In rereading my post in which I wrote:
There are only a few design parameters, right? (Operational pressure
range, threads, oil seal, oil flow direction, presence of a check
valve.)
I realized I missed at least two parameters and badly stated at least one
other:
threads - should be more like "diameter and pitch of spin-on threads"
oil seal - should be "cartridge diameter"
I missed operational flow volume range and cartridge length
Okay, so there are a fair number of design parameters, and I'm no
mechanical/fluids engineer, so I may well have missed more. Still, a
relatively small number of filter cartridges ought to fit most
applications. All engines get by with a very few number of different motor
oil grades and viscosities. My guess is that the oil filter suffers from
incomplete or non-existent standardization.
--
Skip Montanaro (montanaro@ausable.crd.ge.com)
Now working for Automatrix. Details at 11.
|