Table 1

                         Table 2

CaptnWil's Diesel Review 2002.002 Bypass Oil Filter-Synthetic Oil CaptnWil's Diesel Review 2002.003 Bypass Oil Filter-Synthetic Oil CaptnWil's Diesel Review 2002.004 Bypass Oil Filter-Synthetic Oil YOU'VE BEEN MISSED It's been more than a year since CaptnWil gave an update to his continuing testing of Bypass Oil Filters and Synthetic Oil for use on our boat engines. This will be an update of the three reports, "CaptnWil's Diesel Review 2002.002, 003, 004. Those reports should be in the archives, but since I have been away for some time, I was unable to find them I couldn't even find the archives. If those reports have been lost, and if there is any interest in them, I will post them again. Let me start by saying that I have missed you almost as much as I have missed the AfterSail. It seems impossible that we sold her more than three years ago, and we still grieve for her. While she is gone, the testing program of bypass oil filters and synthetic oil has continued in our land transpiration a 40 ft. motor home and two Honda autos. This report will try to let you know what our latest findings show. JUST FOR THE NEW ON THE LIST This research began in 1998 and has continued through seven engines till today. It will continue as long as CaptnWil can do the job. The referenced reports describe the history, equipment, and procedures of this testing. They also describe the results obtained to April 2002. The basic instrument used in these tests is what CaptnWil coined a Portable Oil Analyzer (POA) and that moniker will be continued. Its operation and justification are contained in the referenced reports. It is the most important tool for use in oil analysis I have ever seen, but since not many of you, or anyone else, bought it, it is no longer available. It determines the condition of the oil by comparing the electrical capacitance of a used sample of oil with a new sample of the same oil. It can be used on both petroleum based, and synthetic oils. The values of the readings indicate the necessary actions shown below. I have compared the results from the POA with laboratory analysis, and they show similar conclusions. In fact, the POA begins to report contamination before the lab analysis does. The POA returns the general condition of the oil while the lab analysis provides details of all the different things that affect the life of the oil. The POA can't directly indicate change in viscosity or TBN (Total Base Number). Those two properties are important conditions of the oil. Change in viscosity generally means that contaminates are building up in the oil, and major reduction in TBN generally means that the additive package is being used up because the additive package properties are being used up to combat the contaminates. Because the POA spots any contaminate in the oil, it indirectly tests for both viscosity and reduced TBN. It is to make sure that all is consistent that CaptnWil compares the POA with laboratory analysis from time to time. I have absolutely no doubt about the findings of the POA. POA READING ACTION REQUIRED Petroleum Full Based Synthetic 2.5 3.5 Change Bypass Element 3.6 5.0 Get Laboratory Analysis 4.6 8.0 Change Oil FROM THE 2002 REPORTS The following tables are from the 2002 reports and describe all the engines in this test series and the results through April, 2002: The engines involved in this program are listed in Table 1. They are assigned a number for easy identification later. The numbers indicate the order in which they became part of the program. Table 1 Engine No Application Ford ADC 140 1 Main Engine, AfterSail Trawler N. Lights 8KW 2 Gen. Set, AfterSail Cummins 6BTA 3 190 hp Pickup Engine Cummins 8.3C 4 300 hp Motor Home Onan 8KW 5 Gen. Set, Motor Home 93 Honda Accord 6 131 cu. In. gasoline engine 99 Honda Accord 7 182 cu. In. gasoline engine The two Hondas do not have bypass filters and are included to record the differences with, and without a bypass filter. The basic readings for all engines are shown in Table 2 Table 2 Engine Init Init Final Final No Miles/ POA Miles/ POA Hrs Hrs 04/2002 1 467 1.1 942 1.1 2 104 0.3 291 0.9 3* 51,150 1.6 73,468 2.2 3* 75,375 0.0 80,450 2.3 4* * 44,545 0.0 53,449 1.0 4* * 53,449 0.0 82,531 1.3 5 1,149 0.0 1,377 2.6 6 53,890 2.0 71,051 3.0 7 6,234 0.0 19,425 2.6 *Two sets of values shown because oil was changed from Shell Rotella T, 15W-40 to Mobil Delvac 1, 5W-40. **Two sets of values shown because oil was changed from Mobil Delvac 1 5W-40, API CG-4 to Mobil Delvac 1, 5W-40, API CH-4. Values for 1, 2, and 5 are in hours. Others in are in miles. I no longer own engines 1 through 3, so they are not included in this update. I do own engines 4 through 7, and this update concerns them. CURRENT POA READINGS Engine Init Init Final Final No Miles/ POA Miles/ POA Hrs Hrs 08/2003 4* * 44,545 0.0 53,449 1.0 4* * 53,449 0.0 104,100 2.2 5 1,149 0.0 1,495 2.4 6 53,890 2.0 73,801 3.6 Change GCF indicated. Changed oil 6 73,801 0.0 79,539 2.6 7 6,234 0.0 27,742 3.7 Change GCF indicated Changed oil ________________________________________________________________ Those are the cold hard facts, and all of CaptnWil's assertions come from facts. Now we can discuss what the facts indicate. As far as I can determine, this series of tests is original. I know of no other direct comparison between synthetic oil with and without a bypass oil filter. It would be better to have identical engines that do identical work, but since no one seems to want to finance such a valuable research project, we'll just have to do with what CaptnWil can come up with. I hope you will agree that, all things being equal, the tests should favor the two Hondas. They are used under much lighter loads and have small gasoline engines. Except for the differences in loads, engine type, and engine size, the major difference is the bypass oil filter on the diesel engines. The Hondas 1. The readings on the Hondas reached the "Change GCF Value" in about 20,000 miles. It is most interesting that the two engines show almost identical increases in readings with mileage even though there is much more mileage on the '93 Honda than the '99 Honda. It is also of note that both the engines perform like new. Neither uses any oil at all in the 20,000 mile run. 2. Note that the '93 Honda got its first synthetic oil at 53,890 miles while the '99 Honda got its first synthetic oil at 6,234 miles. After the initial clean up process, the synthetic oil did on the '93, the reading on the '93 and '99 advance at about the same pace. This, I believe, is testimony to the superior job the synthetic oil is doing. 3. The "Change GCF value" has been set to the highest value where the oil can be considered to still be "just like new." At this value, a laboratory analysis would not call for an oil change. It would just say to continue testing at normal intervals. CaptnWil chooses to "Keep the Oil Just Like New" so I changed at this level. Remember the normal reading to change the oil is 8, not 3.5 which is where I change it if the engine is not fitted with a bypass oil filter. 4. There is no question in my mind that, with proper testing (we'll get to that at the end), a gasoline engine using Mobile 1 without a bypass oil filter under normal operating conditions can safely go 20,000+ miles between oil changes. I'm sorry that I don't have the data for petroleum based oil in the same engines, but that's just how it is unless you want to donate a Honda. 5. My tests on the Hondas were conducted using Mobile 1. I can not give information on the other synthetic oils that I didn't test, but I would not be surprised if results from them were similar. The Diesels 1. The most interesting diesel is the 300 hp Cummins 8.3C. It works hard and has gone 104,000+ miles. It got its bypass oil filter and first synthetic oil at 44,545 miles with a single oil change at 53,449 miles because of the oil specification change from API CG-4 to API CH-4 -- in hind sight, that oil change seems foolish. It has now been 104,100 miles or 50,651 miles without an oil change. 2. The GCF was changed at 91,000 miles with a reading of 2.0 just because I was afraid that the TBN could have decreased (I know, a laboratory analysis could have told me this, and later it did say that the TBN was just fine). The TBN had not decreased, and now with over 104,100 miles on the engine, 50,651 miles on the oil, and 12,380 miles on the GCF, the POA reading is 2.2. 3. The only oil that has been added to this engine after the initial fill was 1.5 gallons when the GCF bypass oil filter was changed. The Obvious Conclusions 1. Without a bypass oil filter, synthetic oil can allow you to safely increase the oil change interval greatly. 2. With a bypass oil filter, it is most likely that a complete oil drain and replacement will never need to be needed. Please note the change in the syntax of 2 above. When using a GCF bypass oil filter, you seldom need to actually drain the oil and refill the system, but you do gradually change the oil every time you change the bypass filter, because you replace about 1.5 gallons of oil with each filter change. You seldom need to actually drain the oil, but you do gradually change it. This helps to keep the additive package to the proper level. The Not So Obvious Conclusions 1. Just for the record, a little about the difference between full flow and bypass oil filters. Without a bypass oil filter, all of the oil leaves the oil pan and travels through the oil pump to the full flow oil filter. Depending upon the oil pressure at the filter or the pressure drop across the filter, all of the oil either goes through the full flow oil filter or bypasses it through the bypass valve/system. Then it goes to the various parts of the engine. It is mandatory that oil flow to the necessary parts of the engine, so it is necessary that the full flow oil filter CAN NOT restrict the oil flow. It does this in two ways. (1) It allows oil to be bypassed around the filter if the filter element becomes clogged and (2) it does not filter out contaminates less than about 20 microns. When a bypass oil filter is installed in addition to a full flow oil filter, about 10 percent of the oil leaving the oil pump, passes through the bypass oil filter, and is returned directly to the oil pan. If the bypass oil filter becomes clogged, the system is no worse off than it was with the full flow oil filter alone. Since the bypass oil filter is not essential for the engine to run, it can filter the oil to a much higher degree typically in the 1 or less micron range. Consider carefully that this is about 20 times more efficient than the full flow oil filter. 2. It is widely held that the most damaging contaminants in motor oil are those below 5 microns in size. It seems that those larger than that are less likely to get between bearing surfaces and other areas of wear. 3. Neither the POA nor normal laboratory analysis reports the size of the contaminate particles. We are left with only the amount of the contaminates not their size. It is certainly better for the engine to remove more small particles than not to. A bypass oil filter does that. 4. It has been demonstrated that engines can run more than 1,000,000 miles with no oil drains using a GCF bypass oil filter. I suspect that the ability of the filter to remove particles less than 1 micron is a significant part of that success. That ability to remove such small particles is a major part of the "Non Obvious Conclusion." Even if the normal routine oil change interval is followed, installing a bypass oil filter will provide benefits. WHEN DO YOU CHANGE OIL When it gets dirty! HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S DIRTY? You test it! HOW DO YOU TEST IT? In the old days you could use the POA. Now the only way is to use laboratory analysis what a pity! HERE'S WHAT CaptnWil RECOMMENDS: 1. At the normal oil change interval, take an oil sample and have it analyzed by a reputable lab it will cost you something in the range of $12 - $15. Do what the lab says do. 2. Use the same lab all the time and you will have a record of what is going on in your engine. Generally, your lab report will include the last nine reports. 3. Get a second lab analysis at one-half the next normal oil change interval to establish a baseline for future determinations. 4. Then get a lab report and follow the lab recommendations at each routine oil change interval. It is almost a certainty that this procedure will save you money, but it will also give you a record of what is happening to your engine and may save you big bucks by finding a problem before it becomes a disaster. 5. DO NOT exceed the normal oil change interval unless guided by reputable oil analysis!!! 6. If there's an interest, we can discuss how to take an oil sample and how to find a laboraory. 7. Take note that these recommendations are the same with or without a bypass oil filter, and with petroleum based or synthetic oil. The procedures are the same. It is only the results that are different as can be seen by comparing the results from the engines with and without bypass oil filters in this epistle. WHICH PRODUCTS The oils used in these tests are Shell Rotella T 15W-40 petroleum based oil originally, and Mobil Delvac 1 and Mobil 1 after switching to synthetic. The bypass oil filter used was manufactured by Gulf Coast Filters. I do not have factual information or test results on other products, but do not doubt that similar products will give similar results. THE END Surely, this is enough for one post. CaptnWil captnwill@earthlink.net (Note the differnece in spelling of the email address unhappy result by changing ISP.)

----- Original Message ----- From: "Wilbur Andrews" <captnwill@earthlink.net> > This will be an update of the three reports, "CaptnWil's Diesel Review > 2002.002, 003, 004. Those reports should be in the archives, but since I > have been away for some time, I was unable to find them I couldn't even > find the archives. If those reports have been lost, and if there is any > interest in them, I will post them again. > Howdy, No need for a re-post. Here are are the TWL Archive links to those articles: CaptnWil's Diesel Review - 2001.1 http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/trawler-world-list/2001-August/036171.html 2001.2 http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/trawler-world-list/2001-August/036391.html 2001.3 http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/trawler-world-list/2001-August/036900.html 2002.1 http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/trawler-world-list/2002-March/044938.html 2002.2 http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/trawler-world-list/2002-March/044972.html 2002.3 http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/trawler-world-list/2002-March/045066.html 2002.4 http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/trawler-world-list/2002-March/045185.html Archivally yours, Alex