FAQ

The Micron is a unit of length equal to one-millionth of a meter or 0.001 mm. For a perspective the human hair is 80 microns thick.

It is an additional filtration unit by which a centrifugal separator takes 8% to 10% of the lube pump oil output, cleans it to a very fine degree and returns the oil under gravity to the oil sump above the oil level. Over a period of time the entire oil in the sump is cleaned to a fine degree.

The properly sized centrifuge recommended for your engine will not use more than 10% of the engine oil pump output. (10% is the acceptable measure by engine manufactures for by-pass (side stream) oil cleaning.) As a general rule, the engine manufactures size their engine oil pumps to produce sufficient oil volume to adequately lubricate the engine at its lowest operating RPM then they add 25% additional capacity. The 10% taken to supply the Centrifuge does not negatively impact the oil demanded by the engine and causes negligible pressure drop. As a general rule, the data sheets of each model indicate the oil sump capacities for which it is suitable.

The Lube Oil Centrifuge separates the solids from the engine oil using centrifugal force. a force of 2000 "G's", or 2000 times the force of gravity.  These solids are stored inside of the rotating turbine bowl, which will hold 4-5 times more dirt than your engine full-flow filters.  The act of exposing the oil to 2000 "G's" is what results in micron removal less than one.  Once the particles have been removed the clean oil is then returned to the oil pan.  The benefits of this entire process are drastically reduced engine wear, sludge build-up, and acid formation.

It is our recommendation that the centrifuge be serviced at your normal oil and/or filter change interval.

Engine lube oil consists of two basic parts, BASE Oil (base stock) and ADDITIVE Package. The base stock is the primary lubricant and can be petroleum base or synthetic base. The additives are blended, in liquid form, into the base stock. The additive package performs four basic functions: A detergent to clean engine internals and prevent formation of sludge, dispersants that surround a solid particle when it hits the oil preventing sludge formation, an alkalinity additive to neutralize acids, anti wear, viscosity improver and corrosion inhibitors. It is natural for these additives to be consumed in normal engine operation. The condemning limits for the various additives are known by the engine manufacture and the oil analysis companies. This information can be provided by them upon request.

The oil cleaning centrifuge is very useful in extending the life of the additive package. The additives are fully soluble in oil and the centrifuge will not remove the additives from the oil.

Excessive fuel dilution within an engine can occur due to bad injectors or leaking fuel passages with the engine. Centrifugal Filtration cannot prevent fuel contamination due to mechanical failures of the fuel system. When this problem occurs, the mechanical cause must be found, fixed, and the oil changed.

Solid contamination comes in with intake air and is a product of fuel combustion. (Soot) These solids "blow-by" the piston rings into the lube oil within the crankcase. Engine manufacture's full-flow filters remove the 20-25 micron solids from the oil leaving the smaller particles to pass through. These particles load the oil, negatively impact the viscosity, and form a lapping compound which causes engine wear. The Filtek Oil Centrifuge will remove these microns down below one and prolong the life of the oil and engine.

No! Many detergent oils will turn a dark blue-black after it is heated. Non-detergent oil will turn a reddish-brown and most diesel engine oils turn black in the first few minutes of running time. The only accurate way to determine an oils lubricating value or contamination level is through formal oil analysis.