An oil degradation suppressor according to one aspect of the present invention contains a reactant having an ability to adsorb a given component in an oil such as an acidic anion, and a gel-like material to hold the reactant. The reactant is preferably a hydrotalcite-like compound. The gel-like material contains a highly heat resistive gel and an amphiphilic solvent. A gel-like member containing the reactant and the gel-like material is disposed in a casing, and thereby an oil filter is provided. The gel-like material can work for supporting the reactant suitably.

A filtration monitoring system is an electronic system control module installed on an internal combustion engine or within a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine. The filtration monitoring system monitors the health and status of the filtration systems present on the engine. The filtration monitoring system tracks filter loading patterns and predicts remaining service life of the filters by running smart algorithms based on sensor feedback (e.g., pressure sensor feedback, fluid quality characteristic sensor feedback, etc.). In some arrangements, the described filtration monitoring systems provide feedback as to whether a genuine (i.e., authorized, OEM approved, etc.) or unauthorized filter cartridge is installed in a given filtration system. The filtration monitoring system may be retrofit into an existing internal combustion engine or vehicle that does not already have a filtration monitoring system.

An oil filter arrangement for filtering oil of a vehicle can comprise: at least one filter unit for filtering the oil, and at least one connection unit comprising at least one inlet tube configured to be connected with an outlet tube of a separate oil pump, wherein the oil filter arrangement is configured to be housed in an oil filter arrangement housing of the vehicle.

A system includes an oil catch compartment, at least one magnetic stud or rod, a motor compartment, and a switch. The oil catch compartment includes a first end configured for coupling to an oil filter. The at least one magnetic stud or rod is positioned along a sidewall of the oil catch compartment. The motor compartment includes a gearbox shaft and a puncturing device. The gearbox shaft is telescopically coupled to a second end of the oil catch compartment. The puncturing device is coupled to the gearbox shaft and positioned at least partially within the housing of the motor compartment or the oil catch compartment. The switch is formed on an outside surface of a battery compartment and communicatively connected to a motor coupled to the gearbox shaft. The switch is actuatable to cause the motor to advance the puncturing device via the gearbox shaft.

A working fluid monitoring system for monitoring a working fluid of working fluid system of a piece of equipment is provided. The working fluid monitoring system can include a filter member having an inlet, an outlet, and a filter media disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The filter member can be configured to permit fluid communication of the working fluid of the working fluid system from the inlet, through the filter media, and out the outlet of the filter member. A sensor is in operable communication with the working fluid within the filter member and is configured to monitor in situ a parameter of the working fluid and/or the working fluid system.

Methods and systems are provided for filtering an oil dilution amount based on a current value of the oil dilution amount. In one example, filtering the oil dilution amount may include decreasing a sensitivity of filtering at lower oil dilution below a threshold; otherwise, increasing the sensitivity of filtering. The sensitivity of the filtering may be decreased by implementing a larger time constant, while the sensitivity of the filtering may be increased by implementing a smaller time constant.

An engine assembly includes an air-cooled engine and an external oil reservoir. The engine includes a vertically-oriented crankshaft a crankcase cover having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion of the crankcase cover and the cylinder head are located forward of a vertical plane that includes the crankshaft axis, a return pump housing formed in the exterior of the crankcase cover, a return pump positioned in the return pump housing, and a return pump inlet formed through the crankcase cover, wherein the return pump inlet is located in the front portion of the crankcase cover and the return pump inlet is located closer to the camshaft than to the crankshaft. The external oil reservoir includes an oil tank and an oil filter assembly.

A method and means are described for rapidly evacuating trapped air from the top of a top-loaded liquid filter housing. An air vent means is provided that prevents complete sealing between a bypass valve and a sealing surface on an endcap of a replaceable filter element. The air vent means enables the rapid evacuation of trapped air in the top of the housing chamber, but permits only a negligible flow rate of liquid, for example oil, through the air vent means once air is evacuated due to high viscosity ratio of liquid, such as oil, versus air.

The present invention teaches a method and apparatus to quickly and inexpensively implement advanced, bypass grade, fine, or additional filtration to engines and hydraulic systems using any filter media through a single conduit means. The present invention has the ability to make quick hydraulic connection to the engine or hydraulic system, where oil is super cleaned, without major modifications as is the paradigm by traditional bypass filtration systems and without removing any lubricant from the engine or system that the present invention is connected to, as is the paradigm of traditional bypass filtering systems. When connected to the normally provided stud for the spin-on oil filter in an engine or hydraulic system, the net effect of interest to the present invention is that by simply placing the adapter at the point of connection of the spin-on oil filter, many of the necessary plumbing associated with the traditional bypass filter installation is obviated, as is the energy and labor intensive process of seeking for a pressure point and a return of the oil. For canister type filters in engine or other applications, a single access point to the lubrication system is all that is needed. The present invention relies on the variable pressure of the working fluid, be it engine oil or hydraulic fluid, to route through a single bidirectional conduit means first to route to the high efficiency filter an amount of dirty oil and then to return same amount minus the inside volume of the single conduit an amount of super filtered oil from a combination of an accumulator, a high efficiency filter media and strategically located check valves to control such bidirectional flows through the single connection conduit.

A method for determining a degree of loading on a filter medium of a filter device on a vehicle through which a fluid flows includes determining an operating characteristic of the filter device based on at least one operating quantity of the vehicle and comparing a predefined reference characteristic of the filter device with the operating characteristic. The degree of loading is derived from a result of the comparing step.