Oil Filtration Basics: Capacity, Efficiency, Flow and Durability

Clean oil is vital to keeping engines running properly. Oil filtration plays a significant role in the performance and longevity of an engine by removing contaminants and promoting proper oil flow.

Engines introduce contaminants into oil throughout their life cycle, including wear products from the rubbing surfaces of the engine, the environment, and degradation of the oil itself. An oil filter is designed to remove contaminants introduced into the oil and prevent them from reaching sensitive engine parts without restricting normal oil flow.

To compound the issue, modern oil sumps are shrinking, leaving fewer detergents and dispersants to help fight byproducts of the internal combustion process. An oil filter’s capacity must be able to contend with the additional contaminants.

To provide top-notch performance, a filter must be constructed with the optimum balance of capacity, efficiency, flow and durability. To understand the significance of each, let’s cover some basics of oil filtration.

Capacity, efficiency flow and durability

Capacity refers to the amount of contaminants a filter can hold while remaining effective.

Efficiency describes the filter’s ability to capture contaminants. The more efficient a filter, the more contaminants it removes from the oil. Manufacturers typically report filter efficiency as the percentage of contaminants 20 microns and larger removed from oil. Filters using traditional media are often only 40% to 80% efficient at 20 microns.

Flow is how we measure the ability of the oil to reach critical components. To provide greater efficiency the filtration media requires tighter spacing, which restricts flow.

Durability is the resistance to hot oil degrading the resins that bind the media over the service life of the filter.

Advanced media technology

AMSOIL Oil Filters are engineered using full-synthetic media that features smaller fibers compared to the cellulose and blended media found in other filters. The smaller fibers have a controlled size and shape, providing greater efficiency, capacity and durability. The media in AMSOIL Oil Filters provides up to two times greater capacity than competing filter brands.

Absolute efficiency

In extensive testing, the full line of AMSOIL Oil Filters achieves a near-perfect absolute efficiency rating of 99% at 20 microns (ISO 4548-12), making each filter among the most efficient available for automotive and light truck applications.

Improved flow

The unique design and full-synthetic media in AMSOIL Oil Filters allow decreased space between fibers without restricting flow. This provides exceptional cold-start performance and ensures proper levels of lubrication throughout the engine.

Durable construction

AMSOIL Oil Filters’ full-synthetic media is backed with a wire screen that is pleated with the media for superior strength. AMSOIL Oil Filters are constructed with HNBR nitrite gaskets that are fully tested to extreme distances in severe environments. The filters also feature fully tucked seams, a molded element seal, roll-formed threads and a long-lasting premium-grade silicone anti-drain valve.

AMSOIL Oil Filters

• Filtering efficiency of 99% at 20 microns
• Advanced full-synthetic media
• Greater capacity than competing brands
• Maximum efficiency without restricting flow
• Provides extended service life

AMSOIL Bypass Oil Filters

AMSOIL Bypass Oil Filters and Bypass Oil Filtration Systems feature:

• High filtering efficiency down to 2 microns