Oil filters designed for an application where the open end of the filter is up don't have the check valves - gravity keeps oil in the filter. Most applications need a check valve so the oil won't drain out every time the engine is shut off. The concern isn't back flushing the dirt, most of which is trapped in the filter media. The concern is that with an empty filter there is no presure and little or no oil going to the bearings until the filter fills up. Ever notice when you start the cage after changing the filter how the idiot light stays on much longer than normal? That light is telling you that there is nearly zero pressure (I think the switch is something like 2PSI).
Bill -----Original Message----- From: GTS-1000 Owners List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Derek Baylor Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 8:56 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: K&N oil filter Maybe it is hype, but I definately put the requisite amount of oil in my engine, and after running it with the K&N filter installed--even after 1/2 hour of sitting--much less oil was evident in the sump. Something different is going on with this filter. -Derek ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 8:24 AM Subject: Re: K&N oil filter > I believe that check valves are very common in most filters including > the stock one. If you look at the oil flow path and direction - from > the sump to the pump to the filter and then to the various engine > parts like bearings and the top end which are all under pressure, once > it lubricates the required parts it drains to the sump generally not > under as much pressure from the oil pump, the topend drains mostly by > gravity and does it > all again in a loop - All the check filter will do is prevent backflow from > these points through the filter and taking junk back out of the filter into > the sump, sort of unfiltering the oil. All the oil in the topend will still > drain just fine through the oil passages to the sump just like normal > wether the engine is running or not, so there will be no problems with > the measuring the level. If it is mentioned on the filter package or > in K&N advertizing as a special feature it is merely advertising hype. > Hope this helps. Terry > > > I just changed my oil and installed a K&N oil filter. The filter has > a check valve that prevents all the oil from draining out of your top > end after the bike is shut off. This makes terrific sense, because > the oil > (theoretically) stays up in the head to prevent damage upon > start-up. Right away it seemed to be working, and herein lies the > problem: how does one check oil level at the sight glass if all the oil is > stuck up in the engine? Is anyone else on the list using these > filters and > have a recommendation? With the correct amount of oil in the engine, > and after shutting down, the oil level in the sump is just a little > below the bottom of the sight glass window. Is this my new "full" > mark? Can anyone with deep engine knowledge say whether it's really > an advantage (more than > theoretically) to trap all that oil up in the engine? I really just > wondering if the extra $10 for the K&N filter is worth it. > > Strange, there was no mention of this "new oil level thing" on the K&N > filter packaging. Someone with slightly lower critical thinking > skills than me (not a stretch) could easily become confused and just > keep adding oil until the level looked right. I'm guessing that on > the GTS that would be at least a quart too much oil! > > The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is, that one often > comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. -Henry > Ward Beecher > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] || http://www.huntel.net/terryth
