Oil Filtration
What is oil filtration?
Oil filtration is the process of removing contaminants like dirt, wear metals, debris, metal particles, sludge, soot, water, foreign matter, and other impurities from the oil used in engines, machines, and industrial systems. The performance and reliability of any machine that uses oil for lubrication, combustion, or power transmission depend directly on the condition and cleanliness of the oil. Since the new oil comes into contact with all components in the system, its condition should be considered critically important. The simple answer is better oil filtration.
Effective oil contamination control involves implementing comprehensive maintenance procedures, including proper oil top-ups, timely component replacement, and routine oil sampling to monitor product quality and detect issues early. To achieve long-term, predictable, and profitable performance from your equipment, you must effectively remove damaging water and particulate contaminants from oil systems. The majority of oil system failures are caused by solid particle contamination.
Improving oil cleanliness delivers several key benefits, including extended equipment lifespan, longer oil service life, reduced lubricant consumption, and a decreased environmental impact. By maintaining cleaner oil, machinery operates more efficiently and reliably, leading to fewer breakdowns and lower maintenance costs. This not only conserves resources but also minimizes waste, contributing to a more sustainable operation.
Future proof your oil filtration system!
Oil purification methods are available to ensure optimal system performance and reliability. They are:
– Full-Flow Oil Filtration – Reduces the content of solid particles, water, and oil degradation products
– Centrifuge Filters – Reduces the content of solid particles (clarification)
– Centrifugal Separtors – Reduces the content of solids particles with a density higher than that of oil as well as water (purification or clarification)
– Vacuum Dehydration System – Reduces water content and removes moisture from oil, enhancing oil product quality and preventing corrosion.
Fuel Oil Filtration Solutions
Efficient fuel oil treatment is required for long-lasting engine protection. If the engine’s fuel oil quality is poor (dirty and contaminated), it could lead to frequent on-engine fuel filter changes, costly fuel injector and fuel system repairs, and poor engine performance. Fuel oil filtration systems protect essential engine components, such as cylinder liners, pistons, piston rings, and fuel injection systems. To enable engines to work with minimal wear, engine filtration systems must continuously provide reliable oil purification.
Full-Flow Fuel Oil Filtration
Full-flow fuel oil filters are the most common type of filtration before the fuel is pumped through the engine. Providing essential engine protection, full-flow filters must capture and retain damaging particulate contaminants and have adequate dirt-holding capacity to achieve their required service intervals.
Top Full-Flow Fuel Oil Filtration Brands
Facet Filtration
Facet Filtration, a Filtration Group company, is a global leader in fuel filtration. Facet manufactures filter housings, filter cartridges, and complete filtration systems for marine and aviation filtration and separation. Facet has oil filtration equipment and solutions in accordance with the following certifications: Mil-DTL-901 Shock Test High Impact (Shipboard Machinery), Mil-STD-167 Vibration, Mil-STD-810 Lab and Environmental Testing, Mil-DTL-5624 NATO F-44 (JP-5), Mil-DTL-16884 NATO F-76 Naval Distillate, Mil-DTL-83133 NATO F-34, F-35, F-37 (JP-8, JP-8 w/o FSII, JP8+100), and ASTM D 1655 NATO F-24 JAA.
Kaydon Filtration
Kaydon Filtration, a Filtration Group company, is a global leader in diesel fuel filtration. Kaydon specializes in high-performance liquid and solid separation technology. Kaydon is a designer and manufacturer of filtration systems and equipment. They manufacture filter housings, filter cartridges, portable filter carts, and complete filtration systems for the marine, power generation, and mining industries. Kaydon has oil filtration equipment for marine diesel fuel purification (MDO purification), bulk diesel fuel transfer purification, and particulate/coalescing filtration.
SEPAR Filters
SEPAR Filters manufactures a line of fuel water separators designed to accommodate newer and more demanding diesel engines. The filter’s ability to separate 99% of the harmful free water and particulate from the diesel oil protects fuel systems and avoids engine failure. Fuel water separators feature five (5) stages of filtration and are available with flow rates from 79 to 2,060 GPH for appropriate integration into any size fuel system. The benefits include a small physical size, high flow rate, low restriction, multiple inlet/outlet configurations, and long-life filter elements. Additionally, a fuel-polishing filter cart solution is available.
For more information, visit Diesel Fuel Filtration Solutions for Marine, Power Generation, and Industrial Engines.
High-Speed Centrifugal Separator
High-speed centrifugal separators utilize centrifugal force to separate solids and one or two liquids simultaneously. A disc stack separator consists of a vertical stack of discs inside the centrifuge bowl. The centrifugal force (g-force) generated by the rotation of the centrifugal bowl replaces the force of gravity. When the centrifugal separator spins at high speeds, the centrifugal force causes the denser components to move outward toward the edge of the centrifuge bowl (rotor), while the light phase moves toward the bowl center.
For engine applications, advanced centrifugal separators ensure clean, consistent fuel flow by efficiently removing impurities, optimizing engine performance, and extending engine life. They help ensure maximum engine uptime, eliminate frequent fuel filter changes and disposal costs, and reduce unscheduled engine maintenance.
A better oil filtration system is the key!
SPARE PARTS: Separator Spares & Equipment specializes in aftermarket and genuine spare parts for Alfa Laval Separators, GEA Westfalia Separators, Mitsubishi Separators, and Samgong-Mitsubishi Separators.
Manual Clean Separator (solid bowl separator)
Manual clean separators with a solid wall bowl are utilized mainly to treat diesel oil (MDO) and lube oils. They are suitable for purifying (oil purification) or clarifying (oil clarification) oils with a low solid content of up to 0.1% by volume.
Top Manual Clean Separator Brands
Alfa Laval Separators
Alfa Laval is a renowned leader in centrifuge and separation technology, known for delivering innovative, high-performance solutions across a broad range of applications. The Alfa Laval MAB and MMB models are solids-retaining centrifugal separtors that can function as a clarifier or purifier. This helps optimize performance, operating costs, and durability.
Learn more about the Alfa Laval MAB 103 and Alfa Laval MAB Separators.
GEA Westfalia Separators
GEA Westfalia is a global leader in separation technology. Its separators are found in virtually every industry that processes fluids. As a market leader in separation equipment, GEA Westfalia delivers reliable, high-performance solutions. These solid-wall bowl separators are primarily used for diesel and lube oil treatment.
Learn more about GEA Westfalia OTC 2-02-137, OTC 3-02-137, OTC 5-01-037, OTC 10-01-037, and OTC 20-01-037 separators.
WSK Separators
WSK Separators are incredibly efficient in removing fine solid particles and liquid contaminants from marine diesel oil (MDO). The following solid bowl separators are available in Houma, Louisiana: MAB 103, MAB 104, MMB 304, and MMB 305. Each manual clean separator is arranged as a purifier (purification), but all the necessary parts to convert it into a clarifier (clarification) are supplied.
Self-Cleaning Separator (solids discharge separator bowl)
Self-cleaning separators with an automatic solids ejection bowl are utilized where the percentage of solids in the oil is too high for manually cleaned separators. Self-cleaning separators discharge solid matter automatically while the centrifugal separator is running. They operate continuously, avoiding the need to shut down the separator for frequent cleaning cycles.
Top Self-Cleaning Separator Brands
Alfa Laval Separators
Alfa Laval is a renowned leader in centrifuge and separation technology, known for delivering innovative, high-performance solutions across a broad range of applications. To learn more about refurbished Alfa Laval separators, visit our reconditioned Alfa Laval Separators webpage.
GEA Westfalia Separators
GEA Westfalia is a global leader in separation technology. The GEA Westfalia self-cleaning separators efficiently treat fuel oil for long-lasting engine protection. These include distillate fuel, marine diesel oil (MDO), heavy fuel oil (HFO), and biofuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). As a market leader in separation equipment, GEA Westfalia delivers reliable, high-performance solutions.
Learn more about GEA Westfalia OSD 2-02-137, OSE eagleclass, and OSF marine separators.
Lube Oil Filtration Solutions
Efficient lube oil treatment is required to maintain performance, prolong lube oil life, and reduce machinery wear. Engine lube oil collects contaminants over time, including metal particles, combustion residues (soot from incomplete combustion and silica from dirt/dust), and water. An effective lube oil filtration system aims to reduce operational maintenance costs, prevent equipment failures, and enhance equipment reliability. Choosing the right filtration system is key to optimizing equipment reliability and minimizing downtime. You often need more than one lube oil filtration approach to achieve clean lubricating oil.
While new oil is visually clean and refined, new oil is not necessarily completely contamination-free. New oil can contain particles picked up during manufacturing, storage, or transfer. It is generally advisable to filter new oil before use, especially in applications where high cleanliness levels are required.
The most critical requirements for lubricating oil are friction and wear reduction, cooling, cleaning, sealing, and acid neutralization. The lubricating oil transports heat from the engine and journals to the cooler (cooling). It prevents the agglomeration of contaminants and transports them to the filter and separator for removal and cleaning. The lubricating oil is used for sealing to assist the piston rings in eliminating blow-by. The lubricating oil provides acid-neutralizing protection, preventing corrosion.
Oil filtration systems are designed to remove contaminants and improve performance!
Full-Flow Lube Oil Filtration
Full-flow oil filters are the most common type of filtration, designed to receive and clean all the lube oil before it circulates through the engine components. These filters provide critical engine protection by capturing and retaining harmful contaminants. Depending on the design, the full-flow lube oil filter will offer sufficient dirt-holding capacity to meet required service intervals and feature a bypass valve to ensure consistent lube oil flow if the oil filter becomes clogged.
Top Full-Flow Lube Oil Filtration Brands
Alfa Laval
Alfa Laval is a renowned leader in centrifuge and separation technology, known for delivering innovative, high-performance solutions across a wide range of applications. Alfa Laval Moatti lubricating oil filters provide full-flow filtration of lubricating oils for trunk piston and crosshead engines. The Alfa Laval Moatti 160, 240, 280, and 350 models cover all lubricating oil flows.
The Alfa Laval Moatti Filter is a self-cleaning lube oil filter used in engines that burn several types of fuels.
IOW Group
IOW Group is a global leading manufacturer of centrifugal filters, triple screw pumps, and automatic bashwashing oil filters. The IOW eQlyps automatic backflushing lube oil filter is a complete oil filtration solution. Designed as a full-flow lube oil filtration system, it has the IOW Q series backflushing filter (continuously), IOW MP centrifuge filter, and IOW backflushing pump. The eQlyps will permanently remove all contaminant particles above one micron from your lubrication oil. The eQlyps is the most extensive oil-cleaning experience available.
Kaydon Filtration
Kaydon Filtration, a Filtration Group company, is a global leader in oil filtration and conditioning. Kaydon specializes in high-performance liquid and solid separation technology. Kaydon is a designer and manufacturer of filtration systems and equipment. They manufacture filter housings, filter cartridges, portable filter carts, and complete filtration systems for the marine, power generation, and mining industries. Kaydon Filtration offers advanced oil filtration solutions designed for fluid conditioning, particulate removal, and coalescing filtration.
Centrifugal Filter
A centrifugal filter (secondary oil filter) is a device used on engine and industrial equipment (kidney loop system) to remove solid particle contaminants from oil without the need for replaceable filter elements. Centrifugal filters operate in bypass and process approximately 10% of the lubricating oil before returning it to the engine’s sump. Unlike conventional filters that rely on porous media, centrifugal filters use high-speed rotation (spinner) to separate solid impurities from the oil through centrifugal force (g-force). Centrifugal oil filters efficiently capture fine particles, extending oil life, reducing maintenance costs, and improving engine reliability and performance.
Centrifugal Oil Filters: Cleaner Oil, Longer Oil Life, Lower Oil Costs
Centrifugal filters (offline oil filtration) are commonly used in heavy-duty engines, marine applications, and industrial machinery where oil cleanliness is critical. Their ability to remove microscopic particles, sludge, soot, and other contaminants (solid contaminants) makes them ideal for environments with high contamination levels. By continuously cleaning the oil, these oil centrifuges filter help maintain optimal lubrication, reduce engine wear, and enhance fuel efficiency. This lowers maintenance costs and minimizes environmental impact by reducing the frequency of oil changes.
Top Centrifugal Oil Filter Brands
IOW Group
IOW Group is a leading manufacturer of centrifugal filters. They are well known for their high-quality centrifugal filtration products and updated centrifuge filter design. Unlike the Alfa Laval and GEA Westfalia centrifuges, the IOW centrifugal bypass separators are engine oil pressure driven (or external pump driven). IOW Group centrifuges utilize bowl disc technology (better separation efficiency and remote monitoring (better control). To learn more about the high performance of the IOW offline oil filtration centrifuges, visit IOW Group centrifugal bypass filter.
Mann Hummel
Mann Hummel (formerly Glacier Centrifuge) manufactures pressure-powered centrifugal oil cleaners. Since Mann Hummel purchased Glacier Centrifuge filter products, there have been no fundamental innovative advances or improvements to the original centrifuge design.
Several firms worldwide have copied the original Glacier centrifuge design, but they all work on the same 1970s principles, and in some cases, spare parts are interchangeable between them.
Spinner II
The Spinner II Products Division is the sole North American importer and distributor of oil cleaning centrifuges made by Glacier Metal Company (now Mann Hummel). Later, Spinner II became a division of T.F. Hudgins, Inc. In 2016, T.F. Hudgins merged with Allied Reliability, Inc. Spinner II oil cleaning centrifuges, produced by Mann Hummel, use centrifugal force to separate contaminants from the oil. Depending on the application, Spinner II provides a cleanable rotor or a single-use disposable rotor.
Better engine oil filtration is the answer!
While the centrifugal oil filters may look similar, the IOW Group’s centrifugal oil cleaners technology is patent-protected. Not only is the IOW Group offline filtration system technology one of a kind, but the IOW centrifugal oil filters are 150% more efficient than Mann Hummel centrifugal oil cleaners, Glacier centrifuges, Spinner II oil cleaning centrifuges, Mircospin centrifuges, or anything currently on the market.
Leading engine brands trust these centrifugal oil filters, including Caterpillar, INNIO Waukesha, MAN Energy Solution, Progress Rail EMD, and Perkins Engines. BUT, not all centrifugal filters are created equal. IOW Group has designed, patented, and manufactured the world’s highest-performing and only self-monitoring bypass oil filtration spinner type separator. For more information, visit What is a Bypass Oil Centrifuge?
High-Speed Centrifugal Separator
A self-cleaning centrifuge is recommended for all applications. When utilizing a self-cleaning separator, we recommend using the purifier configuration (purification). It is common to find the clarifier disc installed in a lube oil separator to avoid a broken water seal. The separator will not remove any water, and the water in the oil will affect the stability of the alkaline additives. Decreasing the TBN value requires frequent oil addition and high consumption, resulting in excessively high lube oil cost.
Solid-bowl separators are suitable for crosshead or trunk engines when using distillate fuels or marine diesel oil (MDO). They are not recommended for cleaning crankcase lubricating oil serving trunk piston engines burning heavy fuel oil. The level of contamination will be higher in these systems, requiring very frequent manual cleaning. A solid-bowl centrifuge can be operated either as a purifier or a clarifier. If operated as a clarifier (clarification), there is still the risk of loss of separation efficiency due to the disc stack being blocked with water. The clarifier type of operation should only be used if the risk of water contamination is deemed negligible.
Top Self-Cleaning Separator Brands
Alfa Laval Separators
Alfa Laval is a renowned leader in centrifuge and separation technology, known for delivering innovative, high-performance solutions across a broad range of applications. To learn more about refurbished Alfa Laval separators, visit our reconditioned Alfa Laval Separators webpage.
GEA Westfalia Separators
GEA Westfalia is a global leader in separation technology. GEA Westfalia self-cleaning separators efficiently treat lube oil, ensuring long-lasting engine protection. As a market leader in separation equipment, GEA Westfalia provides reliable, high-performance solutions.
Learn more about GEA Westfalia OSD 2-02-137, OSE eagleclass, and OSF marine separators.
Hydraulic Oil Filtration Solutions
Although highly sophisticated, today’s hydraulic oil filtration systems use traditional full-flow filters to clean the hydraulic oil. As the number of costly industry customer system failures shows, this is insufficient. Water contamination is one of the main factors that can shorten the hydraulic oil’s lifetime, causing corrosion of internal surfaces and extra wear due to poor oil lubrication. The contaminated particles shorten the life of rolling bearings while causing extra internal wear on hydraulic components and leaking seals. Plant or equipment failures due to sticking pilot vales are also, in many cases, a direct result of fine contaminated particles in the hydraulic oil.
Contaminated particles about the same size as the clearances in the equipment should be removed. The condition of the hydraulic oil will determine the machinery’s uptime and life.
Hydraulic oil filtration systems are designed to achieve and maintain proper ISO cleanliness levels. We provide advanced filtration capabilities to remove contaminants efficiently and effectively. Those oil filtration systems include hydraulic filter carts and portable mobile equipment. The portable oil filter carts are compact and lightweight for easy transport and mobility.
For marine applications, since more than 90% of hydraulic system failures onboard vessels are due to water or fine contaminate particles in the hydraulic oil, it makes sense to maintain the hydraulic oil rather than the equipment. Water contamination in onboard hydraulic systems is due to leaking seals in the systems in contact with seawater, such as trustees, stabilizers, propellers, etc; it is a recognized problem. Fine contaminated particles can come from various sources, such as depleted additives, coatings from tank walls, or metal from normal machinery wear. Better hydraulic oil cleaning is the answer!
Top Full-Flow Hydraulic Oil Filtration Brands
Kaydon Filtration
Kaydon Filtration, a Filtration Group company, is a global leader in oil filtration and conditioning. Kaydon specializes in high-performance liquid and solid separation technology. Kaydon is a designer and manufacturer of filtration systems and equipment. They manufacture filter housings, filter cartridges, portable hydraulic filter carts, and complete filtration systems for the marine, power generation, and mining industries. Kaydon Filtration offers advanced oil filtration solutions designed for fluid conditioning, particulate removal, and coalescing filtration.
Top Centrifugal Separation Brands
Alfa Laval Separators
Alfa Laval is a renowned leader in centrifuge and separation technology, known for delivering innovative, high-performance solutions across a wide range of applications. To learn more about refurbished Alfa Laval separators, visit our reconditioned Alfa Laval Separators webpage.
GEA Westfalia Separators
GEA Westfalia is a global leader in separation technology. GEA Westfalia self-cleaning separators efficiently treat lube oil, ensuring long-lasting engine protection. As a market leader in separation equipment, GEA Westfalia provides reliable, high-performance solutions.
Learn more about GEA Westfalia OSD 2-02-137, OSE eagleclass, and OSF marine separators.
IOW Group
IOW Group is a leading manufacturer of centrifugal filters. They are well known for their high-quality centrifugal filtration products and updated centrifuge filter design. Unlike the Alfa Laval and GEA Westfalia centrifuges, the IOW centrifugal bypass separators are engine oil pressure driven (or external pump driven). IOW Group centrifuges utilize bowl disc technology (better separation efficiency and remote monitoring (better control). To learn more about the high performance of the IOW filtration centrifuges, visit IOW Group centrifugal bypass filter.
For more information, visit The Comprehensive Guide to Hydraulic Oil Cleaning.
Turbine Oil Filtration Solutions
You need lubrication free from water and particulates to ensure long-term, reliable, and profitable performance from your turbine-driven equipment. However, maintaining clean, dry oils while controlling maintenance costs and schedules can be challenging without a dependable oil conditioning system. A properly sized, highly efficient oil conditioning system delivers significant value and benefits by producing “clear and bright” turbine oil free of visible water, particulates, haze, or cloudiness.
While new oil is visually clean and refined, new oil is not necessarily completely contamination-free. New oil can contain particles picked up during manufacturing, storage, or transfer. It is generally advisable to filter new oil before use, especially in applications where high cleanliness levels are required.
Top Turbine Oil Filtration Brand
Kaydon Filtration
Kaydon Filtration, a Filtration Group company, is a global leader in oil filtration and conditioning. Kaydon specializes in high-performance liquid and solid separation technology. Kaydon is a designer and manufacturer of filtration systems and equipment. They manufacture filter housings, filter cartridges, portable filter carts, and complete filtration systems for the marine, power generation, and mining industries. Kaydon Filtration offers advanced oil filtration solutions designed for fluid conditioning, particulate removal, and coalescing filtration.
Oil Purification Solutions, Service, and Expertise
A Kaydon Turbo-TOC KL oil conditioning system uses coalescing technology to remove water and contaminants from turbine oil, improving equipment performance. Effectively trapping and separating water extends turbine oil life, reduces bearing failures, and minimizes forced outages. Compared to other oil conditioning methods, Kaydon Turbo-TOC KL is faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective, outperforming vacuum distillation, centrifugation, mass transfer, and electrostatic separation systems.
The Kaydon K1100 pre-filter effectively removes particulates, ensuring clean oil per ISO 4406 standards. For water removal, the Kaydon K2100 coalescer gathers water into droplets, while the Kaydon K3100 separator completes the process, achieving over 95% efficiency and reducing total water content to below 100 PPM. These innovations enhance reliability and extend oil life in turbine lubrication systems.
Varnish Removal Systems
Varnish can be dissolved, insoluble, or cured, and its state is very dependent on the temperature and contact with air:
1. Varnish is dissolved in its base fluid (for example, mineral base oil).
2. Varnish will precipitate out immediately when it becomes insoluble (the portion above the saturation point at a given temperature).
3. Varnish is cured and no longer solvable with its base fluid when in contact with air/oxygen or ‘baked’ on hot surfaces (example, lacquer on cylinder liners in diesel engines).
The oil fluid temperature has a significant impact on almost any given solubility. The “varnish generating spots” are usually “hot spots,” while the “varnish deposit spots” are usually “cold spots.”
Varnish removal systems provide continuous kidney-loop filtration and circulation of the turbine oil in the reservoir. Industrial oil filtration varnish removal systems enable you to effectively maintain very low varnish content in your turbine lube oil, as measured by MPC (Membrane Patch Colimetry).
Top Varnish Removal System Brands
Kaydon Filtration
Kaydon Filtration, a Filtration Group company, is a global leader in oil filtration and conditioning. Kaydon specializes in high-performance liquid and solid separation technology. Kaydon is a designer and manufacturer of filtration systems and equipment. They manufacture filter housings, filter cartridges, portable filter carts, and complete filtration systems for the marine, power generation, and mining industries. Kaydon Filtration offers advanced oil filtration solutions designed for fluid conditioning, particulate removal, and coalescing filtration.
C.C. Jensen (CJC)
C.C. Jensen is an oil filtration manufacturer that focuses on providing quality products designed for the removal of particles, water, acidity, and oil degradation products from hydraulic fluids, lubrication oils, diesel fuel, and EAL/biodegradable oils. The CJC Varnish Removal Unit has a revolutionary high efficiency for removing solf contaminants from oil (dissolved and suspended), even from hot operating gas and steam turbines. The CJC VRU removes dissolved and suspended soft contaminants by polar attraction in the optimized cellulose-based CJC Varnish Removal inserts, VRi.
We provide oil filtration systems that will keep you running!
Separator Spares & Equipment is committed to providing oil filtration systems that will positively impact your business. We can assist with oil purification products, solutions, and expertise. We provide several types of oil filtration products to remove particles, water, varnish, and other contaminants. Our cost-effective oil filtration systems will save on maintenance costs (lowering the total cost of ownership), increase reliability, and reduce energy consumption.
Do you need any spare filter parts? Separator Spares & Equipment specializes in genuine and compatible filter spare parts, including elements, housings, and accessories for every application. We are committed to providing reliable filtration solutions that reduce maintenance and minimize downtime.
Oil Purification Systems | Solutions, Service, and Expertise