Anyone consider using a larger oil filter or bypass filtration sytem?

[firsthonda]

I was checking out these..

TRASKO-USA

AMSOIL - By-pass Oil Filter Mounting Kits

Any opinions on bypass filters for passenger vehicles?

[cheesie]

i was considering a bypass valve for a CAI

[firsthonda]

My interest is now so much in trying to go a crazy number of miles between oil changes. However, supposedly there are theoretical advantages to running cleaner oil with a larger sump capacity. Perhaps better MPG? I don't know.

[Jayemtee]

I think there is a time and a place for engine modifications, and I consider this an engine modification. I don't see this as a good idea.

As a professional mechanic, I can tell you that I don't really know much about these engines. I can tell you that Honda engineers spent a lot of resources planning out the oil system. And with the Insight, I'm confident that efficiency was a key component.

The first item you linked to belongs in the snake oil category (as far as I am concerned). Oil isn't meant to last forever. It has a useful operating life. After that, turn the oil in to the professionals. I've seen several items like these at SEMA shows and none of them impressed me or any other professionals at the shows.

The second item you mentioned scares me a little. I believe your engine was designed very, very well. And very efficient. If you start tapping off oil pressure (and flow and volume and ????) at a remote location, you are cheating something downstream. The engineers designed a certain pressure, temperature, volume, and flow at various parts around the engine. If you start messing with it, you probably won't get the results that the engineers planned. And you are doing this under the goal of making oil last longer. If you were to install this on your car, you would be affecting all of the criteria that was engineered into the oil system.

I think there are several reasons one would need to modify the oil system in one way or another, mostly involving extreme operating conditions beyond the scope of a 4 door hybrid sedan. It's your car and your money. I don't see you saving enough oil to pay for the system and while I doubt if it will do harm to your engine overnight, it looks like a lot of risk factors for your tiny efficient engine.

That's just my opinion. Good Luck.

[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by Jayemtee

I think there is a time and a place for engine modifications, and I consider this an engine modification. I don't see this as a good idea.



The second item you mentioned scares me a little. I believe your engine was designed very, very well. And very efficient. If you start tapping off oil pressure (and flow and volume and ????) at a remote location, you are cheating something downstream. The engineers designed a certain pressure, temperature, volume, and flow at various parts around the engine. If you start messing with it, you probably won't get the results that the engineers planned. And you are doing this under the goal of making oil last longer. If you were to install this on your car, you would be affecting all of the criteria that was engineered into the oil system.

Actually I was looking at the unit that screws on, with adapter, at the location of the existing oil filter. In any event, I see your points.

[Cobb]

You can easily buy a larger filter at the auto store. I do this on my older vehicles. My dodge wagoneer I got the biggest filter that will screw on to the base. Still, I followed the frequency for changing the oil as the filter only catches particles down to a certain size, then as the element collects trash it becomes clogged and hte bypass velve opens and unfiltered oil passes through the engine. The oil also carries moisture, acid and other fluids that hte filter wont catch and the only way to rid your engine of them is to just change it.


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[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by Cobb

You can easily buy a larger filter at the auto store. I do this on my older vehicles.

I was reading online that the Honda S2000(or aftermarket equivalent) Filter is a larger filter that will fit our Insights.

[Cobb]

Its easy. Basically look up the filter the Insight takes. Once you got it, then eye ball the selection and look for a taller and slightly larger in diameter. The thread is the same, make sure the diameter of the hole in the middle is the same and the rubber gasket can seat. The length is limited by what ever is in the engine compartment.

The filter I got for the van was about the size of a can of paint.


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[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Its easy. Basically look up the filter the Insight takes. Once you got it, then eye ball the selection and look for a taller and slightly larger in diameter. The thread is the same, make sure the diameter of the hole in the middle is the same and the rubber gasket can seat. The length is limited by what ever is in the engine compartment.

The filter I got for the van was about the size of a can of paint.

I have extra Honda Filters for the Insight laying around. I can take one down to the parts store and match it up to a bigger one. Although I'm not sure using just a bigger standard full flow filter would do much for our Insights as far as clean oil. According to Honda, you can get 2 oil changes out of 1 filter with our cars. The Insights oil seems to stay pretty clean; compared to a non hybrid. I don't think the bypass valves ever really get used on our filters.

Now increasing the sump capacity, in theory, (a) should help with the temperature of the oil and (b) having more oil should decrease wear.(small particle suspension)

In any event, I probably will use a larger filter for my girlfriends Explorer. The oil in her car seems to turn black right away.

[Patrickmilburn]

Hmmmm... What is the Honda part number for the standard Insight Gen 2 filter?