Donaldson knows transmissions, and we know the best filter media to keep transmission fluid clean. Why? Because we’re industry leaders in filter media technology development and our scientists and engineers are constantly researching new and improved formulations to meet our customers’ specific needs.
Developing media technology that provides exceptional transmission fluid cleanliness and meets expected service life intervals is nothing new for our engineers. Donaldson was the first company to bring fully synthetic media to the market in the 1980s, and this media is now the standard for extended life and/or enhanced transmission and gearbox system protection needs.
We provide a variety of filter medias that have been tested and proven over time to meet the most stringent transmission system design requirements. In addition to improvements to current technology, our research team is also developing brand-new technologies that will attain even higher levels of performance to become our future “standards.”
In multiple research facilities around the world, our in-house scientists and engineers continually develop and refine a range of media options to meet the present and future requirements of our customers and the heavy-duty equipment industry.
Donaldson offers several options so OEMs can choose the best filtration media to keep their transmissions and gearboxes running smoothly. From fine fiber to synthetic to wire mesh, we have the right media for your application.
Transmissions and gearboxes experience ever-changing flow conditions. So, to better reflect these dynamic operating conditions, a new ISO standard (ISO 23369) was recently implemented. This significant development in transmission and gearbox filtration acknowledges the cyclic flow changes of real-world conditions instead of using the steady-state multipass flow standard used previously to measure performance (ISO 16889).
The change to this measurement meant that filter media technology had to change, too. It needed to perform better, offering contaminant retention under these dynamic pressure and flow conditions. By providing better protection via improved contaminant capture, our media technology will help equipment perform to expectations longer and have a lower risk of wear, damage, and unplanned downtime.
We specifically developed our groundbreaking Synteq XP media to address the numerous challenges of today’s transmission and gearbox systems. This high-performance filter media takes filtration to a higher level by providing enhanced system component protection options. These options include optimal protection via higher efficiency contaminant retention or filter life that extends up to two to three times that of traditional media. Synteq XP media offers a consistently lower pressure drop than most competitors, which reduces the reliance on bypass as it allows more oil flow during a cold start. It also results in greater system efficiency, less energy loss, and extended filter life. For best-in-class contaminant retention, Donaldson filters can be used with Synteq XP fine fiber media.
For media with predictable filtration efficiencies that remove specific contaminants and take dirt-holding capacity to the max, try Synteq synthetic media. The manmade fibers in Synteq are smooth and rounded and provide low-flow resistance. The low-inhibition fluid flow is due to the consistent shape of the fibers that allow for control of the fiber size and distribution pattern throughout the media mat. The consistency of the fiber shape maximizes contaminant capture surface area as well as specific pore size control.
Cellulose fibers are microscopic, irregularly shaped, and sized wood fibers that are held together by resin. Smaller pores in cellulose media means it often has lower beta ratings. The smaller media pores result in a higher pressure drop due to increased flow resistance. For a variety of petroleum-based fluids, cellulose provides effective filtration; however, in certain applications, it results in lower filtration performance compared to synthetic media.
Wire mesh media is available in multiple grades and consists of stainless steel, epoxy-coated wire mesh. It is typically applied to capture very large, harsh particulates that would tear normal filter media. Wire mesh media can also be useful as a coarse filter in viscous fluid applications.