Mobil used to offer a synthetic media oil filter. For now, the only company offering one is Amsoil.
Synthetic media allows for a significant reduction in oil flow through the bypass. The high filtration paper media oil filters merely shove oil flow through the bypass.
I take oil and synthetic media to the dealer for the free oil changes because, as the mechanics tell the service advisors, the oil and filter I bring are far superior to what the Subaru dealer offers.
Here is a discussion from a Mobil oil distributer:
"Regarding "seems too good to be true". Welcome to the world of microglass/synthetic filtration medium. I upgrade industrial applications every day from cellulose to microglass: go from a 30 micron paper element filter to a 6 micron microglass. Vastly improved filtration, in the 90% reduction level, as in the EaO, AND the filter generally lasts 2 to 4 times longer than the cellulose filter it was replacing. How? Generally up to 40% of a cellulose filter element passes nothing, absolutely blocked.. Whereas the microglass or nanofiber (whatever) is 100% flowable filter. So, yes, filtering much finer, flowing much easier and lasting considerably longer, even though it is capturing 90% more particulates... Indeed, it is true......
George Morrison, STLE CLS" - 3/1/07
"Well, Gary, I have now become an Amsoil EaO filter Gnostic! I "know" that the EaO is simply the best automotive oil filter currently available...
George Morrison, STLE CLS 3/1/07"
And like you said, at the time, George operated one of the largest Mobil distributors in the nation. He had no financial gain from the testimony of his real world experience with an EaO.
The ISO cleanliness is reduced from 18/17/15 to 14/13/11 with the Amsoil EaO oil filter. I would have been very happy with 1 or 2 number reductions.. A 93% reduction in particulates is, well, as in going from no filtration to having a filter.... This level of cleanliness *will* provide meaningful, long term wear reduction and attendant increase in component life, from my experience.
My used engine oil is cleaner than the oil which came out of the quart bottle..
George Morrison, STLE CLS
(NOT an Amsoil dealer, never have been: may become one with results like this, however)" 2/28/07
I've cross checked Subaru part numbers and find that the same oil filter is used for our 2016 2.5 through the new 2019 2.5 engine: EA15K13
Cleaner oil lubricates better.
In researching how good these filters are I came across these discussions:
Film thickness may vary from about 2.5 to 8 micron
in power stroke with SAE 10W50a oil at 1600 rpm &
no load conditions as predicted by Harigaya et al.
Harigaya, Y. Suzuki, M. Toda, F. Takiguchi, M.
“Analysis of oil film thickness and heat transfer on a
piston ring of a diesel engine: effect of lubricant
viscosity”. ASME J. of Eng. for Gas Turbines and
Power, 2006, Vol. 128, pp. 685-693
************************************************** ******
Today's engines have what is called a full-flow oil filter. These filters generally filter to 25 microns. Two things that you may not know are: (1) A 25 micron filter is only 80% effective, meaning 20% of particles larger than 25 microns are NOT held in the filter and go out to wear out your engine. (2)The other point is that the average oil film thickness between components in your engine is 5 to 20 microns.
According to the SAE, particles as small as 4 microns can cause up to 77% of engine wear.
************************************************** *********
I recently completed comparative testing for an Amsoil EaO oil filter on my Toyota Sequoia (and one is in process for my Duramax) and from a lube engineer's perspective, it is simply the finest oil filter currently on the market. Period... My used engine oil is actually cleaner than the new Mobil 1 oil I put IN the engine..
Each filter had 1,500 miles on. The OEM filter was from a new oil change with Mobil 1 R 0W-30, while the Amsoil EaO filter was a filter change only with no make up oil added. Vehicle has 160,000 miles on the engine. Mobil 1 since new, of course....
I had mentioned that my used Mobil 1 was actually cleaner than the Mobil 1 I put IN the engine. The results are as follows:
New Mobil 1R 0W-30=========Mobil 1R filtered with Amsoil EaO Filter
ISO 18/14/11================14/13/11
>4 Microns 1510========128 particles per milliiter
>6 microns 106=========70 particles per milliter
>14 microns 15==========12 particles per milliter
>25 microns 4===========2 particles per milliter
>50 microns 2===========0 particles per milliter
>100 microns 1==========0 particles per milliter
Thus my used engine oil is significantly cleaner than the new oil.
In terms of abrasive particles per gallon, new oil would have 5,715,110 abrasive particles >4 microns circulating through the entire system for each gallon of oil flow. The EaO filtered oil would have 484,411 abrasive particles per gallon flowing through the engine.. A significant reduction....
As a lube engineer, when I can reduce an ISO grade by one number I am ecstatic. One number cuts abrasive components in half.. Four numbers, well, I am in filter nirvana....
This represents a 93%+ reduction in abrasive particles and will definitely provide long term wear reductions and increased component life...
George Morrison, STLE CLS
(NOTE: I am not nor have I ever been an Amsoil dealer: have no association: quite the contrary, actually)
************************************************** *****
It would seem to be paradoxical in that this filter has such excellent ultra fine filtration capabilities yet should provide a much reduced flow resistance vs. paper or a paper/glass blend. Additionally, a full microglass element (EaO) can hold as much as 4 times the dirt as cellulose, thus should be able to last considerably longer than a comparably sized paper element. i.e. your basic win/win. Of course the price of the filter is premium but for a finatic of oil cleanliness and simplicity, the EaO certainly delivers...
I will post the Duramax results as soon as they are completed which, unfortunately, will be another month or so.. I would anticipate the same level of efficiency increase, however.. The test for me was to verify:
1: that the media used in the EaO is a full microglass, which it is.
2. that the construction of the materials used in the filter enable the filter to perform to capability. And it does......
Bingo...
George Morrison, STLE CLS
(NOT an Amsoil dealer, no affiliation with Amsoil: quite the contrary)
************************************************** ****************
And Obviously I was a Mobil 1 oil filter fan/user as it *was* the best oil filter I had tested until the EaO came along... Yes, the EaO is significantly better than the Mobil 1 in that the Mobil 1 is a microglass/cellulose blend. It is as in a chain link; the weakest link dictates the strength of the chain.. The EaO flows much better, is unaffected by extreme cold (which cellulose is, very much, causing flow restricitons and resultant by-pass opening/dumping to occur), and holds much more dirt than the Mobil 1. (theoretically, as I have no actual documentation for the EaO, just going by experience of glass vs. paper vs. paper glass combos).
So, yes, me with Mobil 1 stamped on my forehead, have to say that the Eao is a much better oil filter in every performance aspect, especially filtration, which is key......
George Morrison, STLE CLS
************************************************** **
Synthetic media allows for a significant reduction in oil flow through the bypass. The high filtration paper media oil filters merely shove oil flow through the bypass.
I take oil and synthetic media to the dealer for the free oil changes because, as the mechanics tell the service advisors, the oil and filter I bring are far superior to what the Subaru dealer offers.
Here is a discussion from a Mobil oil distributer:
"Regarding "seems too good to be true". Welcome to the world of microglass/synthetic filtration medium. I upgrade industrial applications every day from cellulose to microglass: go from a 30 micron paper element filter to a 6 micron microglass. Vastly improved filtration, in the 90% reduction level, as in the EaO, AND the filter generally lasts 2 to 4 times longer than the cellulose filter it was replacing. How? Generally up to 40% of a cellulose filter element passes nothing, absolutely blocked.. Whereas the microglass or nanofiber (whatever) is 100% flowable filter. So, yes, filtering much finer, flowing much easier and lasting considerably longer, even though it is capturing 90% more particulates... Indeed, it is true......
George Morrison, STLE CLS" - 3/1/07
"Well, Gary, I have now become an Amsoil EaO filter Gnostic! I "know" that the EaO is simply the best automotive oil filter currently available...
George Morrison, STLE CLS 3/1/07"
And like you said, at the time, George operated one of the largest Mobil distributors in the nation. He had no financial gain from the testimony of his real world experience with an EaO.
The ISO cleanliness is reduced from 18/17/15 to 14/13/11 with the Amsoil EaO oil filter. I would have been very happy with 1 or 2 number reductions.. A 93% reduction in particulates is, well, as in going from no filtration to having a filter.... This level of cleanliness *will* provide meaningful, long term wear reduction and attendant increase in component life, from my experience.
My used engine oil is cleaner than the oil which came out of the quart bottle..
George Morrison, STLE CLS
(NOT an Amsoil dealer, never have been: may become one with results like this, however)" 2/28/07
I've cross checked Subaru part numbers and find that the same oil filter is used for our 2016 2.5 through the new 2019 2.5 engine: EA15K13
Cleaner oil lubricates better.
In researching how good these filters are I came across these discussions:
Film thickness may vary from about 2.5 to 8 micron
in power stroke with SAE 10W50a oil at 1600 rpm &
no load conditions as predicted by Harigaya et al.
Harigaya, Y. Suzuki, M. Toda, F. Takiguchi, M.
“Analysis of oil film thickness and heat transfer on a
piston ring of a diesel engine: effect of lubricant
viscosity”. ASME J. of Eng. for Gas Turbines and
Power, 2006, Vol. 128, pp. 685-693
************************************************** ******
Today's engines have what is called a full-flow oil filter. These filters generally filter to 25 microns. Two things that you may not know are: (1) A 25 micron filter is only 80% effective, meaning 20% of particles larger than 25 microns are NOT held in the filter and go out to wear out your engine. (2)The other point is that the average oil film thickness between components in your engine is 5 to 20 microns.
According to the SAE, particles as small as 4 microns can cause up to 77% of engine wear.
************************************************** *********
I recently completed comparative testing for an Amsoil EaO oil filter on my Toyota Sequoia (and one is in process for my Duramax) and from a lube engineer's perspective, it is simply the finest oil filter currently on the market. Period... My used engine oil is actually cleaner than the new Mobil 1 oil I put IN the engine..
Each filter had 1,500 miles on. The OEM filter was from a new oil change with Mobil 1 R 0W-30, while the Amsoil EaO filter was a filter change only with no make up oil added. Vehicle has 160,000 miles on the engine. Mobil 1 since new, of course....
I had mentioned that my used Mobil 1 was actually cleaner than the Mobil 1 I put IN the engine. The results are as follows:
New Mobil 1R 0W-30=========Mobil 1R filtered with Amsoil EaO Filter
ISO 18/14/11================14/13/11
>4 Microns 1510========128 particles per milliiter
>6 microns 106=========70 particles per milliter
>14 microns 15==========12 particles per milliter
>25 microns 4===========2 particles per milliter
>50 microns 2===========0 particles per milliter
>100 microns 1==========0 particles per milliter
Thus my used engine oil is significantly cleaner than the new oil.
In terms of abrasive particles per gallon, new oil would have 5,715,110 abrasive particles >4 microns circulating through the entire system for each gallon of oil flow. The EaO filtered oil would have 484,411 abrasive particles per gallon flowing through the engine.. A significant reduction....
As a lube engineer, when I can reduce an ISO grade by one number I am ecstatic. One number cuts abrasive components in half.. Four numbers, well, I am in filter nirvana....
This represents a 93%+ reduction in abrasive particles and will definitely provide long term wear reductions and increased component life...
George Morrison, STLE CLS
(NOTE: I am not nor have I ever been an Amsoil dealer: have no association: quite the contrary, actually)
************************************************** *****
It would seem to be paradoxical in that this filter has such excellent ultra fine filtration capabilities yet should provide a much reduced flow resistance vs. paper or a paper/glass blend. Additionally, a full microglass element (EaO) can hold as much as 4 times the dirt as cellulose, thus should be able to last considerably longer than a comparably sized paper element. i.e. your basic win/win. Of course the price of the filter is premium but for a finatic of oil cleanliness and simplicity, the EaO certainly delivers...
I will post the Duramax results as soon as they are completed which, unfortunately, will be another month or so.. I would anticipate the same level of efficiency increase, however.. The test for me was to verify:
1: that the media used in the EaO is a full microglass, which it is.
2. that the construction of the materials used in the filter enable the filter to perform to capability. And it does......
Bingo...
George Morrison, STLE CLS
(NOT an Amsoil dealer, no affiliation with Amsoil: quite the contrary)
************************************************** ****************
And Obviously I was a Mobil 1 oil filter fan/user as it *was* the best oil filter I had tested until the EaO came along... Yes, the EaO is significantly better than the Mobil 1 in that the Mobil 1 is a microglass/cellulose blend. It is as in a chain link; the weakest link dictates the strength of the chain.. The EaO flows much better, is unaffected by extreme cold (which cellulose is, very much, causing flow restricitons and resultant by-pass opening/dumping to occur), and holds much more dirt than the Mobil 1. (theoretically, as I have no actual documentation for the EaO, just going by experience of glass vs. paper vs. paper glass combos).
So, yes, me with Mobil 1 stamped on my forehead, have to say that the Eao is a much better oil filter in every performance aspect, especially filtration, which is key......
George Morrison, STLE CLS
************************************************** **
