The SE Bus Nuts had a nice rally near Atlanta this weekend - about 35 coaches. One guy drove his Peterbilt tractor sans trailer, and impressed us all by announcing his 1 million mile Series 60 has only had the oil changed a few times. His oil filter uses - believe it or not - two new rolls of Scott paper towels. Every 7,500 miles he pulls the old rolls out, adds new ones for a couple of bucks, tops it off with a couple of gallons of fresh oil, and that's it. He claims oil doesn't wear out, it just gets dirty. The new oil he adds replenishes the additives. Apparently thie system was created for the commercial fishing boats along the Gulf Coast. Has anyone tried using this in their bus?
Mike in GA
Those filters have been around since back in the late '60s... That's when I first saw one. I only saw single roll filters. They aren't "full flow" filters...only a part of the oil flow goes thru them. Same claim then...don't have to change the oil often. It was a remote mounted silver can the size of a roll of toilet paper...or two stacked rolls of paper towels, and an inlet and outlet. Inlet tapped into the oil pressure sender fitting. They had a return oil line fitting that was installed into the oil pan by by driving a punch thru the pan side. Then a special fitting was screwed into the punched hole. There may be better ways with the new designs.
I suppose they must not be too harmful if they're still around. Doubt that I'll be trying one.
I suppose that's more anyone really wants to know about these filters...but they've been around a looong time.
Cheers, JR
Our bus runs a single toilet paper filter that's good for over 1500 miles per change. We use it to hold down the soot, but it also keeps the dirt fines out down to 1/2 micron or so.
We use oil analysis reports, and as long as they are favorable, and we don't have any bad luck, we'll probably keep doing it. Our oil consumption couldn't be any lower.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, AK 99901
You might want to check out these sites:
Motor Guard, Paper towel Filters:
http://www.bypassfilter.com/
Frantz Oil Filters:
http://www.wefilterit.com/
Yep...that's what was around for 40 plus years. I"m pretty sure that Frantz is was the what they called them. Looks like the inlet has been modified...with an oil filter adaptor. My fear of such things is the potential for failure...and the results. I've got a low oil pressure shutdown built into the DDEC...but I guaruntee we don't want to test it! :-\
Cheers, JR