About a year ago, I decided I was going to install an external fluid filtration system on the transmission that utilizes a spin-on canister type filter. Seems like better filtering than stock would be desirable and wouldn't hurt anything (if installed correctly).

So I figured I'd go ahead and run some samples through the lab so I can get a good baseline representation showing how the transmission has been maintained up to this point. Then when I eventually add the external filter system I could see what effect it has compared to an un-modified system. Sounds reasonable right?

Attached is my most recent lab report with 34k miles on the fluid. Keep in mind this is the OEM filter only, not even a Magnefine on this particular truck.
I have compared against lab reports from some of our fleet trucks that do have external filters and there doesn't appear to be any difference that I can tell. In fact, it appears that some of the wear metals are actually lower in my truck, however...the fleet trucks have a completely different type of transmission and many have PTO devices so my comparison is not valid.

Does anyone have any lab reports for trans fluid that utilizes some sort of external filtration system that I can use to compare with? If so, I would like to see how they look so I can gauge what sort of improvement I might expect once I install the supplemental filtration on my own trucks. At this moment in time, I am actually having doubts if I should do anything different at all.

Keep in mind that I am talking about 3 trucks at home...so I am wondering if it's going to be worth the effort to go through the expense of adding external filtration to each truck. If I already plan on sampling the trans fluid every 15-16k or so, then do I really need an external filter setup? Can anyone help me comprehend what I might be missing here?

 

Greg,

I have a Blackstone on trans fluid at the bottom of this page:
SpringerPop's Transmission Filter

Also note how many miles are on that oil.

I never tow heavy.

Pop

 

The cool part of having three trucks is you will have it dialed in on the last one!

Maybe run the Magnefine filter if you have doubts. It is far cheaper and pretty easy to install. I went with a spin on as I am alot OCD and tend to build my own stuff. I liked what I saw from Springerpop and I figured a slightly different way to do it.

Besides it gives you a extra filter to capture debris if you do get it. Otherwise it will just recirculate around.

 

Yes you should. Put together 4 kits. I'll help you install the first 3 on your trucks and we'll install the 4th one on mine.

Have creeper will travel.

 

Wow Greg, that sounds like a great idea!

 

So, Robin, make him ANOTHER offer he can't refuse!

Pop

 

I thought so.

Still waiting for him to refuse this offer. Then it will be the offer he can't refuse.

Greg and I have met several times and talked on the phone many, many times. He's a helluva guy and sharp as a tack.

So Greg, what about my offer?

 

That sounds like a great idea. I'll shop around and see what parts I might need.

Marv, is your trans OEM still? If so, I wonder if it wears differently than a modified trans might? Seems logical that quicker shifts might cause less wear on the friction materials.

My other two trucks have Magnefine filters on them already, (probably time to change them out with new units). That is sorta why I chose my personal truck for the lab tests since that particular truck does not (yet) have a Magnefine filter. I was thinking about adding one but then I wonder if it would just be better to purchase a base and go with a spin on filter style.

I had the opportunity to peek inside a trans cooler a while back and I was amazed how small the passages actually are inside these things. Sorta makes me think that adding a good filter pre-cooler might go a long way to keeping it from getting clogged up. This is sorta what got me thinking about what the benefit might be actually.....maybe the real value of an external filter is to keep the cooler from getting clogged. If so, then maybe a Magnefine is satisfactory after all.

Is there ANY concern with reducing fluid flow by adding a spin on type filter? Seems like a lot would have to go wrong to clog up one of those things and if so, then a low flowing filter would be the least of my worries.

 

Sounds good. Let me know.

We could do tranny cooler upgrades at the same time.

 

I just flushed my tranny this weekend and put on a new jw valve body on my Ex. I have the filter from Diesel Site ready to put on as soon I get a chance, good to here positive things...

 

I have had the Sonnax modulator valve and accumulator springs installed for maybe six years, so my shifts are definitely not soft factory shifts, but quicker.

Pop

 

Thanks Marv,

So, I had a moment to look at that report and do some math. My oil has 34k where yours has 45k. If I were to predict what my wear metal PPM numbers might be at 45k, I come up with way less than half of what your report shows with the exception for Aluminum and Nickel. Am I figuring this correct?

1. Iron-Projection of 32 ppm compared to 74 ppm
2. Lead-projection of 7 ppm compared to 31 ppm
3. Copper-projection of 44 ppm compared to 87 ppm
4. Tin-projection of 2 ppm compared to 9 ppm
5. Alum-projection of 16 ppm compared to 11 ppm
6. Nickel-projection of 2 ppm compared to 3 ppm

Hmmm???
Based on the info gathered so far...it appears that supplemental filtration increases the ppm measurement of wear metals....
How can this be?

OR....
My lab report may not be accurate. I wonder if there is a way to cross check the info?

OR...
Maybe the fluid type has something to do with it??? I used Motorcraft, what kind of fluid are you using?

By any chance, to you have your 60k mile trans fluid report yet?

Is there anyone else out there that might have a lab sample of trans fluid with at least 30k miles on it?

Now I am even more confused....

 

Welcome to the Club. That's what happens to me when
I ask too many questions and for too much advice.

But it hasn't stopped me from asking. Go figure.

This might jeopardize our project.

OK. That's enough smileys for one post. Later.

 

Math sure looks right to me.
Not very likely.
Penzoil's "For use in transmissions that formerly used DexronIII/Mercon"

Naww, I dumped it at that sampling.

Me too!

Pop

 

It's just a thought but could possibly the point at which the tranny oil sample was drawn from show different results? For instance, if the fluid was collected from the bottom of the fluid pan drain plug on one truck while the other truck (Shake-N-Bake) sampled from the external filter itself.