My canister filter (5 micron) after about 250 gallons...(pics)

[Marv]

Since there has been some discussion of the canister type filters and their life lately, I thought I'd post up some pics of mine when I checked it last week. I have put about 250 gallons through it to date and figured it would be quite dirty.

However, I was pleasently surprised. Hardly any crud to speak of and the filter basically appeared to just be an "off-white" color.

Anyways...here's the pics...







Thanks!

[Clay]

is that 5 micron Marv? How many times do you cycle a batch of oil through the filter before using that oil?
A clean canister filter....failed donaldson at only 1000 miles...just thinking here.

[Marv]

is that 5 micron Marv? How many times do you cycle a batch of oil through the filter before using that oil?
A clean canister filter....failed donaldson at only 1000 miles...just thinking here.

They're 5 micron...or at least that's what I ordered from McMaster. I verfied it the other day, but I'll check the receipt on them when I get home.

I let it run an hour or so before I put it in the truck...should be around 20 cycles through the filter for an entire 40-50 gallon batch of oil.

I know, it's got me stumped as well.

[Marv]

is that 5 micron Marv? How many times do you cycle a batch of oil through the filter before using that oil?
A clean canister filter....failed donaldson at only 1000 miles...just thinking here.

Clay, I checked them again this evening...they're 5 micron.

[Clay]

I'm wondering if your oil is ploymerizing - early stages - which means it would clog your filter faster. Think of it like a tank of jello and your trying to burn it up before it sets up.
How long does a tank last you?

[Marv]

Well, I usually burn through about 35-40 gallons a week if I drive it everyday.

If I could fill the tank all the way up, it would probably last me close to two weeks under my normal driving routine.

[Clay]

that shouldn't be the cause then...

[Marv]

that shouldn't be the cause then...

Nah, I wouldn't think so either.

I'm just gonna keep driving it and see how it behaves on this new filter. I guess we'll see if it was truly a bum filter then...

[skyskijason]

Make sure they are 5 mic ABSOLUTE. "nominal" rated filters let alot of stuff bigger than mic rating thru.

I got some oil from a friend a while back that I could not get more than 800-1000/filter on truck with. He had always used 1 mic absolute bags and switched to 5 mic bag - I never found out if they were absolute or nominal, but he went back to the ones he never had a problem with.

Question: Why do so many people 'cycle' the oil thru this type of filter (or any filter for that matter)? If we need sub-9 mic filtration (Donaldson on truck) and filter to say 5 mic in one pass, whats the point?

[Clay]

Question: Why do so many people 'cycle' the oil thru this type of filter (or any filter for that matter)? If we need sub-9 mic filtration (Donaldson on truck) and filter to say 5 mic in one pass, whats the point?

Thats the way CG designed the still and I just never questioned it. I can see advantages to multiple passes also. Although i don't cycle it as long as CG says to, about half an hour is all.

[skyskijason]

Thats the way CG designed the still and I just never questioned it. I can see advantages to multiple passes also. Although i don't cycle it as long as CG says to, about half an hour is all.

Right, he also originally used a whole house water filter, IIRC. Which, due to not being 'absolute' needed multiple passes to be somewhat effective.

What are the advantages of multiple passes? Especially thru an absolute rated filter that is already way below mic rating of filter on truck?

FWIW, I've filtered 1000's of gals of WVO to only 10 mic, one pass - for much of that, the 10 mic Goldenrod was the ONLY 'filter'. The only time I've seen less than 5k miles from truck filter (little WIX 24006 - 10 mic) was after I got 'bad' oil from a friend - I generally run up to 9k miles on the little wix. (but, since I use same filter in pre-filtering, I often yank it off just before a trip - just 'cause! The 'old' truck filter will get used until flow rate nearly stops.)

[Clay]

Well, I can't explain why it cleans better with more than one pass but i did shortcut this once and i did see less miles on the dolandson. As i said, i do not think it is nessecary to cycle it for an hour, given the delivery rate of the pump i use, but when i cycled it for only 5 minutes (about two passes through the filter) i did notice the donaldson would clog sooner. Maybe some oil is allowed to bypass the filter at the top where it seats in the housing... i have wondered about that before but have no way to tell. So multiple passes would likely catch anything that got pased the filter. A 30 minute cycle cleans the oil to a level i am comfortable with so thats why i do it.

[skyskijason]

Fair 'nuff! I'm also assuming ALL of the oil passes thru this filter as it leaves the container/still/whateva on way to truck or storage. It seems like another part of the reason for cycling originally was because all oil did not pass thru that filter as it was discharged - so it took multiple passes to have some confidence ALL of the oil got filtered...

I totally agree that multiple passes definitely have the ability to remove more particles below the micron rating, so yes, it should be cleaner oil (less particulates to plug downstream filters). Its just that in theory, if our on-truck filter is 9 mic, and a single pass removes 99% of all particles 1 mic and larger - then 9 mic filter should never have anything to 'catch'.

What bag size are you using and how many gallons do ya get thru each bag before discarding?

[Marv]

What bag size are you using and how many gallons do ya get thru each bag before discarding?

Jason, they should be trade size 4 if I'm not mistaken.

[Clay]

yes, trade size 4.
The oil does pass through the filter just before goin ginto the 300 gal. tote for storage with the turn of a valve. With the valve closed it returns to the HWH for more filtration.
While cycling the oil, the cleaned oil is being reintroduced into the dirty oil at the top of the HWH so yes, multiple passes are required to get all the oil filtered.