Test Data for Objectively Selecting Oil Filters

[RustyJC]

The following is from Noria's Filtration Tips e-newsletter and should be of interest in future oil filter wars threads:

Apart from the data on the multipass filter test, what other ISO standards exist for the evaluation of filter performance that I can use to objectively select a filter?"

The ISO standard for multipass testing (ISO 16889) has changed to require filter manufacturers to publish their data for the beta ratios across a wide size range, that is, at 2, 20, 75, 100, 200 and 1,000 microns.

Historically, filter beta ratios were published at either 75 or 200 with an absolute rating (per ISO 4572). The new standard gives a better interpretation of the filter's overall performance, and can be better compared against competitor offerings.

In addition to the new multipass data, consider the following data:

ISO 2941 - 1974 - Verification of collapse/burst resistance.

ISO 2942 - 1994 - Verification of fabrication integrity and determination of the first bubble point.

ISO 2943 - 1998 - Verification of material compatibility with fluids.

ISO 3723 - 1976 - Method for end load test.

ISO 3724 - 1976 - Verification of flow fatigue characteristics.

ISO 3968 - 1981 - Evaluation of pressure drop versus flow characteristics.

These additional tests are useful for comparison where the installation may be an unusual lubricant, an extreme contaminant-sensitive workpiece, a high-pressure fluid power system or a safety-critical application. When selecting for a noncritical system with no unusual requirements, evaluation of filter suppliers' multipass data, in addition to other commercial criteria, will normally suffice.

Rusty