OC 234 Oil Filter Knecht / Mahle

Purpose of the oil filter:
The oil filter is designed to remove harmful particles from the engine oil that arise from the wear of friction surfaces, as well as the ingress of solid combustion products into the oil.

Structure of the oil filter:
The oil filter consists of a metal housing, a filtering element, and two valves: a bypass valve (sometimes called a safety or bypass valve) and a check valve (anti-drain).

Operation principle of the oil filter:
When the engine is started, the oil pump is activated, which pumps oil under pressure from the oil pan to the engine. Before entering the engine, the oil passes through the oil filter element, simultaneously being cleaned of harmful contaminants. When the filtering element is dirty or when the engine speed suddenly increases, the bypass valve is activated, ensuring oil flow to the engine. The check valve keeps oil in the filter when the engine is not running, to ensure quick establishment of the set pressure in the system during engine start.