Correlating Engine Wear with Filter Multipass Testing

Diesel engine lubricant filtration is relied upon to protect critical engine components against wear. The type of filtration and the efficiency of particle removal is vital to minimizing engine wear. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study which characterized the correlation between engine dynamometer tests and eight different engine filtration configurations. The experimental filtration schemes were exhaustively tested according to the well known multipass test procedure, SAE J1858.

A low level Surface Layer Activation (SLA) radioactive spot was deposited at six points throughout the tested engine. Controlled, pressurized 0-30 micron test dust in an engine oil suspension was injected into the test engine under prescribed conditions and the progressive wear was measured at all the six points for four of the experimental filtration setups.

Results show that a strong correlation exists between engine wear and the filtration efficiency of solid contaminant in the engine lube. It is clearly demonstrated that higher efficiency filtration results in cleaner lube oil and thus less engine wear.