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Inventions & Profiles for the Month of June 2020- The Oil Filter

In 1923, Ernest Sweetland and George H. Greenhalgh patented the first automotive oil filtration system. They called their invention “Purolator”, short for the words “pure oil later”, and they began a story of quality and innovation that continues to this day. 

While the original Purolator filtered oil through twill-weave cloth, in 1946, Purolator introduced a pleated paper oil filter – a technology still being used today. 

 Purolator Filters (Purolator Filters LLC) is an American manufacturer of oil and air filters, based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States.

Some facts about oil filters:

1971 FRAM debuts its iconic slogan, “You can pay me now, or pay me later.” 

1932 FRAM is born when the original chemists, Frederick Franklin and T. Edward Aldham, invent an easily replaceable oil filtering element in their Providence, Rhode Island, laboratory. The name FRAM is coined from the first two letters of FRanklin and the last two letters of AldhAM.

Today:

There are two types of filters used today: spin-on and cartridge-style.
The spin-on filter is one of the most recognized engine parts, with a steel canister and paper element inside. Spin-on filters are nearly foolproof – especially for the DIYer – due to the simple installation process and minimal need for tools. However, there are a lot more materials and manufacturing steps involved in a spin-on. A spin-on filter consists of several parts, including the steel canister, drain-back valve, bypass valve and a gasket.
Spin-on filters are starting to fall out of favor with OEMs, in part because of environmental concerns. California uses more than 67 million oil filters alone! One way OEMs and filter manufacturers are combatting this growing issue is with cartridge-style oil filters that contain no metal and can be recycled or disposed of easier than spin-ons. But there’s no perfect solution, because cartridge-style filters present some unique challenges to the DIYer and professional technician.
While cartridge-style filters pre-date spin-ons, the trend today is for OEMs to use plastic housings that require special tools to remove them. Wear and tear should be factored into the standard oil change with this type of filter, because the housing is resealed each time the filter element is replaced. If the tech isn’t careful with the housing, damage can occur to the molded plastic. There also is a greater chance that the element can be installed incorrectly or with the wrong-size part. The gasket must be replaced each time, and the threads should be coated to ease the install.