Generator Wear Increasing? Match Oil Filter Elements by Micron Rating & β Value
August 13, 2023
Diesel/gas generators run at constant speed for long hours. Oxidation byproducts and fine metal debris accumulate, causing rising noise, bearing wear, and unstable oil pressure. Filtration grade and β value decide whether abrasive particles reach critical clearances.
Use 10 μm β≥200 main filters (≥99.5% efficiency at 10 μm). For dusty sites or high load variation, upgrade to β≥1000. Choose synthetic or glass-fiber composites to handle oil temps up to ~110°C.
Replacement is typically 250–300 hours, but a better method is ΔP + oil analysis. Replace early if particle counts/ferrograms rise or ΔP>0.3 MPa. Adding 3–5 μm bypass fine filtration continuously cleans oil and can extend drain intervals by 1.5–2× while reducing ring/bearing wear.
