How to Choose the Right Oil Filtration Equipment?

Learn how to ｓｅｌｅｃｔ the right oil filtration equipment by diagnosing contamination sources, matching proper technology, and avoiding costly purchase mistakes.

Buying filtration equipment isn't the goal — solving oil contamination and keeping equipment healthy is. Don't follow trends or base decisions on price alone. Instead, take a professional, data-driven approach.

Step 1: Clarify Your Needs

Before contacting suppliers, define your actual requirements. These four questions form your foundation.

1. Why Do You Need Filtration?

Maintenance filtration: Keeps oil clean to extend oil and equipment life.

Emergency filtration: Restores heavily contaminated oil (water ingress, sludge, dark color).

Common contaminants:

Solid particles: metal debris, dust, seal wear

Water: free, emulsified, or dissolved

Others: gum, sludge, oxidation by-products

2. What Type of Oil Is Filtered?

Different oils need different systems.

Oil type: hydraulic, gear, turbine, or transformer oil

Viscosity: key parameter (check ISO VG or SAE grade, e.g., VG32, VG68)

Temperature: affects viscosity and filtration efficiency

3. How Clean Must the Oil Be?

Define a measurable target.

Follow ISO 4406, which rates particle counts at 4µm, 6µm, and 14µm.

Precision hydraulics: ISO 15/13/10

Gearboxes: ISO 18/16/13

Refer to OEM manuals or industry standards to set your cleanliness level.

4. What Are the Site Conditions?

Flow rate: equipment flow (L/min) ≈ 1/5–1/10 of tank capacity (L)

Power supply: 220V or 380V, air source availability

Space & fittings: check installation area and connector sizes

Step 2: Match the Right Technology

Once needs are clear, choose equipment that fits.

Pump Type

Gear pump: economical for low-/medium-viscosity oils

Screw pump: quiet, durable, ideal for thicker oils

Pneumatic pump: explosion-proof, air-driven

Filter Core

Precision (µm): Choose by ISO target; ISO 15/13/10 usually needs a 3µm filter (β₃ ≥1000)

β Value: Measures efficiency; β₃=1000 means 99.9% removal

Materials:

Glass fiber – high precision, long life

Plant fiber – absorbs water, short life

Stainless mesh – washable, for coarse filtration

Dehydration Options

Coalescing separation: removes free/emulsified water efficiently

Vacuum dehydration: removes dissolved water and air; top performance for transformer and turbine oils

Optional Features

Heater: improves flow in cold or high-viscosity oil

Online particle/moisture monitor: tracks cleanliness in real time

Mobile cart: easy movement, stable design

Step 3: Make a Smart Purchase

1. Focus on Total Cost, Not Price

Cheap equipment with costly filter elements or downtime ends up expensive. Evaluate total ownership cost.

2. Confirm Filter Accuracy

Ask for the β value, not just micron size. A high-β 3µm filter outperforms a low-β 1µm filter.

3. Check After-Sales Service

Is support available? Are filter elements standard or proprietary? Are manuals provided?

4. Compare Proposals

Send your specs to several reputable suppliers. Compare pump type, β value, flow rate, and support terms.

5. Consider Integrated Systems

For beginners, all-in-one units combining coarse/fine filtration, dehydration, heating, and protection are practical and efficient.

Five-Step Checklist

Gather data on oil specs, OEM standards, and conditions.

Define target cleanliness and flow rate.

Research professional suppliers.

Compare technical setups and lifetime cost.

Test performance, if possible, before purchase.

Final Tip

The right oil filtration system is an investment, not an expense.

It protects machinery, extends oil life, and cuts downtime — turning clean oil into long-term reliability and savings.