12-15 (4 days) - I've already registered. Can always learn something.

What is your system? Banks of filters, bypassing at psi? or continual bypassing? What would be the necessity for a tight filter? Don't you love all the questions?

Well.. we learn from questioning, we prefilter our oil, from their original 55g drums then to the piece of equipment. I am actually a co-op, my mentor asked me to put 4 micron filters on instead of the 10 we currently use. I was wondering if that would do any good, or if ther e is a better way to do the same thing...

-Josh

Here's a link to an article that might be helpful to you:

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?...achine%20Application

We have been using 4 micron abslolute (beta 200) filters for several years on all of our machine reservoirs. One consideration is to make certain that these filters do not remove your additive package from the oil. We could not filter that tight on the previous oil we used. It actually filtered the package out. We now use Chevron Clarity ISO 320 on our machines. It has excellent water separation and can be filtered to 4 microns with no issues.

Gary B

Josh, I'd follow Gary's lead and investigate further before acting. There's a lot of considerations for changing. Failure history. Are you filtering out contaminates? So, where did they come from? You put them in or is it process?

All good info, I am following up on some of those questions, thanks!

-Josh

Dear Josh,

Just to put things into perspective on filtration numbers:

Good engine oil filters are 10 micron and really good engine oil filters are 8 micron, both "absolute" values. Nominal is NO GOOD as you want to be absolute on your filtration if your going to pay additional cost per filter.

Gary B has it right, as some oils will indeed have additive packages that get filtered out. My experience is that 8 micron absolute has been safe for everything I have touched. Typically 10 micron absolute is available in all size elements, so you will most likely not see any substantial benefit in making your move to 4 micron.

That being said, you were given a directive by your Mentor, so you may want to have this discussion with him while you have the PO pad in your hand and show him how much $$$ your about to extend with no basis of benefit.

Josh Miller, can you sign your name as JoshM, to avoid duplicating my nickname here? First come first serve.

Engine oil filters - do they bypass? As in a car's; they bypass continually, more restriction the more they bypass. Makes a magnet valuable as well as a baffle plate to reduce turblence so heavy particles can settle (and I do realize in an engine that's a small reason in comparsion to the others).

Look at your system as unique as it could be. Again in the industrial application I'd follow along with Gary's advise.