WIX Filters shared information on filtration maintenance and filter composition with more than 20 technician educators at the Mooresville, N.C., campus of NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech), a division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI), as part of the company’s alliance in education with NASCAR Tech and UTI campuses nationwide.

The training session, led by WIX’s manager of technical services and customer training Paul Bandoly, covered the importance of filtration maintenance and service, along with technical information on the composition of multiple types of filters.

Bandoly reminded technician educators of two critical terms in filtration – efficiency and capacity: efficiency is the term used to describe a filter’s ability to filter micron-sized contaminants, particles smaller than white blood cells; capacity is the amount of contaminant that a filter will hold. For example, once an oil filter has reached its maximum level of capacity, the oil will no longer be filtered.

“Taking a dirty air filter out and banging it on a bumper won’t do anything but damage the filter,” Bandoly told attendees. “You’re only removing the dirt on the outside when you blow compressed air or try to clean an air filter in another manner; you’re not removing the micron-sized contaminants trapped in the filter media.”

Bandoly fields hundreds of questions from installers and car enthusiasts, many of which cover the installation of filters. He offered the instructors of a few tips, including the importance of following installation directions and how to properly tighten spin-on oil filters.

“The most efficient tool to add to your toolbox for ensuring a spin-on oil filter is tightened properly is a silver Sharpie®,” recommended Bandoly. “Spin the oil filter on the engine until gasket contact; then mark the filter at 12 o'clock with a Sharpie and finish tightening per the filter's instructions. With the mark, you know exactly how far you've turned the filter thereby helping to prevent over tightening or under tightening."

Technicians should only use replacement filters for applications recommended by the manufacturer and never try to make a filter work for an application for which it is not designed. This is important because today’s filters are engineered specifically for each application and are changing as fast as engine designs, such as the return of the cartridge style oil filter.

“Two generations of technicians have never seen or touched a cartridge style oil filter, which are making a strong comeback on domestic and foreign nameplate models, including Ford, Toyota, Volvo, BMW and Mercedes,” Bandoly said. “The most important thing to remember when conducting filter maintenance is – if the manufacturer put parts, like o-rings and instructions, in the box, use them. They are in the box for a reason.”

WIX recommends that technicians and vehicle owners always follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations, from installation to service intervals.

“If you want to use synthetic oils and filters to extend your oil changes, make sure you conduct lab analysis on the oil along the way,” added Bandoly. “This step is crucial in ensuring the cleanliness of your oil and the safety of your engine.”

To learn more about filtration, sign-up for the WIX Filtration eLearning Center, the industry’s only online filtration education program, at www.wixconnect.com.

NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech), a division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI), has an exclusive educational alliance with NASCAR. Located in Mooresville, NC, NASCAR Tech is the only school of its kind that combines automotive training and a NASCAR-approved technologies curriculum into one program. Students learn the basics of engine construction, lubrication systems, chassis fabrication, dyno testing, racing theory principles, NASCAR rules and regulations, as well as the teamwork needed in today's automotive and racing industries. Universal Technical Institute, Inc. a leading provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, also offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at nine other campuses through several well-known brands -- Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Marine Mechanics Institute and Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) -- and manufacturer-sponsored advanced programs at 19 dedicated training centers. For more information, visit www.uti.edu.

Since 1939, Wix® Filters has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks and off-road equipment. WIX, a member of the Affinia family of brands, is the number one filter in NASCAR and an exclusive NASCAR Performance Product. Its NASCAR relationship also includes the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award, which recognizes the drivers leading the most laps in each race. For more information, visit www.wixfilters.com.

Affinia Group Inc. is a global leader in the on- and off-highway replacement products and service industries. In North America the Affinia family of brands includes WIX® filters, Raybestos®, AIMCO® and BrakePro® brake products, and McQuay-Norris® and Spicer® chassis parts. South American and European brands include Nakata®, Filtron®, Urba® and Quinton Hazell®. For more information, visit www.affiniagroup.com.