PROPER ENGINE FILTRATION CAN GET YOU AN EXTRA 100,000 MILES FROM YOUR ENGINEWhy is engine filtration so Important? Did you know that tiny microscopic dirt particles so small you can't even see them with the naked eye can turn a 500 horse power engine into scrap metal if left unchecked! How can that be? 1. Automotive experts agree that dirt is the number one cause of engine wear. Despite the fact that modern engines are highly sophisticated and made from the most durable metals available, dirt particles with their razor-like edges, along with the microscopic shavings left over from the initial manufacturing process, can reek havoc when they get between the microscopic clearances of bearings and other moving parts. Once they make their way into these precision areas inside an engine they grind away at the surfaces, alter the clearances between moving parts and in the process generate more abrasive material that produces even more wear. When this continues during operation of the engine the parts become progressively worn and will eventually fail. Proper engine filtration keeps this from happening.
2. As dirt and other contaminates work their way throughout the engine they begin to degrade the oil that provides the necessary protective lubrication to the engine. Soot that is formed during the combustion process, when forced past the piston rings into the crankcase gets into the oil and acts like tiny sponges soaking up oil additives and shortening the oil's useful life. It also causes the oil to thicken which contributes to sludge formation. If moisture is present, the by-products of combustion through various chemical reactions produce corrosive and rust producing acids that also reduces the life of the oil and can cause damage to the metal components inside the engine. Proper engine filtration is the key to preventing costly repairs caused by dirt and other microscopic contaminants. Filtration is simply a method of removing contaminants by trapping and holding them outside the system of oil circulation. In order for filtration to be truly effective, however, it must be able to capture contaminants of all types and sizes. Most engine damage occurs from dirt and other contaminant particles between 4 and 15 microns in size. It’s important then, to use filters that will keep particles in this size range from entering the lubrication system in the first place, or trapping and holding them if they do enter the engine. There are two major types of filtration for automotive engines. Air and Oil filtration. These will be discussed in more detail with comparisons of various brands of filters presented so you can make your own decisions about what is best for you.
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