Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Are bypass oil filters really worth having?

[JeepBuilder]

I just finished my recovery from 21 gallons of gas getting put in my diesel truck while out of town this weekend. I did an oil and filter change today and while replacing my wix bypass filter I started wondering if I should remove it. Micro filtering a bit of oil is not that important to me. I trust my main engine oil filter to do it's job. I have removed quite a few things off the truck I deemed not that important and this filter system just seems like a leak risk to me. Braided hoses and AN fittings with a black iron 1/8 pipe threaded into the aluminum filter housing. Is it that beneficial? Are there gains I am not aware of? I don't run my oil changes long and my last oil analysis came back normal. Any opinions on keeping or removing it out there? After being stranded this weekend and a 1000 dollar tow bill home, I am thinking simple is good. And I should remove it. What's the word out there?...

 

[Shiner]

How exactly did gas get put in your diesel truck? Extra filtration can’t hurt, but to each his own. Your truck.

 

[Shiner]

Never mind, I just saw your other post..station screw up with tanks. Holy cow I would probably go to jail b slapping somebody at that station.

 

[JeepBuilder]

It was closed as it was just getting dark. I was two plus miles away when I broke down. And it took about 15 minutes troubleshooting with a flashlight to know what happened. At that point I was most concerned with how to get home.

 

[AH64ID]

I can’t imagine Wix having a bypass filter with media worth the hassle.

With modern oils bypass filters are far less effective than they used to be. Modern diesels put a lot more soot into the oil, so oils have changed to keep that soot suspended and reduce the damage. That change makes soot nearly impossible to filter out. I had a 2um filter on my 05 and it still turned black instantly with soot, but the soot wasn’t harmful.

My 0.02 is to run a better full flow oil filter, like the DBl7349, and call it good.

 

[GAmes]

Bypass systems are beneficial if you do extended drains like I do. OTR trucks with them are doing 25,000 mile filter changes, oil analysis and drains of 100,000 miles or more. The oil is only drained if the analysis is bad. I extended past 30,000 once to 43,000 and soot exceeded .1% for the first time. I settled on a 30,000 mile drain schedule. Since you are draining your oil at short intervals I'd say the bypass isn't necessary.

 

[Topzide]

You could just run 2 stock filters and change out the "bypass" one every other oil change. The extra oil capacity can help with cooling on hard pulls. I have the dual setup on my truck for extra capacity. I use the Amsoil adapter with 1/2" hydraulic hoses. Have it mounted to the frame under passengers seat with a custom skid plate. Does make filter changes nice! Do it from the bottom, "not the top". Subtle dig @Cummins12V98 .

 

[JeepBuilder]

I appreciate the feedback. I think I am going to remove it. The one thing that always caught my eye was the short 1/8 nipple threaded into the filter housing. The installer either drilled the hole off center or bent the nipple to clear the pipe above it. It just looks like a vibration failure point to me. I will remove all of it and plug that hole with a steel pipe plug and not brass. And I will look up that filter number. I was using the WIX 57620XE. I am seeing negative things on WIX filters lately online. Oils and filters are a constantly moving target it seems.

 

[Grumpy8811]

I am seeing negative things on WIX filters lately online. Oils and filters are a constantly moving target it seems.

one of the reasons not to take internet advice too seriously is just because someone has an opinion, that does not make the opinion valid or based on very much but hearsay or simply repeating what other people say, which then takes on a life of its own to the point i becomes common bad info..

in otherwords it is easier to criticize than it is to be correct.. I don't believe anything is wrong with WIX but you go ahead and do what you "feel" is best.

 

[AH64ID]

Wix has some filters that are fine and some that aren’t. Generally speaking their air and oil filters are typically fine, but stay away from their fuel filters on HPCR systems.

 

[JeepBuilder]

When a person cuts open a filter on a video and shows the issues, I tend to believe that. But yes opinions are everywhere. LOL I am basing my feelings not on the filter brand hanging there, but on the increased areas of potential failure and a leak. Getting stuck on the side of the road stinks as I just found out. Hot oil on exhaust is also a heck of a fire hazard. I am thinking of the old K.I.S.S. thing... I am putting my edge tuner back on though..

 

[bigceltic]

I had a bypass oil filter for many years, but never experienced any benefit, based on my UOAs. Soot and viscosity was always very high and recommendation was to not extend the change interval. I ended up removing it about 2 years ago. Once removed, I have not noticed any difference in my UOA reports.

 

[GAmes]

I had a bypass oil filter for many years, but never experienced any benefit, based on my UOAs. Soot and viscosity was always very high and recommendation was to not extend the change interval. I ended up removing it about 2 years ago. Once removed, I have not noticed any difference in my UOA reports.

How often were you changing the oil? Sadly there isn't any filter that I'm aware of that can take out soot, but it doesn't harm anything.

 

[Topzide]

I know with the bypass system on my truck, the oil doesn't stay it's amber color after start up. Which I know is due to the newer oils holding the soot in suspension, but I do notice that it had a "slicker" feel to it then before I added the bypass. Maybe due to the extra oil that's in the system with extra filter and hoses. I know that it's not needed, but I had the setup that was going on another vehicle when this truck was offered to me! I figured that the extra oil following through the system wouldn't hurt. As we say,"my money, my truck"!

 

[Grumpy8811]

Wix has some filters that are fine and some that aren’t. Generally speaking their air and oil filters are typically fine, but stay away from their fuel filters on HPCR systems.

I used one Wix fuel filter in my engine one time.. honestly the biggest issue I can see with Wix besides not being any cheaper than the Fleetgard is the Wix is a single stage 2 micron fuel filter but it is round in shape, with only a small tab to get a grip on it to remove it, so it is a PITA to remove if it is tight...
I've used a Baldwin in the fuel system once, and it actually has a nice handle on it to remove it, which was a nice idea..
in the end the Fleetgard FS 53000 is about the same price and has that dual element, so it seems to be the best bang and filter for the buck..

 

[AH64ID]

I used one Wix filter in my engine one time.. honestly the biggest issue I can see with it besides it isn't any cheaper than the Fleetgard is the Wix was a single stage 2 micron filter but it is round, with only a small tab to get a grip on it to remove it, so it is a PITA to remove if it is tight...
I've used a Baldwin in the fuel system once, and it actually has a handle on it to remove it, which was a nice idea..
reality is the Fleetgard FS 53000 is about the same price and has that duel element, so it seems to be the best bang for the buck..

Wix ratings are often very misleading. I’d bet a case of beer that it was a 2um nominal filter, at a much lower efficiency that you expected. This is the big problem with their filters.

 

[Grumpy8811]

Wix ratings are often very misleading. I’d bet a case of beer that it was a 2um nominal filter, at a much lower efficiency that you expected. This is the big problem with their filters.

very few companies are very specific with their ratings.

lets face it, unless they get into Beta ratio and efficiency at a specific micron level , its anybody's guess what it really is..
I am sticking with the FS 53000 on the engine, I just use Ecoguard primary fuel filters/water separators to save a little money..
half the price of Wix, Baldwin, Racor, Fleetguard etc

https://ecogard.com/

 

[AH64ID]

very few companies are very specific with their ratings.

lets face it, unless they get into Beta ratio and efficiency at a specific micron level , its anybody's guess what it really is..
I am sticking with the FS 53000 on the engine, I just use Ecoguard primary fuel filters/water separators to save a little money..
half the price of Wix, Baldwin, Racor, Fleetguard etc

https://ecogard.com/

Wix will list beta ratios on many of their filters, but their plain English rating are often the low beta ratio numbers.

 

[JeepBuilder]

For what it is worth I removed the bypass filter. So is the OEM aluminum engine filter mount drilled and threaded for where this was hooked up from the factory? I was wondering that.
Here is where it was mounted.
I am not sure why the pics won't display. I tried a different method.

#ad


The tap into the oiling system.
#ad



This was the failure point I was concerned about. There was only 4 threads engaged in the filter housing. And I am not sure what the person who installed this was thinking they would gain by the plastic washer. It did nothing.

#ad


So no more worries about a failed steel nipple and no worries about a failed braided line. My truck just became a little bit more reliable. Thank for the opinions. This is the best outcome for my concerns.

I put a steel plug in with oil and fuel proof thread sealant. Not brass. Lots of thread engagement.

#ad

 

[Topzide]

@JeepBuilder, No photos being shown. I just upload straight from phone or computer without issue. Sometimes just email to myself and upload from PC, which is easier.

That would bother me about how you say the nipple was attached to housing! I use an oil filter adapter on my setup. Had a Sta-Cool adapter on at first, but changed that to an Amsoil one that is a much better setup. 1/2" hydraulic hoses to the dual filter mount. Hose routing was the hardest part on the setup. Next difficult item to fabricate, was the skid plate to protect the filters under the truck. Skid plate is made of 10 ga perforated plate that was from a zero turn mower. 50K + without issues. Sure make the oil change much easier to do! I decided on the hydraulic hoses after the first braided setup hoses seemed to be a worrisome failure waiting to happen!

Totally a drivers choice on if you want the extra filtration and capacity or not. Oil and filters have come a long way over the years! We all add things to our trucks that others seem unnecessary.