Ever hear of a toilet paper oil filter?

[Crunch]

I was helping out a coworker and discussing diesels at the same time. I got to talking about mine and mentioned that I use Fleetguard oil filters. He then told me that he wished "TP filters" were still in use. I asked him what it was, and he told me that it was literally a roll of toilet paper, and that it worked better than standard oil filters. He also told me that to change it you pulled out of the container, popped a new one in and added a quart of oil. Is he handing me a line, or were rolls of toilet paper really used as oil filters at one time? If they were, how good were they?

 

[csutton7]

yes they were and I think there are still available although I could be wrong on that--seems I saw them somewhere--but growing up my buddy's dad had these on his trucks and cars, so your coworker is not feeding you a line of bull--chris

 

[fkovalski]

Ironic that this topic just came up on this thread. Go to the e-bay link for more info. I never heard of such a thing.

 

[rbattelle]

I just bought a TP filter from www.bypassfilter.com . I specifically sought out a TP filter after researching for some time the other options (Amsoil, Gulf Coast, Fleetguard, etc. ). I believe (as do many others using these filters) that TP is the single most effective filtration element for bypass oil filtration. That's my opinion... I cannot quote any factual test data to support it (although I'm working on that!).



There are some TDR members who are also using this type of filter.



Check out the forums at www.bobistheoilguy.com for lots of other folks using TP bypass filters (and the other filters as well). Totally inappropriate for full-flow filters, though.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

You mean like THIS?



#ad




That one, a FRANTZ TP filter, gives me oil analysis results like this:



#ad




And no, all toilet paper doesn't necessarily "belong in the bathroom" - NOR have I ever found ANY traces of it down in my crankcase or anywhere else it didn't belong!



And *I* have been using them for nearly 50 years now!

 

[rbattelle]

Gary is one of those TP success stories that made me realize what an excellent idea it is. His oil analyses support that.

 

[Wooter]

BOUT THAT TP OIL FILTER - MY UNCLE HAD ONE ON A 55 CHEV AND IT WAS AVAIL BEFORE THAT (WISH I HAD THE CAR HE TRADED ON THE 55: 1937 FORD COUPE, AND LIKE NEW!

 

[bmoeller]

http://www.gulfcoastfilter.com/

 

[PRout]

They work well.



Hit the Search Forums button and search for "Frantz".

 

[krs]

People may not want to place full reliance on the photo of the test report posted by Gary above indicating the result which might be obtained using such an installation on a 24v engine.



Unless I'm seeing things the posted test was performed at 113,500 miles on 11/01/01 - perhaps before the 2002 model truck whose engine is pictured was even on the road.



Still, I have no doubt as to the effective filtering available using Charmin, or even a single ply tissue bought for the house by mistake.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The oil analysis results I posted above was from my '91 with over 100,000 miles on it - it had the full Banks treatment, propane injection and a tweaked injection pump. It was used to tow, just as my '02 is. If anything, *I* would expect the more efficient and FAR cleaner burning 24 valve engine to do even BETTER in contaminants than the '91 did, but am still in the break-in phase, so while analysis reports are good, they haven't yet settled down enough to reflect fully broken-in wear patterns.



I am extremely satisfied with the Frantz TP filter setup - the one pictured has been on at least 6 different vehicles in about 40 years - and certainly would NOT be on the '02 if it didn't work well! but ANY bypass system is worth looking into by owners hoping for long-term use from their trucks.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Interesting.



So whats the best TP to use?

 

[JBell]

Toilet paper filters are also FAA aproved for aircraft, so don't let anyone tell you that they are no good. Try (we filter it .com) for the Franz

JBell

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I use the hardest-wound roll of single ply paper I can find - pretty much like the standard sized rolls used in public restrooms - AVOID the heavily embossed, scented and loosely wound stuff!



I'll soon be doing TP cartridge change on my truck, and plan a photo post of the steps involved...

 

[redram]

TP filters are good but can potentially have at least two drawbacks

1. Biggest issue - How to dispose of the oil soaked paper element - it will hold virtually a quart of oil that should not be disposed of in a land fill and it could / can seep into the water tables.

2. Ever take a brand new roll of TP hit it against your palm and then hold it up to the light - notice all the 'fibers' floating in the air?

Those fibers have to go somewhere when it is initially filled and those fibers can be very detrimental to soft metals (ie bearings) in engines. If you never disassemble an engine you'll never see them but they have to go somewhere.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by redram

TP filters are good but can potentially have at least two drawbacks

1. Biggest issue - How to dispose of the oil soaked paper element - it will hold virtually a quart of oil that should not be disposed of in a land fill and it could / can seep into the water tables.

2. Ever take a brand new roll of TP hit it against your palm and then hold it up to the light - notice all the 'fibers' floating in the air?

Those fibers have to go somewhere when it is initially filled and those fibers can be very detrimental to soft metals (ie bearings) in engines. If you never disassemble an engine you'll never see them but they have to go somewhere.

An interesting point about the disposal problem... one I had not considered until just now. Gary, what do you do with yours?



But I believe the "fatal flaw" in TP filters seems to be "channeling", which occurs if you don't use a tight-enough roll. The oil tends to form a few small passages through the TP, rather than soaking through the entire roll.



As for the fibers, I understand what you mean, redram, but it seems to me that as soon as the roll is wetted with oil, all those fibers will stick like glue in the TP. Any that do make it into solution will be picked up on the next pass through the full-flow filter.

 

[PRout]

I agree w/ Gary, and also have had similar results from oil analysis' w/ the Frantz unit installed.



As far as paper fibers in the oil. I was concerned as well. Made special requests for the testers to specifically look for paper fibers in the oil. The results every time, were "recommend longer drain intervals", and "no paper fibers detected, very low insolubles, which indicates good filtration".



I now change the oil once a year in the springtime (about 12k mile intervals), and the TP roll every 3 months (which requires 1 qt of fresh oil, including its additives each time).



Hey works for us, your results may vary.

 

[Jeremiah]

Recycling

If this post keeps going it won't be long before someone suggests we use recycled toilet paper instead of new.



Think of the benefits: we wouldn't flush it down the commode any more and waste water.



It would already have material on it, which might enhance filtering ability for people who use expensive 2-ply paper.



No one would notice the smell of oil anymore.



You could get used toilet paper from your neighbors, thus keeping them from wasting water down their drainpipes.



If you have a neighbor you don't like, it's guaranteed he wouldn't ever bother you again.



And on and on. Good idea, no? :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

I use the hardest-wound roll of single ply paper I can find - pretty much like the standard sized rolls used in public restrooms - AVOID the heavily embossed, scented and loosely wound stuff!

Unless you are driving a Colorado, Ford or some other pansy truck.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

GOTTA love the doubters who try to find flaws in something so well documented to work with excellence!



As for the disposal issue, for me, there is none - we live in the country and heat our house with a wood stove - so we BURN the used rolls, actually make excellent fire starters!



The paper dust bit is probably a non issue, since the installed TP is not being "rubbed" inside the engine - and would ANY thinking person really wanna suggest there are a bunch of renegade paper fibers hiding out inside the engine, desperately trying to hide from oil analysis - or did some here miss the "insoluables" section of the analysis I posted above?



BUT, I *have* made a few mods to my filter, which I will picture in my upcoming thread on a typical Frantz TP cartridge change. Basically, I have constructed a double thickness of 100 mesh brass screen that sits immediately under the TP roll, with several additional layers of paper coffee filter material between that and the TP roll itself. Since paper coffee filters are made to live in an oily, hot and wet environment, I figured their added presence would catch any of those deviant renegade loose paper fibers before they even had a chance to circulate ONCE thru the system before being snagged by either the full flow or bypass filter...



In addition, I take several appropriate neoprene O-rings, and install them on the large center tube that goes thru the TP roll, they are a snug fit between the TP core and the Frantz center tube, and block oil flow at that point that might permit oil to bypass the TP cartridge itself - Frantz users will know what I mean...



As far as "channeling" is concerned, if the TP is tightly enough wound, and then trimmed in diameter so that it is a TIGHT force-fit into the canister, it's pretty hard for channeling to occur - never been a problem here, and my analysis speaks for itself!