Re: Long - oil filter anti-drain valve - the die is cast

[Wallace White <wallace@remdesign.com>]

Michael Murphy wrote:
> I respond with reference to all the converations I've had with filter
> manufacturers' and their catalog writings (I paraphrase): The ADV works
> in ONE direction - preventing oil from draining out of the filter if it
> is inverted (hole facing down or at an angle that would allow gravity to
> drain most/all of the oil in it).  So, when the engine starts, the
> engine oil pump does not have to fill the filter (holds ~1 liter and can
> take up to 5 seconds to fill) ergo, critical engine/turbo parts get oil
> faster.

Let me see if I understand the oil path, not having given it too much
thought before: oil goes from the pump, to the filter, into the block
and head to do its job. The filter is physically located below
everything else. So it's going to remain full of oil no matter what, as
long as nothing is sucking oil out of it (which I don't expect but have
no idea of). 

But, the oil in the block and head is physically above the filter, and
gravity will tend to pull it down into the filter--which will push oil
out of the other side of the filter, unless there's an ADV. So the ADV
would indeed keep more oil in the engine. If the pump or whatever else
is before the filter won't allow fluid to flow back towards it, though,
the ADV would make no difference.

There's every chance that I'm wrong on one or many aspects of this
situation, so just say so if I am. I will enjoy hearing the conclusions
of this debate.

By the way, the GM Quad 4 we took apart "back in my college days" (one
year ago) had a ball bearing, trapped in a cage, up in the one of the
supply oil galleries in the head. The ball would seat into a cone in the
gallery, plugging it up and keeping oil from flowing down, and it would
just blow forward against its cage when oil was being pumped in. A very
simple one-way valve. Any one know if Audi has ever done anything
similar?

- Wallace
  '87 5kcstq 150k