Technical question for a brainy person!!

I have a oil cooler with remote filter fitted. I have been using either a Ryco Z170 or Z89A, which according to the Ryco website are now identical filters in every dimension and both have anti-drain back.

Question is this- I want to fit a shorter filter to solve a clearance issue, and have looked up and found a match for the thread and "Seal Diameter".

Stats are; Z89a & Z170 Overall Height 99mm, Seal Diam. 70mm, Seam Dia.94mm, Thread 3/4-16 unf 2bmm.

I have found a filter called a Z314 that has same Seal Diameter(70mm), same thread(3/4-16 unf 2bmm) but Height is 62mm (37mm less) and seam Dia.82mm (ie 12mm less, it is narrower).

Given the filter/oil is changed every 1000km or so, could this smaller unit do any damage, or not work properly?

Sorry to be so long winded, hope someone out there knows what I am rabbiting on about!.

Thanks.

The smaller filter will most likely have less filter area available but I can't see there being a problem.
There are some remote filter bosses that will accept 2 filters.

If you wanted, you could use 2 of the smaller filters and double the filter area to do the work.

Ryco's site makes it look like all their oil filters are equipped with a bypass valve. I would not assume that -- it would be best to give them a ring or email and run your idea past them. There might be another issue being missed here.

Just for the record I did a bit more research with Ryco and other filter companies, plus a couple of guys who build race engines etc, and all said would not be a problem to fit the smaller filter, which does have an anti-drain back by the way. They actually said as long as you keep an eye on the oil condition (due to the smaller filter), they recommend fitting a smaller filter when a remote kit and/or cooler is fitted as it helps maintain better oil pressure. I also switched oils from Penrite HRP 10w50 semi, to ELF Competition SM 15w50 semi and am very impressed. Oil pressure is better, engine mechanical noise is noticeably less, and just appears to be better suited (to my engine anyway). Also very well priced (which is more than i can say for the Z314 filter!!).

"Just for the record I did a bit more research with Ryco and other filter companies, plus a couple of guys who build race engines etc, and all said would not be a problem to fit the smaller filter, which does have an anti-drain back by the way."

Just to be clear, an anti-drain back valve is not necessarily the same thing as a bypass valve. It sounds like the filter does indeed have both, though.


"They actually said as long as you keep an eye on the oil condition (due to the smaller filter), they recommend fitting a smaller filter when a remote kit and/or cooler is fitted as it helps maintain better oil pressure."

http://www.fluent.com/solutions/automotive/ex214.pdf

This is fairly counterintuitive hence really interesting (to me at least). In the above pdf (page 2) it looks like what they are saying is that it is beneficial to remove vertical height in the filter because the principal pressure and velocity action occurs very near the base. Of course that would likely be the first area to clog with detritus and the mappings would shift up, ergo their warning about keeping an eye on things. A shorter filter has nowhere to shift up to.

Thanks for mentioning this.

Thanks for that interesting attachment. I too found the claim that a smaller filter would increase oil pressure as being slightly odd as I would have thought that the larger the filter area, the less restriction to flow, therefore better pressure. But as your attachment says, there may be some merit to this theory. Very interesting........

Thanks for that, guys. I was also using a Z170 oil filter, and would benefit from the extra room. I change my oil after every event, so it gets a new filter every 300 km or so, thus oil contamination shouldn't be a problem.

Out of curiosity, what's the price difference between the Z314 and the Z170?

Hi Matt,

The Z170/Z89A seem to cost around $20- $25 depending where you get them from.

The Z314 cost $28 from Repco, who were the only ones that had one (in SA), and they had to order it from another store. Sprints' told me they had never heard of one, but I called Ryco and they assured me they are still being manufactured.

I've been running it for about a week now, and no apparaent problems. Like you, my oil gets changed every 1000k's or so, so shouldn't be a problem.

Have I started a small-oil-filter revolution??

I thought it was interesting when I purchased a core engine from Japan (G10 Suzuki) it had a tiny little filter on it. The recommended one here is quite a bit bigger. It might be because consumers here are known for neglecting scheduled service. I will have to see if that is still kicking around.