VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 I need feedback about an idea

Several years ago I had the idea of turning a bypass oil filter into the equivalent of a full flow filter, filtering nearly all of the oil in each pass through the engine. My idea was to intercept the oil before it gets to the diverter valve, route it through the filter, then return it to the diverter valve for it to continue it's normal path through the engine. I used a modern spin on filter for the experiment because I didn't yet have a canister filter. I had a local machinist fabricate a fitting that I mounted between the block and diverter.

Upon starting the engine the oil pressure pegged the gauge. Once the engine warmed and the oil thinned the pressure dropped to where the gauge would register but very high compared to normal. After driving it that way for a while I removed the fitting because I wasn't sure whether I was damaging the engine or not.

I'll post pictures of the fitting when I get on my other computer tomorrow. I'd like some feedback about whether my idea has merit and whether or not I was risking my engine. If it's a good idea I'll put it back on for the extra oil filtration. If it's a bad idea I'll leave it on the shelf as a memento.

The flaw in this set-up is there is no filter by-pass for oil to circulate fully with cold oil or a plugged filter.

The higher than normal when hot was due to the resistance of pushing the oil through the filtering material.

I would stay with the by-pass type or no filter at all.

Friend of mine is a mechanical engineer and told me that it is never a good idea to force all oil through a filter in automotive engines for the reasons Gene explained above.

You want oil to be flowing at all times, and if something happens to block flow, having no oil flow at all will do a lot more damage than dirty oil.

You can put a 2" magnet on the bottom of the oil pan to hold any metallic debris, or use a magnetic drain plug. Remove the magnet before draining the oil.

I don't know about your invention.

I think that it would be sufficient to change the oil whenever it gets one quart low. This is assuming that your engine is in reasonably good condition.

Filtering the oil on these old designed engines isn't as important as it's cracked up to be. Minute metalic debris won't harm anything and will be pretty much gone after the oil change.

Best thing to come along for the old 216 is 10w-30. And forget the high-priced stuff. Wal-mart brand is fine.

Charlie

Here's the device attached but not connected to the filter yet.

I think Tiny must have been in the plumbing business at one time!

Doubtful. I don't see any cracks showing on the block.

The problem with a full flow filter is that it has to have the ability to flow 100% of the oil. It order to flow this easily, the filter media has to be low restriction and allow large particles to flow through.

A full flow filter can snag some particles flowing through but many just pass right through unless quite large. A bypass filter does a better job of filtering as the flow is slow and the media generally denser. It can take several minutes for 100% of the oil to be filtered by a bypass filter but it does keep the oil very clean. I run bypass filters on my modern car's engine and transmission fluid. Oil analysis before and after showed a HUGE improvement with a bypass filter.

When I was getting my 216 block machined, I briefly looked at converting it to full flow. It required some drilling, tapping, plugging some oil galleries and mounting an external full flow. I felt it wasn't worth the potential of an external leak just to add a mediocre full flow filter.

I'm not even sure I will bother with any filter on my 216 - just change my oil frequently.

I do like your plumbing though! You could improve a normal bypass filter by improving the media within your filter and maybe increasing the flow a bit like you are trying...

better is the enemy of good. just change the oil more often if it looks too dark. I know it cost more, but I like Pennzoil Ultimate Durability synthetic because it doen't sludge and is as slick as sh*. Good price for a synthetic. Sometimes better is better. 216's with spray and throw are still great old motors if you don't spin them too fast.