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Oil Filters - They are not all Equal (Clic aquí para Español)
The oil filter must be as good as the oil you use. Many of the filters in the local market have relief valves that do not close, allowing dirty oil to circulate all the time. Some have 3 times the filter media to last longer.
Here we can see various filters that have been purchased in the local market and cut open for evaluation. All of these are supposed to be the equivalents of the PH-8A. Those that appear bigger frequently have bigger springs inside to fill the canister.
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Fram (Brazil)
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End caps:
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Cardboard - very weak
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Length of element:
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109 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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84 mm
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Number of pleats:
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59
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Depth of pleats:
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20.75 mm
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Density of paper:
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11.45 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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2620 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Rubber
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Comments Oil can easily drain back into the oil pan during the night to leave the engine oil starved the next morning.
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Union (Asia)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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107 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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82 mm
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Number of pleats:
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72
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Depth of pleats:
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16.15 mm
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Density of paper:
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14.00 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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2442 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments: Even though the seal is steel on steel, the valve sealed in our tests.
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Luber Finer (U.S.A)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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101 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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83.4 mm
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Number of pleats:
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47
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Depth of pleats:
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20.20 mm
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Density of paper:
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14.37 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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1880 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Rubber on steel
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Comments: This new design uses a wide metal valve that pushes agaist the top of the filter. When the oil pressure rises to the correct point, the top of the filter depresses and allows the oil to pass. Internal Luber Finer documents say this has proven to be more exact in controling pressure.
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Luber Finer (U.S.A)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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101 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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83.4 mm
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Number of pleats:
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47
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Depth of pleats:
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20.20 mm
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Density of paper:
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14.37 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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1880 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Rubber on steel
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Comments: The rubber seal of the relief valve sealed agaist the metal. The surface area is less than some others, but it seems enough if a good oil is used.
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Mann (Brasil)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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123 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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84.20 mm
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Number of pleats:
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60
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Depth of pleats:
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19.50 mm
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Density of paper:
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11.45 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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2831 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Rubber on steel
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Comments : An excellent rubber on steel valve. Also the filter with the highest filter area.
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JHF (Corea)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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112 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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84.50 mm
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Number of pleats:
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49
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Depth of pleats:
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16.15 mm
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Density of paper:
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12.66 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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1741 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments : Even though the relief valve is steel on steel, it appeared to seal well in our test.
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Tecfil (Brasil)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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117 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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87.00 mm
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Number of pleats:
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66
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Depth of pleats:
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18.63 mm
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Density of paper:
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11.45 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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1741 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel on rubber
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Comments: Although the seal is dependent on the metal to metal contact, the filter tested sealed well.
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Fil (Korea) (Label says Toyota)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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90 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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71.50 mm
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Number of pleats:
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35
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Depth of pleats:
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15.00 mm
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Density of paper:
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14.44 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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920 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments: Steel on steel relief valves failed to seal in the 3 filters examined. This leaves dirty oil circulating throughout the engine all of the time.The cartridge used in this filter is the same as in most of the other filters produced by this company. the only difference is the length of the spring.Although the outside filter size is the same as most of the rest, this filter only has about 30% of the filter area of the best.in the group.
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Fil (Korea) (Label says Toyota)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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90 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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71.50 mm
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Number of pleats:
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35
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Depth of pleats:
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15.00 mm
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Density of paper:
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14.44 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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920 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments: Steel on steel relief valves failed to seal in the 3 filters examined. This leaves dirty oil circulating throughout the engine all of the time.
The cartridge used in this filter is the same as in most of the other filters produced by this company. the only difference is the length of the spring.
Although the outside filter size is the same as most of the rest, this filter only has about 30% of the filter area of the best.in the group.
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Fil (Korea) (Label says FRAM)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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90 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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80.0 mm
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Number of pleats:
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39
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Depth of pleats:
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10.40 mm
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Density of paper:
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14.44 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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722 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments: Steel on steel relief valves failed to seal in the 3 filters examined. This leaves dirty oil circulating throughout the engine all of the time.
This cartridge is different from the others made by FIL, with less filter area than the others.
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FDP (Bolivia)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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110 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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81.60 mm
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Number of pleats:
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53
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Depth of pleats:
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19.00 mm
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Density of paper:
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12.18 mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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2175 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments: The steel on steel relief valve sealed on the filter we tested.
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LYS (Peru)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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83.00 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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82.00 mm
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Number of pleats:
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45
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Depth of pleats:
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13.40 mm
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Density of paper:
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___ mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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1000 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments: The steel on steel relief valve failed in our tests.
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LYS (Peru)
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End caps:
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Steel
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Length of element:
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80.00 mm
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Exterior diameter of element:
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92.00 mm
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Number of pleats:
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42
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Depth of pleats:
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15.00 mm
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Density of paper:
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___ mg/cm2
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Total surface area of element:
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900 cm2
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By-Pass Valve:
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Steel on steel
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Comments: The steel on steel relief valve failed in our tests.
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