A better inline turbo filter, for less money...?

[forcefed86]

First off I'd just like to say this is all my opinion. And I'm not singling out any vendors, nor am I responsible for any damage installing a setup like mine may cause. So far so good on my car.

Looks to me like the aftermarket turbo guys are just rebadging 10mm SS fuel filters as inline turbo filters?

This seems like a piss-poor idea to me because there isn't enough filter media in the fuel filters. Same reason your oil filter isn't a small inline screen.

I went with one the spin-on 10 micron fuel filters for my pre-turbo filter. It was $24 at tractor supply. Plus about $7 in fittings to neck it down to a -4. (not including the 2 -4 AN fittings I had laying around).

So far I have this installed on my 3.8 v6. I'll probably do the same for my DSM/Holset setup once all my parts arrive.

I have a mech gauge post filter/preturbo, and another mech gauge in car. Both T'd into the same supply.

Initial startup 80-83psi in car, 58-59 at turbo (mech gauge T'd in at same place as oil supply for turbo. Fully warm, I see 25psi in car and between 22ish at turbo. Free reving turbo sees around 55-65. After a few hard passes at the track my oil pressure is usually around 21-22 at idle. The gauge still showed slightly over 20psi supplying the turbo. This is on a 68mm PTE turbo @ 28psi.

I also used this same filter on my fuel system. (running e85) Replacement filters are $8.

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[JusMX141]

You shouldn't need any additional filtering on the turbo's oil supply being that the line should be coming from the filter housing and has just passed through the oil filter. The concept of the small inline filters sold by FP and other vendors is to prevent filling the turbo in the event of an engine failure.

Generally a fuel filter will filter down to a much smaller micron than an oil filter- this mainly because fuel is much more liquid than oil, so fuel will pass easier through the filtering media. You should NOT be using a fuel filter as an oil filter as it will become a restriction and potentially rob the turbo of lubrication altogether. It may not happen right after initial installation, but it will happen as the filter becomes dirty.

 

[forcefed86]

You shouldn't need any additional filtering on the turbo's oil supply being that the line should be coming from the filter housing and has just passed through the oil filter. The concept of the small inline filters sold by FP and other vendors is to prevent filling the turbo in the event of an engine failure.

Generally a fuel filter will filter down to a much smaller micron than an oil filter- this mainly because fuel is much more liquid than oil, so fuel will pass easier through the filtering media. You should NOT be using a fuel filter as an oil filter as it will become a restriction and potentially rob the turbo of lubrication altogether. It may not happen right after initial installation, but it will happen as the filter becomes dirty.

Well on the buick setups the supply isn't coming post oil filter and buick guys have been running large inline filters like this for a long time. (oil filters, not fuel filters that I'm aware of)

I did want to limit the oil pressure going ot this turbo setup. So I don't mind a small amount of restriction. That is obviously what is lowering the pressures. THere is a ton of filter media as well so I'm not seeing how it would get "dirty". At least not excessivly anytiem soon? The paper filter is the same micron rating as the SS mesh inline filters. So how is it more restrictive?

 

[abaum565]

I also used this same filter on my fuel system. (running e85) Replacement filters are $8.

I hope you aren't using this on your dsm for a fuel filter.

Copied and pasted from their description:

Disposable spin-on canister filters microscopic particles (10 microns) of rust, sand, dirt, scale and lint. Working pressure up to 50 PSI and/or 12 GPM. Compatible with gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and related additives including methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl alcohol. Also can be used with bidiesel blends up to 20%. Zinc top-cap with 3/4" NPT pipe fittings.

I wouldn't even think about running this on a dsm fuel system or turbo oil system with those pressure and flow ratings.

 

[forcefed86]

I hope you aren't using this on your dsm for a fuel filter.

Copied and pasted from their description:

Disposable spin-on canister filters microscopic particles (10 microns) of rust, sand, dirt, scale and lint. Working pressure up to 50 PSI and/or 12 GPM. Compatible with gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and related additives including methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl alcohol. Also can be used with bidiesel blends up to 20%. Zinc top-cap with 3/4" NPT pipe fittings.

I wouldn't even think about running this on a dsm fuel system or turbo oil system with those pressure and flow ratings.

Not on the dsm... yet.

But me and about 25 others here at our local strip all use than and love them. I and many others have run over 80psi through them and never seen a failure. I have cut these filters open and they are made of material that is just as thick if not more so than standard oil filters. Flow ratings? Are you kidding? These things flow a ton!

As I said in the first sentence.... I'm not telling anyone to do this.

 

[JusMX141]

Using a filter designed for a 50psi maximum pressure of cold fuel to filter 100psi of hot oil = BAD idea. For all you know the hot oil could cause the filter to completely disintegrate inside.

I don't think this needs any further explanation.

 

[forcefed86]

Using a filter designed for a 50psi maximum pressure of cold fuel to filter 100psi of hot oil = BAD idea. For all you know the hot oil could cause the filter to completely disintegrate inside.

I don't think this needs any further explanation.

Your right if you want to get nit-picky about it…

I’m sure a spin on oil filter could be used just as easily . It was more the idea of a larger media filter with equal filtration that I was interested in. That and the pressures. In (VS) out. Both of those seem to be “OK” in my book.

 

[honda_burner]

Wouldn't it be a better idea to run two oil filters?

 

[JusMX141]

The average DSMer isn't going to want another bulky filter right next to the existing filter housing which is just for the turbo alone. The majority of the small shit that would cause damage is going to be caught by the existing engine oil filter- the small inline filters that most vendors sell are only in place as a failsafe. They don't take up a lot of space, and we don't have a lot of space to offer.