In searching for comparable non aviation filters I wanted similar specs in filter surface area, pressure (400 psi min, same as oil cooler), and most importantly an effective silicone anti drain-back valve. There are not many options with 400+ psi rating.
I’ve used:
- Fram Racing - HP3
- Bosch ‘Distance Plus’ - D3402, by Purolator, (now discontinued)
- Mobil1 - M1-204A (same as the Bosch Distance plus, also by Purolator
Side note...
Product marketing often includes the word "racing", mostly to imply superiority. Reality is sometimes different.
The feature most often promoted for racing filters is low flow resistance, with the implication that less resistance means more horsepower available. All good, but what happens when you quantify the gains vs the losses?
The Fram Racing HP-3 Chris mentions appears to be a pretty good filter. Like Chris, I like the burst rating. I only say "appears" because we have not seen a IOSO-4548-12 report, only the manufacturer's marketing materials. Fram claims 94% efficiency at 20 microns. That's very good. Reading the fine print we see it's actually an average for a whole line of filters. Ok, that's a bit sketchy, but it's still waaaaay better than a screen. Nice catch sir.
Jump over to the Wix line. We're familiar with the 51515 from our own 4548-12 tests, but did you know Wix also makes a 51515
R, a racing version? is it better?
In my opinion, no.
A standard 51515 has a published Beta rating of 2/20=6/20, which when deciphered means it catches 50% of all particles 6 microns and larger, and 95% of all particles 20 microns and larger. Our testing says the claim is reasonably accurate. In addition, Wix gives it a
nominal rating of 20 microns.
The 51515R has no published Beta rating. Its nominal rating is
61 microns.
Nominal ratings have no established basis in a universal standard. They are simply assigned by someone, maybe in engineering, maybe in marketing. It means a nominal rating is semi-useless for comparing between brands. However, within a single manufacturer's line it's probably valid. Here, based on nominal, the 51515R does not filter nearly as well as the ordinary 51515.
So, what does a user get in return? Wix publishes a deltaP chart for another racing filter with the same T-71 media, the 51222R. At the 7 GPM flow rate of an RV-sized Lycoming, the deltaP is about 1.7 psi at 180F. Our own 4548-12 data says the 51515 has a deltaP of 8.1 psi at 6 GPM and 100F. The difference in flow rate and temperature (i.e. viscosity) makes direct comparison difficult, but clearly the racing filter trades filtration for low resistance.
Note resistance to flow is not the same as flow rate. Both would deliver essentially the same quantity of oil, as they are installed behind a constant displacement pump.
So, the bottom line?
Don't assume "racing" automatically means "better". It can mean "different". The difference may be desirable, or not, so do the homework. Personally I don't think the lower deltaP of a racing Wix is of any benefit to our application. We're generally not looking for the last 0.5 HP, and we run rather high system pressure anyway. We could just screw out the pressure regulator by a few lbs for the same result. On the flip side, an operator running 100W in a cold climate might be better off with the racing filter, just to buy some bypass margin on cold starts. And, if we assume the nominal 61 micron rating is accurate, it's as good or better than the screens we tested, and would have a lot more dirt capacity.
Along similar lines, don't assume "racing" means anything when comparing manufacturer's offerings. Here the racing Fram and the racing Wix don't appear to be much alike, based on what we can see in published literature...which really ain't much for either.