The Ford Barn

Cotterski · 04-19-2016, 06:46 PM

How necessary is an oil filter for a stock Model A engine? Can they restrict the flow of oil to vital engine components?

Y-Blockhead · 04-19-2016, 06:50 PM

I like the idea of clean oil. Is a filter absolutely necessary? No, If you change your oil every 500 miles.
And No, a filter won't restrict flow.
See recent thread. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194209

40 Deluxe · 04-19-2016, 07:22 PM

Has anyone done oil sample comparisons between filtered oil and non-filtered oil?
I would guess there wouldn't be much difference. Any small amount of dust that may get past the rings or through the fill tube is likely to be too fine to be filtered out. Most filters are rated at 10 microns and the powdery dust stirred up on gravel roads is finer than that. If you're worried about filtering out metal debris, anything larger than 10 microns means you've got problems too big for a filter to fix!
I think most engine damage comes from chemical contamination: acid forming from crankcase condensation and dilution from unburned gasoline getting past the rings. No filter will take out this stuff, nor the resulting sludge.
Yes, all these contaminants will show up on an oil sample report but not in particles large enough for a filter to catch. Larger pieces of grit that get inhaled through the carb will have damaged the cylinder walls and rings long before the filter has a chance to catch them.

glenn in camino · 04-19-2016, 07:38 PM

I have an Affordable filter on my 31 sport coupe. The oil stays very clean between changes.

2manycars · 04-19-2016, 08:17 PM

Many of us have driven our fords for a long time, me over 40 years, and without a filter.

SeaSlugs · 04-19-2016, 08:23 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Speaking of and random trivia - who was the first manufacturer to have a factory installed oil filter and when?

(i honestly dont know but would like to)

Y-Blockhead · 04-19-2016, 08:29 PM

I'm guessing most auto manufacturers from the 40's on up decided to redesign their engines in order to put an oil filter on it so they can charge the consumer more. Then charge them more to install a new one at every oil change. What a SCAM!!

To think of all the money I could have saved if I never changed my oil filter since they don't filter any thing out, they will never get old.

Synchro909 · 04-19-2016, 08:33 PM

When I'm on a long tour (several thousand miles), I monitor the oil pressure and temp gauges and speedo. There is a relationship between the three. When I see the oil pressure dropping a pound or two (I run 25 psi to the middle main bearing) at the same speed and temp, I change the oil. I usually get about 3,000 miles between changes depending on the quality of the oil but I'd never dream of going that far without a filter. After my last 9,000 miles trip, I stripped the motor for inspection and just put it all back together again without changing or adjusting anything.
Before anyone says 3,000 miles is too far, sure it is if you are going short trips and have no filter. 3,000 miles between oil changes is normal for a modern car and after all, the main difference between a Model A and a modern in this regard is only an oil filter.

Mike V. Florida · 04-19-2016, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cotterski

How necessary is an oil filter for a stock Model A engine? They are not very necessary. The key word here is "necessary" You just need to change the oil more often then if you had one.

Can they restrict the flow of oil to vital engine components? Not at all. on a stock engine it simply dumps the filtered oil back into the engine to splash and drip as normal.

....

updraught · 04-20-2016, 12:12 AM

The general consensus seems to be that a filter is more important on an inserted engine.

Without a filter you live in hope that any chunks of metal (or broken timing gear) floating around in the oil only got there ... just before ... you pulled the plug.

2manycars · 04-20-2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by updraught

The general consensus seems to be that a filter is more important on an inserted engine.

Without a filter you live in hope that any chunks of metal (or broken timing gear) floating around in the oil only got there ... just before ... you pulled the plug.

the oil pump has a screen that wil keep chunks of metal out of the pump. If your engine is loosing chunks of metal, it needs more than an oil filter.

1929 · 04-20-2016, 06:37 AM

Is it true to the rumor, that even if you have a full flow filter, you should still change the oil after 1,500 miles?

updraught · 04-20-2016, 06:49 AM

Depends how long it takes to get to 1500 miles.

I've driven through the Bronx in peak hour and didn't get far.

ericr · 04-20-2016, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

Speaking of and random trivia - who was the first manufacturer to have a factory installed oil filter and when?

(i honestly dont know but would like to)

was it Chrysler?

ericr · 04-20-2016, 07:02 AM

from what some of you guys are saying, it seems that an air filter is more necessary than an oil filter.....

Bob-A · 04-20-2016, 07:28 AM

[QUOTE=SeaSlugs;1280313]Speaking of and random trivia - who was the first manufacturer to have a factory installed oil filter and when?

I'm pretty sure Chevy had a factory installed oil filter on their 1928 model
and maybe even earlier. The 1929, 1930, etc. did not.

Bob-A

Dollar Bill · 04-20-2016, 09:21 AM

Air filters and oil filters will add to engine longevity.

katy · 04-20-2016, 09:56 AM

FWIW,

A few years ago I did a service on a high mileage Nissan Pathfinder V6 that had 17,000 miles on it since it's last service. I cut the old oil filter open to see what it looked like inside and was quite surprised as how undirty it was. I expected it to be nearly full of crap but it wasn't.

On one of my own vehicles, a 1980 Ford 1/2 ton w/a 300 6 cylinder, at around 100,000 miles on it I replaced the oil pump w/a high volume pump. After that I noticed that the oil stayed cleaner a lot longer than it did w/the stock pump

Synchro909 · 04-20-2016, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dollar Bill

Air filters and oil filters will add to engine longevity.

X2 - X more if I could.

Synchro909 · 04-20-2016, 06:47 PM

[QUOTE=Bob-A;1280496]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

Speaking of and random trivia - who was the first manufacturer to have a factory installed oil filter and when?

I'm pretty sure Chevy had a factory installed oil filter on their 1928 model
and maybe even earlier. The 1929, 1930, etc. did not.

Bob-A

Among the American cars, I know Chrysler had oil filters before that.
I run an oil filter and put a button sized magnet in the drain plug.

04-19-2016, 06:46 PM	#1
Cotterski Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 3	Oil Filter How necessary is an oil filter for a stock Model A engine? Can they restrict the flow of oil to vital engine components?

04-19-2016, 06:50 PM	#2
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: Oil Filter I like the idea of clean oil. Is a filter absolutely necessary? No, If you change your oil every 500 miles. And No, a filter won't restrict flow. See recent thread. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194209

04-19-2016, 07:22 PM	#3
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,778	Re: Oil Filter Has anyone done oil sample comparisons between filtered oil and non-filtered oil? I would guess there wouldn't be much difference. Any small amount of dust that may get past the rings or through the fill tube is likely to be too fine to be filtered out. Most filters are rated at 10 microns and the powdery dust stirred up on gravel roads is finer than that. If you're worried about filtering out metal debris, anything larger than 10 microns means you've got problems too big for a filter to fix! I think most engine damage comes from chemical contamination: acid forming from crankcase condensation and dilution from unburned gasoline getting past the rings. No filter will take out this stuff, nor the resulting sludge. Yes, all these contaminants will show up on an oil sample report but not in particles large enough for a filter to catch. Larger pieces of grit that get inhaled through the carb will have damaged the cylinder walls and rings long before the filter has a chance to catch them.

04-19-2016, 07:38 PM	#4
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Oil Filter I have an Affordable filter on my 31 sport coupe. The oil stays very clean between changes.

04-19-2016, 08:17 PM	#5
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: Oil Filter Many of us have driven our fords for a long time, me over 40 years, and without a filter. __________________ Bill www.brauchauto.com

04-19-2016, 08:23 PM	#6
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Oil Filter Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Speaking of and random trivia - who was the first manufacturer to have a factory installed oil filter and when? (i honestly dont know but would like to) __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

04-19-2016, 08:29 PM	#7
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: Oil Filter I'm guessing most auto manufacturers from the 40's on up decided to redesign their engines in order to put an oil filter on it so they can charge the consumer more. Then charge them more to install a new one at every oil change. What a SCAM!! To think of all the money I could have saved if I never changed my oil filter since they don't filter any thing out, they will never get old.

04-19-2016, 08:33 PM	#8
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Oil Filter When I'm on a long tour (several thousand miles), I monitor the oil pressure and temp gauges and speedo. There is a relationship between the three. When I see the oil pressure dropping a pound or two (I run 25 psi to the middle main bearing) at the same speed and temp, I change the oil. I usually get about 3,000 miles between changes depending on the quality of the oil but I'd never dream of going that far without a filter. After my last 9,000 miles trip, I stripped the motor for inspection and just put it all back together again without changing or adjusting anything. Before anyone says 3,000 miles is too far, sure it is if you are going short trips and have no filter. 3,000 miles between oil changes is normal for a modern car and after all, the main difference between a Model A and a modern in this regard is only an oil filter. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

04-20-2016, 12:12 AM	#10
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,969	Re: Oil Filter The general consensus seems to be that a filter is more important on an inserted engine. Without a filter you live in hope that any chunks of metal (or broken timing gear) floating around in the oil only got there ... just before ... you pulled the plug.

04-20-2016, 06:37 AM	#12
1929 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New York Posts: 943	Re: Oil Filter Is it true to the rumor, that even if you have a full flow filter, you should still change the oil after 1,500 miles?

04-20-2016, 06:49 AM	#13
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,969	Re: Oil Filter Depends how long it takes to get to 1500 miles. I've driven through the Bronx in peak hour and didn't get far.

04-20-2016, 07:02 AM	#15
ericr Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,542	Re: Oil Filter from what some of you guys are saying, it seems that an air filter is more necessary than an oil filter.....

04-20-2016, 07:28 AM	#16
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,137	Re: Oil Filter [QUOTE=SeaSlugs;1280313]Speaking of and random trivia - who was the first manufacturer to have a factory installed oil filter and when? I'm pretty sure Chevy had a factory installed oil filter on their 1928 model and maybe even earlier. The 1929, 1930, etc. did not. Bob-A

04-20-2016, 09:21 AM	#17
Dollar Bill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Keystone Heights, FL Posts: 647	Re: Oil Filter Air filters and oil filters will add to engine longevity. __________________ I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise

04-20-2016, 09:56 AM	#18
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,042	Re: Oil Filter FWIW, A few years ago I did a service on a high mileage Nissan Pathfinder V6 that had 17,000 miles on it since it's last service. I cut the old oil filter open to see what it looked like inside and was quite surprised as how undirty it was. I expected it to be nearly full of crap but it wasn't. On one of my own vehicles, a 1980 Ford 1/2 ton w/a 300 6 cylinder, at around 100,000 miles on it I replaced the oil pump w/a high volume pump. After that I noticed that the oil stayed cleaner a lot longer than it did w/the stock pump __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!