Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85621
Oil Bay FILTRATION T Suppliers are introducing new oil fi lters to the aftermarket. he heavy-duty aſt ermarket changes daily. Class 8 vehicles are constantly evolving, and no product or vehicle component remains useful for an extended period of time without improvements. Technol- ogy and innovation spur advances, while government regulations force change. Th e oil fi lter is one product that has undergone signifi cant changes lately. Aſt er years of relative stability in its production and design, the oil fi lter recently has experienced advancements. Oil, fi lters and vehicle lubrication The introduction of new synthetic media within fi lters is extending working life and service intervals. systems are being called on to handle more contaminants than ever, and with this increased workload comes a need for an improved fi lter design and extended work life. It's a challenge oil fi ltration compa- nies are addressing head on, and the result is one of the largest booms in new fi ltration technology the heavy-duty industry has seen in some time. "Th ere have been a lot of changes in regards to engine technology, engines have evolved, and that's required more consistent fi ltration throughout the vehicle, " says Matthias Stegmueller, product development manager for MAHLE Clevite. "It's allowing a lot of older standards to change. " "With the new equipment that is be- ing put on trucks, our fi lters need to do more than they did fi ve or 10 years ago, adds Layne Gobrogge, senior product 34 TRUCK PARTS & SERVICE | June 2012 " manager – heavy-duty for the Fram Group. "[Oil] fi lters are taking in a lot more contaminants than they used to. Th e biggest change currently being " seen in fi ltration is the introduction of synthetic media. As the portion of the fi lter that traps dirt and contaminants, the media is the most vital component within an oil fi lter. Th e media in oil fi lters work much like a coff ee fi lter. As dirty, used oil is pumped into the fi lter, it is sent through hundreds of layers of media designed to catch contaminants. Th e media siſt s out the dirt and sludge in the lubricant and sends clean oil back out into the engine. Newer heavy-duty oil filters were designed to last approximately 20,000 miles before requiring a change. This meant the filters were designed with enough media and capacity to catch and hold engine contaminants for approximately 20,000 miles before becoming full. Once full, Stegmueller says fi lters were equipped with a bypass valve that would allow unfi ltered oil to recirculate within the engine to keep the truck run- ning, even though the lubricant would no longer be cleaned. New synthetic media has allowed fi ltration manufacturers to double that mileage life. Th ere are two reasons why. Synthetic- based media, unlike cellulose media used in the past, takes up less space