Why it is necessary to quote Beta Standards when stating microns

[Kitbags Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kitbags]

Throughout many threads concerning filters the microns are mentioned when trying to compare filters but no standard efficiency ratings. Filters efficiency is mesured against a standard adopted worldwide so as to compare apples to apples. A notation of say 12 microns is only meaningful if the Beta standard or percentage efficiency is also quoted. A 10 micron filter at 2 Beta is vastly different to a 10 micron filter at 100 Beta yet both are 10 micron filters. The difference is one lets 1 in every 2 10 micron size particles pass through the filter while the other lets only 1 in every 100 10 micron size particles pass through the filter. This 2 Beta filter is 50% efficient whereas the 100 Beta filter is 99% efficient. So quoting microns then stating the efficiency is necessary. If you are buying a filter check that the manufacturer's website does provide the Beta standard or the % efficiency, if not, best to move on.
Most high end filter manufacturers have quite good information that explain this standard rating of filters. Two links from the Tool Box section of Donaldson Filters Australia website are below. This Tool Box section has other topics that are of interest. An example is the explanation of the practice of some filter manufacturers of quoting multiple micron ratings and the fact that this is not a unique feature bu just another way of stating the filters efficiency.
The second link covers new standards of bulk fuel cleanliness to specifically cater for common rail diesels. These standards are related to solving the wide spread problems of all common rail diesel manufacturers caused by any inadequate standard of cleanliness in the diesel we use. This is is also very interesting when applied to some problems experienced by PP members.Anyhow I hope reading the various topics on their website helps.
PS I have absolutely no connection in any shape or form with any filter manufacturer. I just feel that there is a need to ensure we get the information stated on filter efficiency in posts correct. Only then can the efficiency of one filter at a stated micron be meaningfully compared to another filters efficiency at the same micron.
While not a filter applicable to Prados the first link is an example of a filter brochure that provides all required information needed when deciding the best filter for your use.

http://www.donaldsontoolbox.com.au/f...ngines_AUS.pdf

http://www.donaldsontoolbox.com.au/f...gs_Nov2010.pdf

http://www.donaldsontoolbox.com.au/f...el_May2011.pdf

Here is an article which provides further information as to why the practice of merely stating microns is meaningless without (1) the fuel filters efficiency or (2) its water removal efficiency.
http://www.aftermarketsuppliers.org/...ish/89-5R3.pdf


Stating microns also does not take into account the fuel flow of the D4D motor.
A filter designed for a lower maximum fuel flow capacity than demanded by this particular engine will not perform as its manufacturer designed.
Even if the filters fuel flow is within engine specifications you need to know
what is the filter manufacturers designed service life. Do they state change it at intervals of say 5000,or 10,000 or 20,000 km? The result of a guess could be terminal for your engine components.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

You make a very good point. Most people let their butt talk with stuff.

Thats the beauty of factory filters I s'pose. Never seen a Toyota engine dusted when fitted with a factory filter and serviced correctly.

[droggy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close droggy]

well said I agree entirely, exactly the reason why Caterpillar wont give micron ratings for their filters

[Kitbags Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kitbags]

Here is a link to Donaldson Filter website Tool Box section. Notice that they state the micron and at what efficiency of the filter kit.

http://www.donaldsontoolbox.com.au/f...l_Fuel_Kit.pdf

Mann Hummel (genuine Provent manufacturers) have released an auxiliary filter kit for the D4D Prado with much the same specifications as the Donaldson unit. You could not go wrong with either. I think Fleet Guard may have one. These are top line filter manufacturers with Australian offices.They offer complete specifications for their products on their websites. I have found them to offer great advice, product knowledge and practical help whenever I have phoned with a query.
My comments are not meant to discredit other filter manufacturers or their products but to illustrate my previous thread with examples of what to look for.

[Kitbags Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kitbags]

Filters specifically designed for high injection pressure diesel engines are available. Why are these necessary?
Manufacturers of these common rail diesels have established a standard of cleanliness for diesel fuel that is to be used in these new engines.This is critical requirement for these engines to avoid component failure. It is not the composition of the diesel that is the issue but maintaining the high level of diesel cleanliness that must be achieved when used in high pressure injection systems.The fuel manufacturers supply diesel to the standard but contamination happens somewhere after that.
The specific job for an auxiliary filter is to clean the diesel fuel in your Prado's tank back to the engine manufacturers required standard of cleanliness. Mann Hummel and Donaldson websites have detailed explanations of the required clean fuel standards, the fuel contaminants and their new filters specifically designed for high pressure injection systems. Also how and where to fit them to achieve the known specific standard of clean fuel required by your engine. Both have aust offices so just phone them. Gees that reads like an ad for them. Well i don't have an interest in them.
There are probably other filter manufacturers who also have filters specifically designed to achieve the required advanced standards of fuel cleanliness demanded by these modern engines , I just know of these two from experience. The information on their websites and other unrelated sites can be used as a yardstick if you are contemplating filters from other manufacturers.
I urge you to spend time researching before fitting a second filter. Picking a filter not specifically designed for this job is risky as it could be a recipe for tears down the track.
Last edited by Kitbags; Today at 12:12 PM.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

So, are you saying that Toyota's own filtration system is not sufficient to achieve this by itself? The question must be if not then why not? If the filtration system in our Prados isn't up to the task then why hasn't Toyota done something about it. Most of us know the answer to this question already. Otherwise we would all be just wasting our money.

[Kitbags Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kitbags]

The starting point is using fuel in a high injection pressure diesel that complies with industry standard of cleanliness as this is what the modern diesel is designed to use. This standard is explained on the Donaldson website in toolbox and on other sites. My initial post an subsequent posts were done with the hope they would put members on a better understanding of the goals and the specifications needed to achieve these goals when fitting another fuel filter. The decision as to whether another filter is needed or not is up to you and if you do fit one the decision as to which one you fit is up to you. Members will investigate this subject for themselves and accept or reject the information on these websites as they see fit. The information is there I merely bring it to members attention. I am not saying or adopting a stand of a personal nature nor do I intend to debate/argue about this information.

I have not made any reference to Toyotas two fuel filters.
Have you contacted your local Toyota Australia Service Centre or Toyota Customer Service to obtain the particle micron rating and the percentage efficiency of the two standard filters fitted to the Prado? The water extraction percentage efficiency of these two filters is also required. Without knowing these statistics surely all comments on the Toyota filters are guesswork. Toyota will be the one who can answer your query regarding their product. You do say most of us know the answer otherwise we are wasting our money?

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

No, but the service manager at Goldfields Toyota recommended I fit another filter after my engine blew.

[Kitbags Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kitbags]

Firstly I am sorry to hear of your engine failure and the out pocketof cost.

Well that advice raises a few questions:-
What are the specifications of the two toyota fuel filters already fitted?
Why does he imply they are inadequate?
Did he/she tell you what filtration specifications this third filter needs to achieve and why?
Is he acting on a service bulletin from Toyota Australia or just his personal opinion?
Until the answers are known, plonking in an extra fuel filter of say 30 microns at unknown efficiency that has been designed for some unrelated older type non high pressure injection engine is questionable. These non high pressure injection engines are generally more tolerant to contaminated fuel.
So there can be no mistake, in raising these questions I do not imply his advice is either good or bad regardless if it is his or Toyota Aust advice. This is where you decide to either wade through the info yourself or simply fit the Mann Hummel filter or similar product that is specifically designed for the job of providing the standard of fuel cleanliness needed by the D4D.

https://www.mann-hummel.com/fileadmi...filters_en.pdf

Stating microns alone is totally meaningless gobbledegook. Not only do we need to know the particle and water separation efficiency but also does not take into account the fuel flow of the D4D motor. A filter designed for a lower maximum fuel flow capacity than demanded by this particular engine will not perform as its manufacturer designed. The result could be terminal for the engine.