Aviation oil filters

[fairdeal]

started out Googling about oil filters relating to Yamaha outboards

stumbled across Aviation filters - whose existence had never crossed my mind.

Learned some fascinating facts:

- use of "spin-on" filter only introduced in 1974 (according to Champion)

- typical "nominal porosity" is 40 microns

- usually cut open on changeout to look for evidence of engine wear

- one brand includes an internal magnet,
both to "improve filtration" (catching ferrous particles smaller than filter pores)
and to make them readily visible when the filter is opened and examined

most interesting - they are installed with a safety wire !

[robert graham]

Let me guess, price about 10x that of any normal oil filter?....just because it's aviation quality?....

[fairdeal]

actually, I was surprised by that, too -

seemed there are only two FAA approved brands, the Champion was $35 and the other $30.

Not much more than a Yamaha branded outboard filter...

[boscoe99]

Some aircraft engines don't use an oil filter at all. Some just use a cleanable metal mesh strainer.

[FL_Marine]

The safety wire is put in place to keep the filter from backing off during flight. I have never heard of one doing so but EVERYTHING on an aircraft is safety wired or cotter pinned.

[boscoe99]

Some folks wish in hindsight that their lower unit drain plug had been safety wired.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

This is what I run on the bike, K&P:

| K and P Engineering

[fairdeal]

This is what I run on the bike, K&P:

Slick! (or, as K&P would say, "trick")

I see they have a model for the Yamaha Waverunner -

why not outboards?

[robert graham]

Some aircraft engines don't use an oil filter at all. Some just use a cleanable metal mesh strainer.

My VW rail buggy was like that when I bought it in 1978 but shortly later I added a regular cartridge spin-on oil filter....my mechanic said the filter was supposed to increase engine life by some 300%....maybe so, but all a I know is it's still running like a champ!...Air cooled VW engines turn oil black pretty quick...maybe the crude old Solex carb....

[FL_Marine]

Some folks wish in hindsight that their lower unit drain plug had been safety wired.

Reading that gave me shivers.

[pstephens46]

The safety wire is put in place to keep the filter from backing off during flight. I have never heard of one doing so but EVERYTHING on an aircraft is safety wired or cotter pinned.

And bolts and fasteners covered with anti-sabotage paints

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Slick! (or, as K&P would say, "trick")

I see they have a model for the Yamaha Waverunner -

why not outboards?

Last time I looked, they did have them for the F150 OB as I was looking at them.

I don't see them listed now (as you noted), however I'm sure they have them. I bought two cartridge style filters as I had 2 Yamaha bikes at the time (sold the one).

Besides working as an oil cooler as well, if you read the spec's, the filtering and especially the flow rate far exceeds regular filters...

For cleaning, simply un-spin the filter, the inside is machined to un-lock CC about 1/3 a turn and the filter element is right there, piece of cake for inspection... I use brake cleaner on the filter as the engine oil drains from the engine and doesn't take long at all...

Expensive initially, but mines already paid for itself as I don't buy filters for the bike anymore (and it gets the most miles) and I've had this bike since 2009...

BTW, absolutely meticulous machine work!!

[pstephens46]

How much for the one in pic?

[TownsendsFJR1300]

How much for the one in pic?

This is the one I currently have:

S1 | K and P Engineering

It's NOW $139.00.

I bought it at least 5 years ago, it was just over $100 as I re-call..

[rodbolt17]

you guys be killin me.
I bet none of you have ever actually seen a failure due to a clogged filter or bad oil.
I have been doing this type work for a living since I was 15, I am now 55.
closest I think may be either timing chain piesce in the oil strainer or the one pinto 2.3L that broke an oil pump drive shaft.

other than that it is rather overrated.

my 63 stude had a spin on oil filter.
my 61 stude had no oil filter, it was an option in 61 on the 170 and the optional filter was a cartridge type clamped to the manifold.

if I had a choice between servicing the cooling system once a year or changing the oil?

I would do the cooling system.