B Oil Filter Experiment

I don't think modern engine longevity is only because of full flow filters, I think its primarily because of detergent oils. I remember reading Texaco's Lubrication Magazine in the 50s (my dad was a subscriber though not involved in commercial auto mechanical work). One article showed the effect of detergent oil based on tests in NYC taxi cab. The classic non detergent oil allowed the engine crankcases to fill with sludge and if it plugged oil passages to bearings it led to bearing destruction. The time period for the engine full of sludge was something like 50,000 miles. I know engines my dad had before he bought his first new car, a '54 Ford I block 6, tended to need an overhaul every 30,000 t 35,000 miles. I helped with some of them. The '49 Jeep wagon flat head long stroke engine affected wear too. The I block 6 was an over square engine, bore and stroke about the same. He and I drove it (once I got old enough and started commuting to college) for about 67,000 without signs of needing repair, so he decided it should be pulled and inspected. I did that one summer. It wasn't using oil. I dropped the oil pan and plastigaged the rods and mains. They all checked within the tolerance for new bearings. I replaced on rod bearing insert because Ford had broken the oil hole drill and drilled the hole much larger, so large the deburring tool didn't touch the edges and a burr had cut a groove in the center of the insert. Then I put it back together and into the car and drove it to 110,000 miles without doing any wrenching on the engine other than setting the overhead valves occasionally.

So I believe detergent oil and less wear prone engine design are what makes engines last longer, not full flow oil filtration vs bypass oil filtration.

Gerald J.

And if it rained and 2-3 oz of water got down the pipe and into the motor, or around the dip stick.... how many think that oil was changed and flushed out ?

You guys do realize that with detergent oil instead of the combustion byproducts creating sludge accumulations in the engine, it remains in SUSPENSION in the oil. The idea being the filter catches these impurities and those that are too small for the filter to catch drain out at change time...