| Lubrication By Matthias Stegmueller, Director, Aftermarket North America, Hengst of North America Filter modules and cartridges My, how they’ve evolved Filter modules and filter cartridges have been around for decades in a less complex shape and form. Oil filtration actually started with the onset of using combustion engines in the early 20th century. It quickly became clear that the oil needed to be filtered from metal shavings and contaminants stemming from the combustion process to lengthen the life of the engine. Pioneer engineers designed a container plumbed into the oil supply line and stuffed it full with steel fiber mesh that functioned as the filtration media. The oil had to pass through this mesh, which caught contaminants and kept them from entering the engine again. When the fiber mesh had accumulated enough dirt, it could be taken out and, in most cases, was washed out with Kerosene or other solvents. Then it was placed back into the filter housing. These were the times when machining tolerances, combustion compression, oil temperature and other operating parameters were far from what we have in today’s engines, but these first filters were the beginning of modern day engine fluid filtration. The Use of Modules In the last few years, heavy duty automotive manufacturers have increasingly adopted the use of oil filter modules to not only house the oil filtration function, but to handle added tasks such as: • Oil cooling via water/oil heat exchangers. • Sensing of oil and coolant temperature. • Additional centrifugal particulate (soot) removal from the oil as pre-filtration. • Fuel filtration with water sensing and draining. • Integrated water pumps. What was the driver for this trend? When the core of the engine is designed by an OEM manufacturer, it starts with the engine block, cylinders, pistons, crankshaft rods and bearings, followed by the cylinder head with all its complex parts and functions. Further in the evolution of the engine design, peripheral functions – such as engine cooling and air, oil and coolant filtration – are added. All these functions require flow via pumps, sensing via sensors and filtration via filter elements. They need to be connected via complex piping and tubing. Sensors need to be mounted and wired somewhere in the infrastructure. Combining these functions in one module simplifies the design, reduces the amount of hoses, pipes, connectors and, subsequently, lessens the risk of breakage and leakage when the engine is in operation. In addition, it saves assembly time in the engine OEM’s plants since the filter module arrives preassembled and simply needs to be bolted onto the engine block and its sensors connected to the wiring harness on the vehicle. The Insides A filter module consists of an aluminum alloy housing made via die casting technology, which allows for complex, but weight-saving, geometry. The module housing cast needs to have internal fluid channels that preferably are casted or machined. After casting, the aluminum housing is machined to accommodate the assembly of all the different components. All components are assembled and tested for functionality and leakage before they leave the factory of the Tier 1 manufacturer/supplier and are sent on their way to the engine manufacturer plant where they are bolted onto the engine. The Element The actual filtration in a modern filter module is achieved by a cartridge filter element, which is mounted inside the oil filter housing. This improvement enables a technician who changes the oil to: • Open the cap of the filter housing from the top of the engine. • Wait for a minute until all the oil which remained in the filter housing drains back into the oil sump. • Pull the filter cartridge element out of the housing from the top. • Simply replace it with a new filter cartridge element. The oil filter module is a compact, highperformance filter system with a maximum filter area in minimum installation space. Photo courtesy of Hengst MANY BENEFITS come from combining functions into one design. German Engineered - American Made What we do is create solutions Hengst’s continuous commitment is satisfying customers’ needs in filtration and fluid management through German Engineering excellence and American Manufacturing. Decades of Hengst’s original equipment expertise guarantees the highest standards in design and quality for the Independent Aftermarket. Hengst’s outstanding product performance and superior coverage of filter applications for cars, commercial vehicles and off-highway applications, makes us your ideal supplier of choice. Hengst creates solutions. We view our customer as members of the Hengst family – partners we really care about. Contact us at Sales@hengst.com. www.hengst.com VehicleServicePros.com/12078497 28 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ APRIL 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
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