Hudson Oil Filters - Come on now...What's up?

[rambos_ride]

OK - I did a search on this very forum and saw a lot of opinions but not a lot of facts. I'd love to see this discussion center on truths as opposed to the myths of the partial-flow oil filter system.

One myth I think is very controversial is that you need some tremendous amount of oil pressure to run oil though a filter??

There's a pickup and a pump right? If this is true then I can gaurantee you the oil will flow through the filter unless there's a blockage somewhere - I mean come on guys/gals...this is basic stuff...it doesn't take a lot of pressure to get oil to flow through a system.

A partial-flow filter is designed to hold a % of the volume of the system at any given point to filter out contaminents that a full-flow filter is not designed to catch. A partial flow system therefore is designed to hold the oil a little longer and then cycle new oil in place, or cycle slower to allow the heavier contaminants to settle.

I also read alot of comments about the dangers of remoter filters...hmmm, I had one on my 1989 S-10 4x4 Factory installed, seen them on thousands of race cars, street cars etc. So I don't buy the safety issue at all.

So there's some of my thoughts - I'd like to hear your responses as well as real world experiences with the Hudson motor...I'm trying to learn AMAP before I fire the 50 up for the first time.

[Dave53-7C]

Better to have some filtration than none. Sure, a broken hose can cause a fiasco. Using metal lines rather than rubber would solve that concern. After all, your gas and brake fluid run safely through metal lines. I have a Fram filter set-up on my Hudson and haven't had any problems with it. Does it do as good of a job as a filter on a modern car, probably not but it does work. BTW, metal lines would only apply if the filter housing is mounted to the engine. If the filter housing is on the firewall, you'd have to go the flexible route.

[Jon B]

But, isn't a partial-flow oil filter like scooping up some water from your swimming pool, filtering it, and throwing it back in the system? Doesn't that leave a certain percentage of the water that may NEVER be filtered? And if there are tiny children in the pool, doesn't that mean that you will always find amongst the clean water, some -- well, uh --you know! So, in the end, was it that beneficial to filter just a bit of the water?

[Dave53-7C]

But if you keep scooping and cleaning, the mix will eventually be cleaner than if you did nothing. Do you agree?

[51hornetA]

The Hudson oil system is a closed circuit which is under pump pressure meaning that eventually all the oil is pumped through the system. Is it perfect? no but its better than not filtering and the fact we change our oil often helps and having the backup of catching particulants is a good thing. I had my hoses made by the guy who relined my brakes he used reinforced lines he tells me I am good to more than 500 Ibs I told him I didn't think I would get that high.

[hudsonguy]

Dan,

Makes sense to me also that some filtering is better than no filtering, so I also have a partial flow filter on my '49. To what extent......who knows. I heard all the stories of broken lines, so I also used hi performance reinforced flexible lines that I had done at the local Parker store. I'm not too worried about those lines letting go.

My '95 S-10 is a different story though. I lost one of the remote filter lines at about 60mph after just merging into freeway traffic. Big cloud of smoke in the rear view mirror, no oil pressure, etc. Just switched it off and coasted to a safe stop, so luckily no further damage done. Woudn't have wanted to been following me at the time....what a mess. Now I see the other line is oozing pretty good, so I better get to that one soon. Just really poor quality crimps and materials, so it's no wonder they let go over time. I'd rather work on my Hudson ANY day, but I end up spending most of my wrench time on my later model 'modern' cars!

[Uncle Josh]

Your local fuel oil furnace supply co. should have flexible braided hi-pressure fuel lines.

[37 Terraplane#2]

Any truck shop can make you up what you need on the spot while you wait if your parts house can't. They will have ends that go to brass fittings.That's the only kind legal on big rigs