Oil filter disection

OK - prompted by concerns raised in another thread and true to my word, I've just performed radical surgery on a Champion oil filter.

One Champion C301 and one Universal Opener (TM)
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/VPY-lj8rQKYd7FnqceZW71lcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9JRJnUjtI/AAAAAAAADYc/OS6-KPnERw4/s800/IMG_5457.JPG" /></a>

A few moments with the fine surgical tool above, leaves us with:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/nroqTcAIoVXvbEZUm0_wSFlcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9JU54fCeI/AAAAAAAADYk/DTHAZdRvBB4/s800/IMG_5464.JPG" /></a>

and then:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/XbpGkZ50C37o1itFVY4ssFlcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9JY4ZWPBI/AAAAAAAADYo/i0-OUQ97Xhg/s800/IMG_5465.JPG" /></a>

As it's all glued together, the only way to get to the insides is by slicing round the filter media:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/GIh-JVgKgVOQtZE7bmsC71lcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9JaN-4aEI/AAAAAAAADYs/B4bFfohRhuQ/s800/IMG_5468.JPG" /></a>

And what should we find, but something that looks suspiciously like an over pressure release valve!:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/yI6G-Xcessgawz78SOvO11lcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9IaIdvc-I/AAAAAAAADXg/ZRbmVVhwnTA/s800/IMG_5469.JPG" /></a>

Sure enough:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/nPjO-3clACkufYu0ySErUFlcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9Icio8-qI/AAAAAAAADXk/_ixisInyYjg/s800/IMG_5470.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/bMVryXaOQwgB7uKxaMujGllcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9Iek5JUsI/AAAAAAAADY0/RdAHzz_PtHo/s800/IMG_5472.JPG" /></a>

After slicing off the basket screen 'better than nothing if the OPV operates' filter:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/Ynenp6pjYMgcPq8vZZK79VlcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9IhcXlmHI/AAAAAAAADX0/eFd6hYAK71Q/s800/IMG_5474.JPG" /></a>

You can just see my finger tip pressing the valve down here (tricky to photograph one handed ):
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/Hy7ZrxLE49aOlB0YGWpE1FlcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9Ii6-dQsI/AAAAAAAADX4/LR_W3OTNC4U/s800/IMG_5475.JPG" /></a>

I'm fairly sure I'm not going to be able to get this back together and use it
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/EzIb5Ois_zmLHkvuVy830llcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9Il-_H7kI/AAAAAAAADYA/tdlbxQk4bP0/s800/IMG_5476.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/xR7YO_zuLD7s8BUVQZ8xHllcQAhLCuU6Yxw5k5YMHdU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/TA9IoCvE2kI/AAAAAAAADYE/CEEVh28SD4s/s800/IMG_5477.JPG" /></a>


After stretching out and measuring the filter media, it came out at:

81900 mm2
= 819 cm2
= 0.0819 m2
= 0.882 sq ft

(I did lose a the bit stuck into each end cap due to the way I sliced the caps off but I don't think that will have been usable, so am comfortable with the figures above)

So, where does that leave me (apart from with a filter in bits )...

1. The first pleasant surprise was that the filter does contain an over pressure relief valve - I say pleasant because I installed one of these a few thousand miles ago and I'm happier to leave it in place now. I don't doubt that Steptoe was correct in his statement that the filters didn't previously contain OPV's - I guess they've improved the design which is good news for those that have them installed . However, a caveat: I've no idea how old my filter is - it was given to me by the bikes previous owner two years ago who'd bought them in case he needed to do an oil change while on a trip - he never did - all previous servicing was by a main dealer using OEM parts.
   
2. I've no idea how the usable filter area of the Champion filter compares to other brands (and I'm not going to slice up one of the OEM filters I've just bought! )
   
3. I'm still not going to use the Champion filters - for a couple of quid extra, I'll use OEM from now on (if only for the 'comfort blanket')

M

Good Man

True to your word MattW

I did take another filter apart, but it was in the bike at the time

MattW said:

[*]I'm still not going to use the Champion filters - for a couple of quid extra, I'll use OEM from now on (if only for the 'comfort blanket')
[/LIST]

M

Click to expand...

The OEM filters may be less efficient than Champion...or not, so what justifies your comfort blanket?

Timolgra said:

The OEM filters may be less efficient than Champion...or not, so what justifies your comfort blanket?

Click to expand...

I have no justification (apart from I can't see BuMW specifying crap filters)

But I've bought two Mahle filters so I'm going to use them

MattW said:

I have no justification (apart from I can't see BuMW specifying crap filters)

Click to expand...

Just like they don't fit crap chains to 800s, crap paint to all their bikes, crap servo/abs units to 1150s, change their mind over oil specs etc etc etc etc... the etc etc etc etc bit was for 1200s btw

MattW said:

OK - prompted by concerns raised in another thread and true to my word, I've just performed radical surgery on a Champion oil filter.

After stretching out and measuring the filter media, it came out at:

81900 mm2
= 819 cm2
= 0.0819 m2
= 0.882 sq ft

(I did lose a the bit stuck into each end cap due to the way I sliced the caps off but I don't think that will have been usable, so am comfortable with the figures above)

Click to expand...

Thanks.... I can now sleep at night.

Carl said:

Thanks.... I can now sleep at night.

Click to expand...

Glad to hear it

Re arrange these words to make a well known phrase...
Need, Out, Get, More, to and You!

kwallace21 said:

Re arrange these words to make a well known phrase...
Need, Out, Get, More, to and You!

Click to expand...

I know, I know - I said I'd do it in another thread and I couldn't go back on my word, could I?

Anyway, I've always wanted to see what's inside an oil filter....


I'll get my coat...

MattW said:

Anyway, I've always wanted to see what's inside an oil filter....

Click to expand...

I am a muppet How embarrassing.

Matt, next time you disect anything could you please put the newspaper the other way around ? Reading the sitsvac might be more interesting.

Noddy said:

Matt, next time you disect anything could you please put the newspaper the other way around ? Reading the sitsvac might be more interesting.

Click to expand...

Sorry - schoolboy error.

But are you trying to say that you don't find my oil filter surgery interesting enough?!

Remember a diesel genset self destructing after a counterfeit oil filter fitted ( no opv fitted)

I'm not sure what the question was?

Wrigsby1 said:

I'm not sure what the question was?

Click to expand...

....

Steptoe said:

Be interesting to compare how many square feet of filteration material are in each make of filter.

Click to expand...

MattW said:

I'm still not going to use the Champion filters - for a couple of quid extra, I'll use OEM from now on

M

Click to expand...

Thanks for doing that.

This week I had a Champion filter delivered to my door for £5.98. How much is an OEM filter?



Greg

Greg Masters said:

Thanks for doing that.

This week I had a Champion filter delivered to my door for £5.98. How much is an OEM filter?



Greg

Click to expand...

I couldn't find any at local motorfactors so In the end, I got mine from Motorworks (£8.81). Obviously there's postage too but it was part of a larger order so spread the cost a bit.

If my recent experience is anything to go by, it's probably worth checking with main dealers (I didn't on this occasion) - they've been cheaper or at least the same price as Motorworks for a few things I've bought (Williams Manchester is 1/4 mile from where I work so also save the postage).

I am currently running one of those champion filters, no problem there, my friend has in his garage a GS fuel filter which he has dissected, so you are not alone Matt

Stewart

Oil Filter

1150GS Filters are manufactured by a company called Knecht (Mahle) in Germany for BMW. BMW just rebadge them.
The Knecht part numbers are as follows

Air filter : LX578
Oil Filter: OC91 (OC91D including the O ring)
Fuel Filter: KL145

I just got the local car accessory shop who normally carry Knecht car filters to order me in a few of each from their Kneck distributor. They got them within 2 days and were 40% cheaper than the BMW badged ones.
Worth considering.