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What is By-Pass Oil Filtration?
By-pass oil filtration is a process by which a small amount of oil typically 4-6 quarts (liters) per minute is siphoned off from the main oil in the engine sump or oil pan and passed through a dense cellulose fiber based patented filter cartridge and cleaned down to 1 micron. Filtagreen®’s Filtamax By-Pass oil filter works in conjunction with the main full flow filter to remove all wear causing particles and water from the engine or hydraulic oil. This means engines or hydraulic equipment constantly run in clean oil all the time the filter is in position.
Why is it necessary to clean oil to 1 micron?
In today’s high performance engines the space between most moving parts are within a 3-8 micron range. Particles 3 microns and larger cause most damage to these moving parts.
Why can’t the engines normal full flow oil filter clean the oil to 1 micron?
Most engines oil pressure is between 30-70 psi depending on engine and work load. As RPM’s increase oil must be driven to all parts of the engine as quickly as possible to keep close tolerance components properly lubricated and cooled. Typically full flow inline filters allow that amount of oil pressure to pass through easily so as to reach the engines extremities and allow the oil to do its job as quickly as possible. Most engines full flow inline filters clean between 15-45 micron size particles. This means the smallest particles 3 micron’s and larger which cause the most engine damage are not captured by the main filter. If a 1 micron size filter was used as the main oil filter, sufficient oil could not pass through quickly enough, despite high oil pressure and the engine would be starved for oil and would cease up and stop working.
What makes Filtagreen®’s Filtamax oil By-Pass filter better than other filters on the market?
The material used in the FIltamax by pass oil filter is made from a very dense cellulose fiber-based material and wound very tightly to avoid channeling. Hot or cold Oil when under pressure will find the path of least resistance. If there are weak spots in the filter cartridge when wound, then it would channel and not perform properly. The Filtamax By-Pass cartridge guarantees oil clean to 1 micron eliminating all engine and hydraulic wearing contaminants and does not channel like others.
Can Filtagreen®’s By-Pass oil filter remove water from engine or hydraulic oil?
Yes. The Filtamax filter guarantees 99.9% water removal from all oils. Water emulsifies in the oil, increasing viscosity and causing corrosion and cavitation throughout the engine. Sometimes the heat boils off the water, but the minerals from the water continue, often showing as sodium and potassium. It’s imperative that all water contamination be eliminated as quickly as possible.
How often does the Filtamax filter cartridge need to be changed?
Filtamax By-Pass filters come in 4 main sizes.
- FMC 368 change 5,000 miles/8,000 kilometers/100hrs
- Fmc 668 change 7,000 miles/11,000 kilometers/150 hours,
- FMC 878 change 12,000 miles/19,000 kilometers/ 200 hours
- FMC 988 Change 15,000 miles/ 24,000 kilometers/ 250 hours
Will Filtagreen®’s By-Pass oil filter remove the anti-wear additive’s in the oil?
No. The anti-wear additive pack is in liquid form and is at .04 micron size, much smaller than 1 micron. Our company has been successfully filtering oil since 1994. Our clientele are very large companies to very small operators and during all of that time and many thousands of filters installed and serviced, we have never has any issues or problems or damage to the Oil Additive Pack or any engine whatsoever.
To ensure peace of mind to end users, we carry a $1,000,000 insurance policy per incident, which covers any damage caused by our products. (The claimant must prove the damage was caused by our products.) We have never had any claim on our policy during all that time.
How easy is it to fit a Filtamax By-Pass filter system?
Any competent certified mechanic can fit a Filtamax By-Pass filter. Finding the best oil pressure point on the engine or hydraulic equipment and obtaining the correct fittings to connect to the proper hoses ( hoses and fittings supplied from Filtagreen®) is relatively easy. The return is always into the oil pan/sump.
How easy is it to change a Filtamax By-Pass cartridge?
Simply unscrew (counterclockwise) the center bolt using ¾ inch size wrench. Lift off the lid from the filter canister and remove the old cartridge which can be disposed of in a regular landfill where it will decompose. Place new filter, brass ring on top into the filter canister housing. Remove the large rubber “O” ring in the canister lid. Remove the small “O” ring under the flat steel washer on the bolt. Place the new large “O” ring provided into the filter lid and make sure it is seated properly and evenly. Replace the new small “O” ring under the flat washer next to the canister lid. Place the lid on top of the oil canister and gently rotate it to ensure it is seated properly. Screw in the center bolt by hand until firmly in place. Use ¾ inch wrench and tighten to proper torque listed on the lid. Example the FM878 is 23 foot pounds of torque. Check oil stick gauge and if necessary top up oil with same oil as in the engine. Startup engine or hydraulic equipment and check for leaks etc. It takes less than 10 minutes to replace most filter cartridges.
What oil viscosity range can the FIltamax By-Pass filter handle?
The Filtamax By-Pass filter can handle from 9 to 220 cSt.
Does a Filtamax By-Pass filter extend oil life?
Yes. Oil change intervals can be extended very significantly depending on the type of oil being used and the condition of the equipment. One of our larger customers (PT Pamapersada, Jakarta, Indonesia) currently extends oil change intervals from 250 hours to well over 2,000 hours of operation. We save this company over 80% per year on oil costs.
The biggest enemy of oil is contamination. Keeping oil constantly clean allows the oil additive pack to retain its integrity and not breakdown because of various contaminants interacting with it. We always recommend taking an oil sample when the By-Pass oil filter is being changed. A good oil analysis lab will provide valuable data as to the health of both the engine and the oil. By monitoring the oil just like a doctor monitoring a patient’s blood we can understand the health of the engine just like a doctor can understand the health of the patient’s body and make recommendations to prevent further deterioration. The oil analysis laboratory can tell when it is time to change the oil. Some oils can last a very long time without being changed. Oil generally does not wear out; it becomes contaminated and loses its vitality.
What is Oil Analysis?
Engine oil analysis is a laboratory process that determines the integrity of engine oil. This scientific process measures 28 parameters including contaminates, liquids, wear metals and viscosity. Through analysis of used engine oil, a lab can determine the wear rate, overall service condition of the engine, and determine trends that may lead to potential problems and imminent engine failure. Oil analysis has become a critical tool for commercial shipping fleets, predicting possible problems before downtime due to engine failure become costly and potentially dangerous.
Oil analysis will indicate when a change is necessary. Filtagreen® recommends that users have an oil analysis program in place. Oil samples should be performed everytime the Filtamax By-Pass cartridge is replaced recommended change times. Field reports of engines surpassing 100,000 miles are common. Your results will vary based on mechanical condition of engine, load, driving habits, etc.
Do you have to change the normal full flow engine oil filter when changing the Filtamax By-Pass Oil Cartridge?
Not unless you want to. If the Filtamax By-Pass filter keeps oil constantly clean to 1 micron and the best your normal full flow filter can do is 15-45 microns, then essentially the engines full flow filter is redundant as its workload has been removed.
Can I just remove the engines original full flow filter?
No. We cannot just remove it, as it’s an integral part of the oil distribution system of the engine. It allows the full pressure of the oil to be distributed around the engine effectively.
If I install a Filtamax By-Pass Oil Filter will my engine last longer?
Yes it will. Please remember the Filtamax By-Pass oil Filter is an integral part of a complete pro-active maintenance solution (See all products at www.filtagreen.com). We now have very large engines in the mining industry (Cost $250,000 – $500,000) which are normally overhauled between 12,000 to 18,000 hours, currently approaching 50,000 hours of operation without a single major breakdown or overhaul. All the moving parts in these engines are in excellent condition including the cylinder liners. If you remove all engine wearing contaminants from the oil especially carbon which is a very hard material (diamonds are made from carbon and we use carbon to make steel and harden the tips of steel drilling bits for boring holes etc.) then we have eliminated a major cause of engine wear. The tolerances in today’s high performance engines are very close between3-8 microns just sufficient for oil to flow between them. If you have carbon or steel residue getting into those very close spaces it will cause premature component wear and significantly reduce the life of the engine or equipment. The Filtamax By-Pass oil filtration system will comfortably extend engine life well beyond normal life expectancy and if used in conjunction with our Efficiamax NanoMSM engine additive will reduce friction in all moving parts down to .003 coefficient making them virtually frictionless in addition to using the Efficiamax Ten-35 fuel treatment to keep injectors clean and entire fuel system operating like new, will extend the life of that engine several times its normal life expectancy.
Will fitting the Filtamax By-Pass oil filter void my vehicles warranty?
No. The Magnusson Moss Warranty Act of 1975 allows for aftermarket parts or additives to be applied to equipment under warranty.
Please see http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0138-auto-warranties-routine-maintenance
Will using ‘aftermarket’ or recycled parts void my warranty?
No.
An ‘aftermarket’ part is a part made by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer. A ‘recycled’ part is a part that was made for and installed in a new vehicle by the manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer, and later removed from the vehicle and made available for resale or reuse. Simply using an aftermarket or recycled part does not void your warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket or recycled part. Still, if it turns out that the aftermarket or recycled part was itself defective or wasn’t installed correctly, and it causes damage to another part that is covered under the warranty, the manufacturer or dealer has the right to deny coverage for that part and charge you for any repairs. The FTC says the manufacturer or dealer must show that the aftermarket or recycled part caused the need for repairs before denying warranty coverage.
Also see. https://www.sema.org/sema-enews/2011/01/ftc-validates-right-to-install-aftermarket-parts
In a Consumer Alert issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency confirmed that “The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket part.” The alert outlines key provisions in the law that provides protections to car owners. As defined by the FTC, an “aftermarket’ part is a part made by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer.”
“The FTC’s reference to aftermarket parts is equally applicable to specialty parts,” said Russ Deane, SEMA’s General Counsel. “Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the warranty cannot be conditioned to a specific brand of parts, services or vehicle modifications unless those parts or services are provided free of charge.”
The alert notes that a consumer has the right to patronize independent retail stores and repair shops for parts and service without fear of voiding the new car warranty. The dealer/vehicle manufacturer has the right to deny a warranty repair but they must demonstrate that the aftermarket part caused the problem. The warranty remains in effect for all other covered parts.
The FTC alert may be downloaded using this link: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt192.shtm.
The alert was issued in response to an FTC complaint filed last August by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA).
Filtagreen® International stands behind its products and the people who use them. If the OEM claims use of Filtagreen® products violates the warranty, contact +1 877 464 5728 or email info@filtagreen.com
Is the Filtamax By-Pass oil filter cartridge biodegradable?
Yes it is. It can be disposed of in a regular land fill where it will quickly degrade into the soil.
How do I know which Filtamax oil Filter I should use?
All you need to know is how much oil is in your engine.
- FM368 will filter up to 1.5 gallon/5.5 liter oil capacity.
- FM668 will filter up to 4 gallon/15liter oil capacity.
- FM878 will filter up to 12 gallons/45 liter oil capacity.
- FM988 will filter up to 24 gallon/90 liter oil capacity.
Is the Filtamax By-Pass oil filter ISO rated?
Yes. Below is a graph which displays a series of tests done on Filtamax by-pass filters by an independent lab in Kent, Washington USA. Notice the reduction of the ISO particle count of 22/20 to 7.0 after just 4 hours of operation.
Can the Filtamax By-Pass oil filter work with hydraulic systems with pressures of 5,000 psi or more?
Yes. Filtagreen® has designed a special manifold which mounts under the Filtamax canister and reduces hydraulic pressure down to 70psi. This allows the hydraulic oil to pass through the cartridge without channeling or damage to the dense cellulose fiber based patented filter cartridge.
Fitting a Filtamax By-pass oil filter to equipment using hydraulic oil is ideal for keeping that oil clean to 1 micron and extending the oil life up to 50 times its normal lifespan.
How do I use the oil sampling dispenser at the bottom of the Filtamax canister?
Turn the small cap screw which is secured by a chain anticlockwise. Place the sampling cup under the spout. Place thumb on the front of valve and push in until sampling cup is full. Replace cap screw by turning clockwise. Replace and tighten lid on the sampling cup. Fill up the paperwork in the sampling cup container. Place full sampling cup inside the container with completed paperwork and mail to the lab.
Is By-Pass filtration an untested concept?
No! By-Pass filtration has been used for a number of years. Filtagreen® International has taken the imitative to recognize the changes of today’s standards and has addressed the needs and demands of the industry. Our Filtamax By-Pass filter is designed and manufactured for today’s needs including “protecting the environment”. “Using a Filtamax By-Pass filter will help the environment by eliminating the carbon going into the exhaust system and into the air.
If By-Pass filtration is so good why don’t manufacturers fit it as standard?
Some Diesel manufacturers do offer By-Pass filters from the factory on larger engines. These filters remove the smaller particulates not picked up by the full flow filter. None of them however, remove the liquid contaminants that Filtagreen®’s Filtamax does.
Also by adding after-market products as factory equipment, they would increase the price of their products. Secondly, the manufacturers also plan to sell replacement parts etc. to the end-user. They plan on obsolescence, by making sure the equipment’s components wear out sooner the manufacturer makes more money selling replacement parts. With the Filtamax By-Pass system installed the components life is significantly extended and a cleaner environment is the result with increased savings to the user.
Planned obsolescence has long been standard operating procedure for manufacturers of many products. Replacement parts and rebuilt engines are a major revenue source for the industry. Most manufacturers aren’t interested in their engines lasting many times longer than normal. But trust us… we are working on it.
Will the savings gained by extending oil changes justify the cost of installing the Filtamax By-Pass oil system?
Yes! You will save on oil costs because we typically extend out oil change intervals from 250 hours to 2,000 hours. Or from 15,000 miles to well over 100,000 miles subject to oil analysis test. One of our larger customers PT Pamapersada of Jakarta, Indonesia saves over 80% on their oil costs per year currently. You can too.
What about solid contamination in a diesel engine?
In a diesel engine solid contamination is primarily fuel soot (carbon) from incompletely burned fuel blowing by the rings and valve guides. Some amount of solids is quite normal and is the cause of routine oil blackening as additives hold sized particles in suspension and carry these particles to the factory oil filter for removal. Most factory oil filters are only efficient to 20 microns. Most of these carbon particles are less than 2 microns. The Filtamax By-Pass filter will remove particles effectively down to 1 micron, catching these particles before they can do damage to the components.
What other applications benefit from the Filtagreen® Filtamax By-Pass oil System?
Filtamax will work on all types of applications ranging from Marine, Drilling, Oil and Gas, Transportation, Government, Municipalities, Power Generation, Agricultural, Yellow Iron and Construction equipment.
Why is Filtagreen®’s Filtamax By-Pass oil filter a green technology and how does it benefit communities?
Filtamax By-Pass filtration protects our lands and waterways by substantially reducing the production of carcinogenic waste oil. It also protects the air by trapping unburned fuel getting into the engine, water, glycol, etc. in its dense cellulose fiber based filter cartridge. Engines run cleaner, and emissions especially soot is reduced up to 70%.
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