How does bypass oil filter work

The pressure differential is the change in pressure from the inlet to the outlet side of the filter. If the pressure differential is too high, a valve will open, allowing the oil to bypass the filter. All engine oil filters or heads are equipped with a bypass valve. This valve is needed so the engine does not become starved of oil as the filter clogs with debris.

Oil filters can be tested in a variety of ways, but one of the most common methods is the beta ratio test. This test incorporates online particle counters positioned upstream and downstream of the filter, a continuous flow of test contaminant into the main system reservoir and oil flowing through the filter. The beta ratio is calculated by dividing the number of particles larger than a certain size upstream of the filter by the number of particles of the same size downstream of the filter.

For example, you may have a beta ratio or a beta sub 5 meaning particles larger than 5 microns equal to This means 10 particles upstream of the filter would be divided by 1 downstream of the filter.

In other words, for every 10 particles coming in, one gets through. If you have a higher beta ratio, say a beta ratio of or a beta sub 5 equal to , for every particles coming into the filter larger than 5 microns, one makes its way through.

Every filter will have multiple beta ratios. There could be a beta ratio for 2 microns, 5 microns, 10 microns, 50 microns, microns, etc. Therefore, 90 percent of the particles larger than 5 microns are removed by a filter that has a beta ratio of In most engine designs, oil must flow through the filter before entering the engine components. Therefore, the filter must be able to handle percent of the flow rate needed to feed the moving components of the engine.

The media pore size is the major determinant in how efficient and how small of a particle the filter can remove. When these factors are combined, a problem arises. The physical size is usually constrained by design. The flow rate must be high enough to feed all the lubricated components. Please review and accept our Privacy Policy before signing up for the newsletter.

Discover the oil filter bypass valve. Message Regarding Your Privacy. I accept Submit Submit. An oil filter has three main tasks: Remove contaminants from the oil. This includes dirt, oxidized oil and metallic particles. Trap and hold these contaminants until the next oil filter change. Avoid unnecessary flow resistance, allowing enough pure oil to enter the engine for optimal performance. The purpose of an oil filter bypass valve Over time the filter can get clogged, which restricts oil flow.

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They remove contaminants which could cause long-term damage to your engine. Clean motor oil is crucial to the health of the engine and if left unfiltered, it could become saturated with tiny, hard particles that can wear surfaces of internal parts. There are two types of filters, a spin filter where the valve is an integral part of the filter itself, and a cartridge filter where the valve is mostly part of the housing. If the valve opens too soon or too frequently, it will cause contaminated oil to flow into the engine which can accelerate the wear of surfaces.

And if the valve opens too late, the flow of oil could get obstructed, resulting in poor lubrication.