Anyone install an inline ATF filter?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dr Rocket @ Nov 20 2007, 07:23 AM) [snapback]541904[/snapback]</div>

As a suggestion, it is important to have a clean, dry water bottle, a small one, to capture a sample anytime you go to change your oil. Testing is always optional but not unless a sample container is available. Yes, it is OK to capture into a clean dry container and later transfer to a sample bottle for shipping.

Doug did the experiment with a custom filter installation. However, the inventor later posted he didn't think it was something he wanted to continue. I'm also somewhat skeptical because the typical spin-on filter is good only to about 16-18 microns and we really need filtration to the 3-8 micron level. But I'm looking at two other approaches including the Amsoil 1 micron filter system.

As for the vacuum, I continue my testing with a vent tube and can not report results one way or the other. This has to do with a problem of undrainable oil and inaccessible areas where gunk, dirt and grit can remain. I have a test planned as soon as my current transaxle oil reaches 10k miles.

For now, 30k miles for 2001-03 Prius with pan drop and cleaning makes sense. For the 2004-current models, it looks like 60k miles work but if you are in a dusty area, more frequent would be advised with an initial oil test to look at the health and status.

Bob Wilson

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dr Rocket @ Nov 20 2007, 03:02 PM) [snapback]542118[/snapback]</div>

No.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dr Rocket @ Nov 20 2007, 03:02 PM) [snapback]542118[/snapback]</div>

There are no transaxle coolant lines that carry the oil. There are coolant lines that carry the "pink stuff" coolant around but the oil always remains in the transaxle.

The hack that was used for the first transaxle filter tapped the oil pressure sensor interface. The challenge is you want to tap the oil flow but not drop the pressure so much that you lose the lubrication flow. However, there are two plugs that could be used for return, the front filler and I understand there is a rear plug. But finding space to mount the spin-on filter won't be easy.

It might be easier to do an annual or even a spring/fall transaxle oil change and have a separate, gravity fed, oil filter with pump to circulate the oil. You dump the current oil in the 'dirty' oil tank. Then you refill the transaxle with the cleaned oil that has been filtered through the micro filter. Six months or a year later, you swap the oil again. Every other year, you change the spin on filter and the problem is solved.

In the world of lubrication specialists, this is called an oil filter cart and they take it around to various systems to 'filter the oil.' Think of it as a 'batch filter' system. What this will do is take out the suspended 'crud' and you're good to go for another year.

Bob Wilson

 

I was the guy that did the filter installation and for all the trouble it isn't worth it. Made my own filter adapter and bypass filter restrictor and installed the Toyota Torque filter from the forklifts as it's a filter designed for ATF and when all was said and done it made no difference to the UOA on the PSD. I then changed to a 10 micron Donaldson filter and the UOA showed no difference again. My suggestion is don't waste your time and money to do a filter install just Change the oil on a shorter interval with the money you save. It was a fun project but a waste of time.

 

Frank, I did not realize that you made your own ATF filter. The one I used was made by Mike Beyer who used to post here as "IFixEm".

The 2001 Prius in question is now in use in New Mexico, and I hope to have info on its (post-filter) fluid analysis and filter 'tear down' later.

Aside from the (uncertain) advantages, I would add one concern that any design like this must be *very* unlikely to leak. Unfortunately we already know what pumped fluid insufficiency does to these units.

 

yes... leakage is a big issue. DH had a customer with an oil bypass filter on his (non-prius) car once...

the hole on the valve cover wasn't done right he was getting all kinds of contamination in his UOA... and in case you're wondering those numbers won't get you far with the dealerships... so not knowing what else to do they handed it to DH and said <strike>figure out how to make him go away</strike> figure it out.

the company that made the kit ended up sending some stuff to plug the hole and the bypass filter was removed in the end.

so... take warning for these kinds of things. listen to frank.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Nov 20 2007, 09:31 PM) [snapback]542201[/snapback]</div>

I always wanted to say that it was a very impressive project, and even though it may have come up a bit short on usefulness it still showed that with enough ingenuity filtering the transmission fluid was possible to do.