Modified and Updated November 2011
The Problem of Unfiltered Wear Particles
In D323's (Donnie's) thread on Club Protege titled, "Mobil 1 synthetic overview", he made us aware of an excellent website that is relevant to the present discussion:
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html
The section on the site that I want to focus on is labeled: Interpreting Wear Metals. The three most prevalent wear metals found in engine oil are iron, copper and lead as derived from components most prone to wear such as piston rings, camshaft lobes and various bearings. While some of these wear metals are trapped in the oil filter, others below a certain size pass through the filter and continue to circulate suspended in the lubricating oil.
A second site provided deals with the issue of particle size and filtration ability:
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/index.html
The section of interest here is labeled, SAE tests. Two SAE tests, J806 and J1858 are used to measure oil filter performance. Considering just the J1858 test, filtration ratio and efficiency as a function of contaminant particle size, can be established. Typical numbers for paper element filters are as follows: 97% of contaminant particles of 40 micron size can be trapped by the filter; 93% at 30 microns; 60% at 20 microns and only 40% at 10 microns. These figures are typical of full-flow oil filters such as are commonly used in all vehicles. Although it is feasible to build filters with media capable of filtering down to 2 microns, such filters would quickly clog, shut off the oil supply and destroy the engine. This latter type of filter is characteristic of partial-flow filters always used in conjunction with full-flow types and arranged to filter only a small amount of the total oil supply at any given time. For all practical purposes, many lubrication experts feel that any particle size below about 10 microns (.0003937" or .01mm) will tend to pass through most filters.
The Role of Magnetic Filtration
For an in-depth and comprehensive treatment of the subject, I highly recommend an article published in the September 2005 issue of Machinery Lubrication Magazine titled, "Applications and Benefits of Magnetic Filtration." It can be accessed at:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...tic-filtration
Among the topics covered in detail are:
How magnetic filters work (with illustrations of various types) including drain plug and spin-on filter wraps and stick-on types.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Magnetic filters
Types of Magnets (including Neodymium-Iron-Boron types-strongest of all magnets known)
Magnetic Filters
At least in terms of iron wear particles, magnetic oil filtration provides a means of removal of these contaminants down to particle sizes of as small as 2 microns (.0000787" or .002mm). First, lets look at some examples. Eclipse Magnetics, a UK-based company makes oil filters described by the company as follows: "At the center of the filter is a high intensity magnetic core which utilizes intensifier matrix pole-pieces to magnetize the entire filter body." Eclipse goes on to say that, "the filters have been designed to remove micron and sub-micron sized metal wear contamination. 80% of all contamination found in lubricating and hydraulic oils are less than 10-15 micron, conventional full-flow membrane filters allow this size of particle to pass through causing more wear." Although no automotive oil filters are currently listed, there is no reason these filters could not be adapted for automotive use. In fact, when I first came across this site, they were said to be making filters for Jaguar but I don't know the current disposition of this project. For more information:
http://www.eclipse-magnetics.co.uk
Another interesting filter is the one made by the UK company, Magnom. Among the many models developed for use in the industrial area, there is also a version designed for Formula 1 and World Rally Car motor sport applications. Unlike any conventional filter, it consists of a series of annular magnets with larger steel flux-plates shrouding them on each side. These plates, which become fully magnetized, have a series of oil-flow channels running through them along which wear particles are deposited and removed from circulation. Interestingly, and not yet understood, 60% of the contamination removed was non-magnetic. For further information, go to:
http://www.magnom.com
For more specific information about the Formula 1 product, go:
http://www.magnom.com/index.php/info/product/f1_core
More material on the design and development of the Magnom filter can be found in an article published in the January 2005 issue of Machinery Lubrication Magazine titled, "From a Can of Beans to Grand Prix Race Wins-Introducing the Full-flow Magnetic Flux Filter." It can be found at:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...ic-filter-flow
For those of you who would like to experiment with magnetic oil filtration, a number of companies produce powerful magnets that can be placed on the outside of oil filter cannisters to attract and hold iron particles to the inside wall of the oil filter housing. These particles can then be eliminated when the old filter is removed and discarded. One such company is Filtermag.
www.filtermag.com
Filtermag says that its magnets are Neodymium types capable of generating the immense force needed to forcibly remove iron particles of 20 microns or less from the oil flow. The proceedure involves placing the magnets on the outside of the filter housing where the magnetic force snaps it into place. The magnets should be installed on the underside of the cannister after it has been screwed into place. The magnetic force is so strong that the magnets cannot be pulled off the old filter but rather must be slid off when it's time for replacement.
And yes, models are made to fit our Proteges, 626s (and undoubtedly other Mazdas):
Model SS250, filter size range 2.50" (63.5 mm) to 2.75" (69.85 mm), 75 lbf (34 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $49.16
Model RA250, filter size range 2.50"to 2.75", 150 lbf (68 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $73.31
I haven't tried either one yet myself so you're on your own here.
Models are also available for the Mazda3s that use spin-on oil filters:
1st Gen 2004-2009 with the 2.0L engines only; not available for the the cartridge-equipped 2.3 L and 2.3 L Mazdaspeed3 engines.
All 2nd Gen 2010-2012 engines.
Model SS300, filter size range 2.90" (73.7 mm) to 3.20" (81.3 mm), 90 lbf (40.8 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $53.76
Model RA300, filter size range 2.90" to 3.20", 300 lbf (136 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $84.82
Another company that makes magnetic filtration devices of many types is One Eye Industries Inc. located in Calgary, AB Canada. Go to:
http://www.oneeyeindustries.com
Their Bear Trap Oil Filter Magnet Pad is designed to magnetically attach itself to the oil filter housing. The following model seems to be appropriately-sized for our filters:
1MPBT 500, 2.375" (60.3 mm) x 2.375" x .25" (6.3 mm)
Does it Work?
Obviously, the more sophisticated models do a much more thorough job of removing contaminants from the oil than simply placing a magnet on the filter body. However, even in the latter case particles are removed from the oil that would otherwise continue to circulate and cause wear. Using magnets certainly can't hurt and might have the potential for reducing engine wear over time.
Additional Uses for Magnetic Filters
In-line magnetic filters are also available for filtering transmission and power steering oil. The ACDelco filter is contained within a reinforced nylon housing and contains a ferrite-filled polyamide magnet that attracts iron particle contaminants as well as a paper element that removes non-ferrous particles.
http://www.acdelco.com/parts/filters...ission-filters
Happy Motoring!
The Problem of Unfiltered Wear Particles
In D323's (Donnie's) thread on Club Protege titled, "Mobil 1 synthetic overview", he made us aware of an excellent website that is relevant to the present discussion:
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html
The section on the site that I want to focus on is labeled: Interpreting Wear Metals. The three most prevalent wear metals found in engine oil are iron, copper and lead as derived from components most prone to wear such as piston rings, camshaft lobes and various bearings. While some of these wear metals are trapped in the oil filter, others below a certain size pass through the filter and continue to circulate suspended in the lubricating oil.
A second site provided deals with the issue of particle size and filtration ability:
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/index.html
The section of interest here is labeled, SAE tests. Two SAE tests, J806 and J1858 are used to measure oil filter performance. Considering just the J1858 test, filtration ratio and efficiency as a function of contaminant particle size, can be established. Typical numbers for paper element filters are as follows: 97% of contaminant particles of 40 micron size can be trapped by the filter; 93% at 30 microns; 60% at 20 microns and only 40% at 10 microns. These figures are typical of full-flow oil filters such as are commonly used in all vehicles. Although it is feasible to build filters with media capable of filtering down to 2 microns, such filters would quickly clog, shut off the oil supply and destroy the engine. This latter type of filter is characteristic of partial-flow filters always used in conjunction with full-flow types and arranged to filter only a small amount of the total oil supply at any given time. For all practical purposes, many lubrication experts feel that any particle size below about 10 microns (.0003937" or .01mm) will tend to pass through most filters.
The Role of Magnetic Filtration
For an in-depth and comprehensive treatment of the subject, I highly recommend an article published in the September 2005 issue of Machinery Lubrication Magazine titled, "Applications and Benefits of Magnetic Filtration." It can be accessed at:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...tic-filtration
Among the topics covered in detail are:
How magnetic filters work (with illustrations of various types) including drain plug and spin-on filter wraps and stick-on types.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Magnetic filters
Types of Magnets (including Neodymium-Iron-Boron types-strongest of all magnets known)
Magnetic Filters
At least in terms of iron wear particles, magnetic oil filtration provides a means of removal of these contaminants down to particle sizes of as small as 2 microns (.0000787" or .002mm). First, lets look at some examples. Eclipse Magnetics, a UK-based company makes oil filters described by the company as follows: "At the center of the filter is a high intensity magnetic core which utilizes intensifier matrix pole-pieces to magnetize the entire filter body." Eclipse goes on to say that, "the filters have been designed to remove micron and sub-micron sized metal wear contamination. 80% of all contamination found in lubricating and hydraulic oils are less than 10-15 micron, conventional full-flow membrane filters allow this size of particle to pass through causing more wear." Although no automotive oil filters are currently listed, there is no reason these filters could not be adapted for automotive use. In fact, when I first came across this site, they were said to be making filters for Jaguar but I don't know the current disposition of this project. For more information:
http://www.eclipse-magnetics.co.uk
Another interesting filter is the one made by the UK company, Magnom. Among the many models developed for use in the industrial area, there is also a version designed for Formula 1 and World Rally Car motor sport applications. Unlike any conventional filter, it consists of a series of annular magnets with larger steel flux-plates shrouding them on each side. These plates, which become fully magnetized, have a series of oil-flow channels running through them along which wear particles are deposited and removed from circulation. Interestingly, and not yet understood, 60% of the contamination removed was non-magnetic. For further information, go to:
http://www.magnom.com
For more specific information about the Formula 1 product, go:
http://www.magnom.com/index.php/info/product/f1_core
More material on the design and development of the Magnom filter can be found in an article published in the January 2005 issue of Machinery Lubrication Magazine titled, "From a Can of Beans to Grand Prix Race Wins-Introducing the Full-flow Magnetic Flux Filter." It can be found at:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...ic-filter-flow
For those of you who would like to experiment with magnetic oil filtration, a number of companies produce powerful magnets that can be placed on the outside of oil filter cannisters to attract and hold iron particles to the inside wall of the oil filter housing. These particles can then be eliminated when the old filter is removed and discarded. One such company is Filtermag.
www.filtermag.com
Filtermag says that its magnets are Neodymium types capable of generating the immense force needed to forcibly remove iron particles of 20 microns or less from the oil flow. The proceedure involves placing the magnets on the outside of the filter housing where the magnetic force snaps it into place. The magnets should be installed on the underside of the cannister after it has been screwed into place. The magnetic force is so strong that the magnets cannot be pulled off the old filter but rather must be slid off when it's time for replacement.
And yes, models are made to fit our Proteges, 626s (and undoubtedly other Mazdas):
Model SS250, filter size range 2.50" (63.5 mm) to 2.75" (69.85 mm), 75 lbf (34 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $49.16
Model RA250, filter size range 2.50"to 2.75", 150 lbf (68 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $73.31
I haven't tried either one yet myself so you're on your own here.
Models are also available for the Mazda3s that use spin-on oil filters:
1st Gen 2004-2009 with the 2.0L engines only; not available for the the cartridge-equipped 2.3 L and 2.3 L Mazdaspeed3 engines.
All 2nd Gen 2010-2012 engines.
Model SS300, filter size range 2.90" (73.7 mm) to 3.20" (81.3 mm), 90 lbf (40.8 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $53.76
Model RA300, filter size range 2.90" to 3.20", 300 lbf (136 kgf) magnetic pull. Current cost = US $84.82
Another company that makes magnetic filtration devices of many types is One Eye Industries Inc. located in Calgary, AB Canada. Go to:
http://www.oneeyeindustries.com
Their Bear Trap Oil Filter Magnet Pad is designed to magnetically attach itself to the oil filter housing. The following model seems to be appropriately-sized for our filters:
1MPBT 500, 2.375" (60.3 mm) x 2.375" x .25" (6.3 mm)
Does it Work?
Obviously, the more sophisticated models do a much more thorough job of removing contaminants from the oil than simply placing a magnet on the filter body. However, even in the latter case particles are removed from the oil that would otherwise continue to circulate and cause wear. Using magnets certainly can't hurt and might have the potential for reducing engine wear over time.
Additional Uses for Magnetic Filters
In-line magnetic filters are also available for filtering transmission and power steering oil. The ACDelco filter is contained within a reinforced nylon housing and contains a ferrite-filled polyamide magnet that attracts iron particle contaminants as well as a paper element that removes non-ferrous particles.
http://www.acdelco.com/parts/filters...ission-filters
Happy Motoring!
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