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Filter Facts: Oil Filters
Since 1954 when we patented the first spin-on oil filter, WIX Filters
has been at the forefront of oil filter technology and performance for passenger
cars, light trucks, heavy trucks and buses, and off-highway vehicles.
Use our Filter Search feature or
consult your nearest WIX distributor to find the best WIX oil filter for
your needs.
What the Oil Filter Does...
You may take your oil filter for granted, but this small, inexpensive part
of your vehicle's lubrication system plays a vital role in protecting the
engine from premature wear. Each moving part in the engine and the cylinder
walls requires clean oil for proper lubrication and lasting life. The oil
filter cleans the oil as it passes through the filter element or filtering
media. This prevents abrasive contaminants in the engine lubrication system
from damaging engine parts.
The better you understand your engine's lubrication system, the more
you'll appreciate the vital role your oil filter plays. When the engine is
running, oil enters the oil pump through a screened intake. The screened
intake -- or oil pick-up -- is located in the crankcase near the bottom
surface of the oil pan. The oil is drawn through the screen intake and
forced by the oil pump through the oil filter.
Oil from the main gallery is also fed through vertical passages to
the crankshaft main bearings and through the crankshaft to the rod bearings.
Oil thrown from the crankshaft, or sprayed from the connecting rods,
lubricates the pistons and cylinder walls.
In a typical full-flow type oil filter, the oil flows into an inlet
passage and then through the filtering element. After flowing through
the filter element, the filtered or "clean" oil passes directly to the
main oil gallery. In a partial-flow type filter, the oil returns
directly to the oil pan.
Oil from the main gallery lubricates the camshaft and the camshaft
bearings (and feeds hydraulic valve lifters if used in the engine). On
non-overhead cam engines, oil is metered through the valve lifter to a
hollow push rod that carries oil for the lubrication of the push rod pivot
point, rocker arm pivots and valve guide.
Oil Filter Media
The media is the filtering material in the oil filter element. It essentially
determines the efficiency, performance and useful life of the oil filter.
There are two basic types of filter media: the "paper" media and the
"depth" type media. The primary features of the filter elements are:
Particle size retention (filtration efficiency)
Particle size retention is the measure of the degree to which the filter
can retain particles of various sizes. Wix has developed optimum particle
size retention quality in filter media by extensive engine wear tests
including exhaustive testing of filters used in racing, and sophisticated
laboratory tests. Wix media in the automotive full-flow oil filter is
able to trap and hold essentially all the contaminant particles larger
than 25 microns. (A human hair measures approximately 70 microns in
diameter. An object that is 1 micron in size is .000039 inches in
diameter.) Our filters also capture a high percentage of even
smaller particles.
Dirt-holding capacity
Dirt-holding capacity is the amount of contaminant that can be removed
and held by the filter until the filter ceases to function. The capacity
of Wix filters is significantly larger than the minimum requirements to
efficiently filter all the oil during the oil and filter change periods
as specified by vehicle manufacturers.
Resistance to oil flow
WIX full-flow oil filters for automotive applications use arch-pleated,
prescription-blended media. When new, the media with a maximized number
of pleats has less than 2 psi pressure drop when filtering oil at a rate
of 4 g.p.m. at normal operating temperature. This low initial restriction
to oil flow protects the vital engine parts more effectively.
Parts of an Oil Filter
- Gasket - provides exterior seal between the filter and engine
at the engine mounting surface.
- Mounting Plate - prevents deflection (movement) at the gasket
sealing surface. Heavy gage steel plate provides for threaded
attachment to the engine.
- Inner Element Support - provides inner element stabilization
and a positive seal between the inner element and the mounting
plate to prevent the bypass of unfiltered oil.
- Upper End Cap - retains element end sealant and filter media,
provides an outlet for clean oil, and provides structural rigidity
to the pleated media.
- Lower End Cap - retains element end sealant and filter media.
- Arch-pleated, Prescription-blended Filter Media - provides a
more than adequate filter area. The element has a controlled
porosity blended media to assure complete filtration of the oil.
- Spiral-wound Center Tube - provides internal element support.
The spiral design greatly reduces initial flow restriction when
compared to other designs.
- Coiled Spring - ensures a constant load on the inner element
to maintain the seal between the upper element end cap, the inner
element support, and the mounting plate even during pressure
surge situations.
- Filter Canister - encloses the assembly with a mechanically-locked
double seam. The canister provides "flutes" at the closed end for
ease of removal with an oil filter wrench.
- Silicone Anti-Drainback Valve - Stays flexible in extreme temperatures,
improves oil flow and keeps oil in filter to prevent engine destroying
dry starts. Also provides lasting protection to meet new vehicle
manufacturers longer recommended oil change schedules. Nitrile
valves can harden and become ineffective over time.
Some WIX full-flow filters include anti-drainback and/or filter by-pass
valves. These types of filters are identical to full-flow filters, except
that a by-pass valve replaces the inner element support and an anti-drainback
valve has been added. The Anti-Drainback Valve prevents oil from draining
out of the filter inlet holes when the engine is shut off. It also provides
seal between clean and dirty oil at the upper end cap. This is necessary in
applications where the oil filter is mounted in a horizontal or inverted position.
The Filter By-Pass Valve
If a WIX full-flow filter becomes "clogged", or excessively restrictive to oil
flow, the filter by-pass valve ensures continued engine lubrication by allowing
the oil to by-pass the filter. Some vehicle manufacturers have the by-pass
valve built into the oil filter mounting unit (located on the engine).
Other vehicle manufacturers require full-flow filters have the by-pass
valve built into the filter itself. All Wix oil filter types recommended for
these particular applications include the by-pass valve assembly in the filter.
- By-pass Valve Assembly -- spring loaded valve assembly that allows
oil to by-pass the element under high-differential pressure conditions
such as cold oil and/or excessively contaminated media. This allows
lubrication of the engine, but without full-flow filtration.
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Filter Facts
Click on a product below for an overview:
Oil Filters
Engine Air Filters
Cabin Interior Air Filters
Fuel Filters
Coolant Filters
Transmission Filters
Hydraulic Filters
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