JusMX141
Moderator
- 15,148
- 1,268
- Dec 13, 2005
-
Greensburg,
Pennsylvania
It's been brought to my attention that a run of journal bearing turbochargers have been dying prematurely when using an Earl's -4AN inline oil filter.
This has been proven on identical journal bearing turbos built by two different companies....a PTE 6031E and a Turbonetics 60-1. Neither turbo lasted longer than 1000 miles with the oil feed line at the filter housing or the head.
Can anyone else confirm turbocharger failure when using this filter inline on their journal bearing turbo?
Allow me to explain the different circumstances for each turbo.
- The 6031E was fed from both the filter housing and the head, and died a total of (4) times....the last being catastrophic. An Earl's inline filter was used the entire time the turbo was on the car- the last time that turbo puked, the car was on a long distance trip with lots of off-boost driving. Each time the turbo died there was never evidence of any metal making it to the turbo, and the filter was spotless everytime it was disassembled.
- The Turbonetics 60-1 was being fed from the head with the Earl's inline filter. Prior to this turbo being installed, the owner was using a SBR G60 fed from the head without the filter, and it lasted almost an entire season and had ZERO shaft play when it was removed. The Turbonetics turbo was mounted, and the car was driven approximately 300 miles....the most recent being 1-1/2 hour drive to my shop from Maryland in which the car barely hit boost, and the turbo was unexpectedly pronounced dead upon arrival at my shop.
I'm seeing a pattern when the Earl's inline filter is used and the cars are driven distances at low RPM (and lower oil pressure than wide-open throttle) the turbos are dying from lack of oil, and I felt it should be discussed.
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This has been proven on identical journal bearing turbos built by two different companies....a PTE 6031E and a Turbonetics 60-1. Neither turbo lasted longer than 1000 miles with the oil feed line at the filter housing or the head.
Can anyone else confirm turbocharger failure when using this filter inline on their journal bearing turbo?
Allow me to explain the different circumstances for each turbo.
- The 6031E was fed from both the filter housing and the head, and died a total of (4) times....the last being catastrophic. An Earl's inline filter was used the entire time the turbo was on the car- the last time that turbo puked, the car was on a long distance trip with lots of off-boost driving. Each time the turbo died there was never evidence of any metal making it to the turbo, and the filter was spotless everytime it was disassembled.
- The Turbonetics 60-1 was being fed from the head with the Earl's inline filter. Prior to this turbo being installed, the owner was using a SBR G60 fed from the head without the filter, and it lasted almost an entire season and had ZERO shaft play when it was removed. The Turbonetics turbo was mounted, and the car was driven approximately 300 miles....the most recent being 1-1/2 hour drive to my shop from Maryland in which the car barely hit boost, and the turbo was unexpectedly pronounced dead upon arrival at my shop.
I'm seeing a pattern when the Earl's inline filter is used and the cars are driven distances at low RPM (and lower oil pressure than wide-open throttle) the turbos are dying from lack of oil, and I felt it should be discussed.