Added information.

 

I wish FortNine had done the tests relevant to engine use, like Morrison or Ascent Filtration. However, those tests were expensive and time consuming. ASTM testing always is.

 

Why do cellulose oil filters have so much more surface area, compared to full synthetic filters?

"As example, a 3 micron beta 200 microglass element has less restriction than a 30 micron paper element. Filter paper manufacture is not an exact science. In many paper elements, as much as 40% of the filter may not pass oil at all, thus reducing contaminant holding capacity and increasing flow resistance. Conversely, a "manufactured" microglass element can flow through 100% of its area which results in considerably increased contaminant capacity along with lower DP/resistance compared with a paper filter medium." George Morrison, STLE CLS

 

Dang, getting specifications on the Mahle or K&N is like getting top secret info.

From Mahle about another cartridge oil filter:
Bypass valve opening pressure: 130 kPA/18.85 PSI
Beta Ratio: 50% -- 18 micron
75% -- 24 micron
90% -- 28 micron
Nominal Flow Rate: 20 l/min
Frankly, those are crap numbers.

K&N says all their test information is proprietary. What does this imply?

From Bob Is The Oil Guy:
The white K&N Golds are 95% at 20 microns. They haven't changed.
K&N Black Selects are 99% at 30 and are identical to the Supertech MP- series

 

The only time I had looked at Amsoil’s EaO filters, I remember wishing filtration would have been better, but mostly that they had ones for my applications. That was quite a long while ago, though. How are they now?
The Fram Ultras, before the brand’s sale a couple or so years ago, filtered shockingly well even down to 5 microns. I haven’t seen any with plastic backing screens, but I haven’t bought many filters lately.

 

Amsoil’s EaO filters, How are they now?
The Fram Ultras, I haven’t seen any with plastic backing screens, but I haven’t bought many filters lately.

Amsoil has their EaO oil filters made with Donaldson Synteq filter media.

First Brands, formerly TRICO, purchased Fram and the bean counters changed the Ultra Synthetic to paper with a thin layer of synthetic all supported by a high temp plastic support. Still filters very fine particles, but lots of questions have caused many to switch to alternatives.

 

$25 experiment.

2.66" high filter. 67.564mm

My comparison chart with copied rows from Amsoil dimension chart:

 

RL…What oil filter do you use on your GS, or is this the one?

 

Yes, the EA15K53.

 

It would be interesting to know how some of the figures were arrived at. For instance, what is "Relative Engine Life" and how was it calculated? Will a perfect filter provide infinite engine life? What about efficiency. Are the numbers for a single pass through the filter? In real life, oil is filtered many times. How does that affect the percentage of particulates captured at various sizes? Wear from oil-borne particles will depend on what they are made of as well as the size. So many variables....

 

They showed how they calculated relative engine life in their graphic.

The single-pass vs multi-pass filtration test protocols do indeed yield different figures, and while oil is certainly filtered many times per hour, new particulate is also added constantly. So I wonder whether the multi-pass filtration efficiency test is a more life-like representation of filter performance, or not…?

 

If some K1600 rider wanted to come by my house in Dallas, I have an extra EA 53 we can try to see if it can fit.

 

Your house in Dallas? I've been off the forum for a bit but last I remember you were building a place in Vegas?

 

BITOG and I spent a lot of time together long ago. The people who were simultaneously knowledgeable AND shared usefully and meaningfully are very nearly all gone, and have been for some time. It’s too bad, really.

A good filter, like Fram’s Ultra at least was, will ‘clean up’ an oil compared to how it came out of the bottle new, as measured by a particle count. I’ve done that before, and even on a bike dumping gear and clutch wear into the fluid, a GOOD filter will result in distinctly cleaner-than-new oil. Chevron’s ISO-CLEAN stuff, not so much. It’s CLEAN right out of the shuttles. Not sold to consumers, though.

 

Please report back what you find, cap! I'm happy with the BMW or Mann filters, but would certainly consider the AmsOil if I don't have to take off the shifter linkage (I'm lazy, you see ).

 

There are a wide variety of oil filters. The bottom line is that cleaner oil offers far longer engine life:

If you intend to keep any engine beyond the warranty period, it is prudent to use the best filtering and high flowing oil filter you can find. That is, if you value engine performance.

These tests indicate that full synthetic oil filters provide the best filtration:

Donaldson is regarded as the premier filter company, in the world. This is how different filter medias function:

Donaldson is not on the 3rd generation of Synteq, and has an even better filter media for very specialized filtration.

This is from a oil filtration study done by Cummins Diesel to extend the operational life of their engines:

You can tell if your oil filter is really a multi-layer fully synthetic media filter by looking at the filter cut open. If the media is thick and fluffy, like fleece, it is the real thing. If it is thin, it is not.

Thick and fluffy has a wire backing and not so many folds, because of the thick fabric. Far more expensive to manufacture and causes most companies to go the cheaper route of paper or a combination of paper and synthetic. Fram has a great multi-layer fully synthetic oil filter called Ultra Synthetic. After Tyco purchased Fram the bean counters forced the redesign and now their Ultra is a nylon plastic frame with a layer of paper and a very thin layer of synthetic material. Yes, it filters well but most people who are focused on the matter have switched back to Royal Purple or Amsoil for filtration.

Thick & Fluffy:

Paper filter:

As for the K1600, there are only a couple companies representing that they offer a synthetic media: Mahle, which makes the BMW oil filter and K&N. Photos of the cut open filters cause me to ask questions about the type of "synthetic".

As for other BMWs, like the GS, there is more room for larger oil filters, so there are options if you want a thick & fluffy filter.

For those who are interested in dropping down the rabbit hole, Bob Is The Oil Guy has a robust oil filter discussion forum.

Engine Oil Filters

newholland.com Acres / Summer 2022 magazine P.18 New Holland engine oil and filters This does not mention BMW, but it does solidly back up the above info, especially on filters.
"Engine oil filters deliver 60 times more contaminant protection, with increased dirt holding-capacity and longer intervals between servicing. The straight, round MicroLoc synthetic fibers in genuine CNH industrial filters are unique and allow oil to flow faster, which reduces restriction inside. These small, fine fibers improve filtration, reduce engine wear, and allow the oil to reach bearings faster to provide optimal protection."

 

The Amsoil filter (Ea15K53) has a bypass valve rating of 11-17psi.

The OEM Mahle OC306 has a bypass pressure of 32psi.

Even though I have the Amsoil filter on my shelf in the garage and can confirm the fitment would be VERY close to clearing the shifter, I’m not about to be the guinea pig that tries a filter with such a different bypass pressure.

Maybe @capav8r can reach out to his contacts at Amsoil and see what they say about such wildly different bypass pressures…

I mean BMW (or Ricardo) must have spec’d such a high bypass rating for a reason, I’m thinking??? 11-17 is common. 32psi is absurdly high for almost any engine

 

The Amsoil filter (Ea15K53) has a bypass valve rating of 11-17psi.
The OEM Mahle OC306 has a bypass pressure of 32psi.

https://bestrestproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Oil-filter-charts-revised-03-14-18.pdf

The way I read the chart it is 12 Pounds/PSI for either the Mahle or BMW oil filter.

With high volume oil pumps the bypass pressure is set high to force oil through the paper filter.

 

WOW!!!!!

That would be 33.358 PSI, the highest I have ever seen in any vehicle.

 

Donaldson is not on the 3rd generation of Synteq, and has an even better filter media for very specialized filtration.

Did you really mean to include not in this sentence?

 

Following

 

This shouldn't be too hard to check. I've got an oil change coming up in the next few weeks. Simply a matter of measuring the exposed area on the inlet side of the bypass valve and the force required to move it against the spring. Might be fun, if a bit messy.
I would be curious to know how the manufacturer tests this. I suspect it's just a measure of differential pressure at some specified flow rate and viscosity. Remember, the bypass valve is not an on/off affair. Some oil is always going through the filter media. Some may be allowed to bypass it if pressure is too great. I would bet the engine has its own bypass valve as well. Engineering nerd phase concluded.

 

Here it is, and weird it is.
11 pounds to just crack open the bypass. Diameter is .583". I get 41 psi . Somebody check my math. Mahle OC306.
Might try again after I've had my coffee.

 

Yep, I agree with your math.