Oil Guard vs. Amsoil bypass/remote filter?

[cowboyjack]

I have done a ton of searching and read every thread on this I could, but I wanna pick the brains of you all that are running bypass and remote oil filters.

I am thinking of using an Amsoil BMK 13 type of remote filter and bypass filter dual set up on an A3.

www.amsoil.com/storefront/bf.aspx

I looked at the oilguard set up, but the Amsoil seems to filter better?

I know some folks like Drivbiwire have used the oilguard for many miles, what are your long term thoughts on both systems?

My concerns are:
1. Driving for hours in the 100+ degree heat of Southern Arizona.
2. Extending the life of my A3 past 250,000 miles.
3. Filtering the soot as much as possible, reducing engine wear.

I have a 98 Jetta TDI with the AHU engine that I picked up with 48,000 miles on it in 2006, am now up to 70,000. I drive it like I stole it, over-maintain it with regular changes of Rotella T 5/40wt synthetic oil, filters, etc.

I have new Sprint 520 nozzles and plan to add a mufflerectomy and a mild Aligator tune, shooting for about 110/120 hp with about 200 ft/lbs of torque. Will add EGT, boost, oil temp and pressure guages.

Also thinking about a Cat 2 fuel filter and EGR delete and/or CCV filter.

Suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your time and your advice.

 

[Drivbiwire]

Regular changes should mean every 10,000 miles (not a bit sooner), I have been using the Delvac 1 5w40 and run out to as much as 25,000 miles if I am doing extensive highway driving. With most of my driving in town lately with very short trips I am limiting the oil changes to 10,000-15,000 miles.

The Rotella ie good for 10,000 - 15,000 miles with your style of driving, any sooner than that and you are just wasting oil and not affording your engine ANY benefit if anything you are increasing wear by virtue of not letting the oil additives stabilize...over maintaining is another word for damaging a motor with the best of intentions.

With the new Sprint nozzles, a by-pass and sticking with a 5w40 (Rotella or M1) would be a good idea. Again limit the oil changes to around 10,000 miles use the Mann or Mahle oil filters OR a Napa Gold.

With any set of nozzles get them spray checked and pressure tested every 50,000 miles. If you see excessive smoke check them earlier if not now! It doesn't matter where you get them this is your insurance against cylinder/ring damage from poor combustion.

Don't worry about the gages, install JUST the EGT pre-turbo. Bottom line is without a digital boost gage the information is almost meaningless, again EGT is the big one on your car.

What engine do you have in your 1998? Is it a 1Z (in which case you have a 1997) or do you have an AHU? It's important because the two turbos have different temperature ranges (1Z is 1550F continious vs the AHU at 1650F continious). Also the 1Z has a lower pressure pump vs the AHU which is 2,000 psi higher and also has a reinforced pump housing to handle the pressure (identical in function to the ALH).

CCV...leave it alone.

Cat 2 filter... DO IT!

EGR, turn it down, clean the intake and ports....leave it alone since with ULSD it won't be an issue as long as you drive the car properly (or like Micheal Andretti).

By the way it doesnt matter where you live your engine always runs at the same temperature, you also have a coolant to oil heat exchanger meaning the oil temperature is also regulated and make not distinction as to where it's being driven...for all your motor knows it's in Alaska.

DB

 

[cowboyjack]

Thanks DB, that's the sort of info. I need.

 

[Drivbiwire]

If you are gonna be running between Phoenix and Tucson at 120 mph look into a thicker (larger) oil to coolant heat exchanger. This would help to keep the oil nearer to the coolant temperatures during long periods of high speed driving in the heat.

This also reduces the warm up time on the oil so you can get the oil up to temperature quicker during the cool seasons.

DB

 

[weedeater]

The amsoil unit, being a bit larger, will give you more oil volume. This would be a good thing with the high speeds. You might also look for one of those slip-on aluminum heat exchanger fin-things designed to push on to oil filters. You then mount the bypass unit up under the fender and add these fins which would help in cooling.

 

[cowboyjack]

Thanks guys,

DB, I rarely go over 105.

Do any of you have the larger, thicker, coolant/oil exchanger? I read the thread about the alternatives to the dieselgeek kit awhile back, the Passat V6 one, or the Toureg one, (part number 038117021B), but no one ever said for sure it was working on an A3 with the AHU, just A4s.

 

[Drivbiwire]

I have a larger heat exchanger from DieselGeek. Don't go too big or else the oil filter won't fit!

I use OEM filters to limit the length for ease of replacement.

DB