What is a Bypass Oil Centrifuge?

Maximize Efficiency with a Bypass Oil Centrifuge

What is a Bypass Oil Centrifuge?

Bypass oil centrifuges, driven by the main engine’s oil pump bypass flow, can be mounted on the side of the engine to remove very small, solid, micron-size particles and, in some cases, can be used to extend oil changes and oil filter change periods. The centrifuge provides oil care, removing far smaller soot particles than paper filters can. The system is powered by oil pressure, requiring no external energy input. Bypass oil centrifuges can be cleaned and serviced with the engine running. The centrifuge works by using centrifugal force to separate the contaminants from the oil and then retain them on the outer bowl wall of the centrifuge.

A centrifugal bypass oil filter is different than a paper filter as it can remove more soot particles. It is common knowledge that the primary filters in most diesel engines allow certain sized contaminates, generally 20-25 microns, to pass through. These predominantly soot particles (a byproduct of combustion in diesel engines) shorten the life of the lubricating oil and cause damage to engine parts as they are very abrasive.

Bypass oil centrifuges remove harmful abrasives from your engine lube oil.

Bypass Centrifuge Filter Principle

The engine’s soot particles are sub-micron size and can pass through the inline lube oil filters. A bypass oil centrifuge collects the soot particles through centrifugal force. The centrifugal force causes the contaminants to separate from the oil and retain them on the outer bowl wall of the centrifuge. Utilizing a bypass oil centrifuge will allow for a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), reduced wear, less engine downtime, extended oil life, and the elimination of costly filter disposals.

The centrifuge filters should take oil from the rear of the engine and return it to the front of the engine, so that clean oil is as close to the engine oil pump suction as possible. It is recommended to install shutoff valves and flexible piping connections.

In marine applications, locate collecting sumps at the aft end of the tank. When installing a lube oil centrifuge filter, take oil from the collecting sump at a level below the main lube oil pump suction pipe, and discharge clean oil back to the sump near the lube oil pump suction piping. Refer to the engine general dimension drawings for recommended bypass filter supply location and oil return to the crankcase.

How to size a Bypass Oil Centrifuge?

When sizing a bypass oil centrifuge, it is recommended:

The centrifugal filter must process a maximum of 10% of the oil pump capacity.
The centrifugal filter(s) must process the total oil sump a minimum of four (4) turns per hour.
The outlet size of the centrifugal filter must work only for gravity drain, and the piping diameter must be three (3) times the inlet diameter (if the oil inlet is 3/4″, the oil outlet must be 3″ (for security))

Lube Oil Centrifugal Filters

Benefits of Centrifugal Oil Filter on MTU 2000 & MTU 4000 Series Engine

As engine designs continue to evolve to meet new emission standards, the contaminant loading placed on the engine’s lubricating oil increases. Maintaining lubricant performance requires a filtration system that consistently removes large volumes of contaminants from the lube oil. The contaminant removal remains constant with a lube oil centrifugal filter throughout the service interval. The centrifugal force of a centrifuge filter can remove a wide range of particles extending into the sub-micron range.

Use a Centrifugal Filter to Remove Contaminants

Bypass oil centrifuges are an important aspect of maintaining the performance and efficiency of your engine, particularly in diesel engines. They are designed to remove harmful abrasives and contaminants from the engine lubricating oil, which helps to maintain the performance of the lubricant and prevent damage to engine parts.

Engine oil drain intervals depend on the engine-oil quality, its conditioning, the operating conditions, and the fuel used. Per MTU’s Fluids and Lubricants Specifications for diesel engine-generator sets with Series 2000 and 4000 MTU engines, with a centrifugal oil filter or bypass filter, the oil change intervals double.

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To learn more, visit our IOW Centrifugal Oil Filter webpage.