The SDF11 is the old part number. These filters are only available while supplies last. Amsoil released their new line of Ea filters late last fall using Nano-Fiber technology. The new part number is the EaO11. The previous SDF filter was rated for 12,500 miles or six month, the new EaO filters are rated for 25,000 miles or one year and have an absolute efficiency rating (this is what "Ea" stands for) of 98.7%.
So are you guys going to actually run the filter for 25k before changing it? I think I'll do a filter change every other oil change.... those must be some good filters
I've run the SDF filter their full distance before. I haven't tried the new filters yet, my annual change is coming up in another month when I will be starting to use them. Of course ultimately it's up to what you feel comfortable running them at.
The nano-fiber technology that these filters use was developed by Donaldson who makes filters for Heavy Duty applications. The military approached Donaldson after the first Gulf War to develop a better filter to handle all the dust the M1 Tanks had encountered causing internal wear and repairs. This technology is now used in their Endurance line of Air and Oil Filters. Amsoil started working with Danoldson a while ago and since Donaldson doesn't work with the Light Duty and Automotive market, Amsoil is now allowed to make filters using this technology. The Ea Air Filters came out in Oct., the Ea Oil Filters in Nov. The Air Filters were featured at SEMA and Amsoil is really trying to push into the filtration market to become a leader here as well. This month they released the Ea Bypass Filters replacing the previous Bypass Filters we had. Their entire filter line is being converted to this technology, including motorcyle air & oil filters, and even some filters for aftermarket applications. The Air Filters flow as well as everyone's favorite Wet Gauze filter, but filter out 50x the dust. Also when it comes to cleaning, they are a dry filter and only need a shop vac every 25K. The filters are rated for 100K or 4 years. We should be seeing the aftermarket model by summer for those with different intake pipes. Right now, they are only available in the more common stock sizes. BTW, for those of you who like Wix, Amsoil is now working with them as well and anything not in the Amsoil line is covered by a Wix application. We can even now get the Wix Racing Filters.
A very good and longtime friend is a Petrochemical Engineer that works for many different oil companies auto manufacturers as a consultant.
We've had a number of conversations about Synthetics vs. Fossil.
According to him there are few rules;
1) Oil (fossil or synthetic) never wears out - it only becomes contaminated or diluted. No exceptions.
2) Neither Fossil or Synthetic oils are resistant to contamination or dilution. No exceptions.
3) Running extended drain intervals of synthetic oils will mean the continued circulation of impurities through your engine. No exceptions.
4) Use of a good quality oil filter is of paramount importance in removing "some" impurities from your engine as the system accumulates them. He has yet to find a filter that would remove all impurities or reduce the dilution of any oil.
What is synthetic oil?
Synthetic oil is an assembly of synthetically blended hydrocarbons that duplicate those in fossil based oil. The only difference between Synthetics and Fossil is that Fossil based oils have impurities and inert ingredients in them from the start - whereas the synthetic based lubricants have very few. It is the lack of impurities in the synthetic oils that make them more "slippery" than their fossil based counterparts. Less friction = more HP and less wear.
Also true, and again the oil additive package plays an important part in neutralizing these impurities as well as filtration in being able to remove them. Recently a rep for GM was commenting on running oils for high extended drains and that it is possible if oils were formulated properly. Most companies today are not looking to formulate an oil to last as long as they are actually capable of going, they would rather have the profits from a more frequent change. In Europe oil specs are more strict and are rated for longer drains. Amsoil is not the only one promoting extended drains, Mobil 1 last year released their Extended Performance oil with a recommended drain of 15K, so the science is there, it just depends on whether the manufacturer wants to market it.
Big-Foot said:
4) Use of a good quality oil filter is of paramount importance in removing "some" impurities from your engine as the system accumulates them. He has yet to find a filter that would remove all impurities or reduce the dilution of any oil.
Very true, and no filter can capture all of them, but the more the better. This is also why some people, particularly diesel owners, tend to add a bypass filter to capture as much as possible. While technology will change so we can build a better filter, I doubt we will ever have something that will take care of everything.
Big-Foot said:
What is synthetic oil?
Synthetic oil is an assembly of synthetically blended hydrocarbons that duplicate those in fossil based oil. The only difference between Synthetics and Fossil is that Fossil based oils have impurities and inert ingredients in them from the start - whereas the synthetic based lubricants have very few. It is the lack of impurities in the synthetic oils that make them more "slippery" than their fossil based counterparts. Less friction = more HP and less wear.
One of the best comparisons I have heard was to think of petroleum as a bowl of fruit of various sizes and shapes: grapefruit, apples, oranges, grapes, etc. The more impure the oil, the more sizes of "fruit." Some boil off when it gets to hot, causing the oil to thicken, and even cause friction when rubbing against each other. Synthetic would be a bowl of golf balls. All the molecules are the same size, absorbing the same amount of heat and rolling evenly against each other and the surfaces. These cause less friction and cause temps to drop and the oil to be more stable, which can help to produce more HP and better MPG.
Group III Synthetics are actually petroleum based synthetics. Most of the more common synthetics on the market today fall within this group. Consider this a more uniform bowl of fruit. It still will be apples, oranges, etc., but they will be more uniform rather than with the large variations that a Group II standard petroleum will have. There are even different grades of Group III base stocks depending on what quality the manufaturer wants their oil to be. Group IV (PAOs) and Group V oils (usually Esters) are what most die-hards consider the "pure synthetics" which will be the most uniform and pure.