[HWYSTR455]

2 rules of thought on this, one, you don't ever want to have unfiltered oil pass thru the engine. Two, in most cases if it does bypass the filter, it won't make enough of a diff to matter and the bypass is a level of safety.

Most oil filters do have some type of bypass built in, so...

Obviously, if the filter collapses, that's not good, and it would be better to have a bypass in that case.

You have to be mindful of you filter choice(s) and warm up procedures, especially if you block it off. Your oil psi needs to be kept in mind too.

When an engine is cold, without a bypass, you could potentially starve the engine for oil for a period of time before it reaches where it needs to be, longer than if the bypass were to open.

Filters need to have a higher burst rate rating if you block it. Or should. So it's good to know what that rating is for a filter you choose.

If the filter media filters to a refined level, it can clog faster and that would decrease oil flow, hence increase back pressure/decrease oil psi. This is one reason I don't use K&N filters, they need to be changed more frequently or they restrict flow and increase risk of blow-offs/collapse. I think the HP line does have a bypass, can't recall at the moment though.

Oil filters don't universally have a bypass valve, it can be dependent if the application is known to have a built in bypass valve or not. If you pick one for an app that is known to have a OE built in bypass, and you block the OE bypass, then you run the risk of collapse/blow-off.

This can be the case when people switch to remote filter setups, eliminating the OE bypass.

Long story short, in general, leave the OE bypass in place. IF you do choose to block it, be mindful of the filters you use.

I generally don't block them, the risk comparison to me is a wash. I do though have it blocked on my 535, but that's only because the builder chose to do so. I might change it back, but haven't gotten to that thought yet.

What's the part number on the Wix that you are using, and what are your oil change intervals?


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