When it comes to quality oil, the name Hot Shot’s Secret (HSS) is regarded as one of the best by diesel truck owners. But other than the top-of-the-line oil and fuel additives they offer, what else could Hot Shot’s Secret have that could help your truck last longer and run cleaner? The oil filter system is a secondary filtration kit that can clean the oil you buy off of the shelf so it is a cleaner, better oil than when purchased. But how is that possible?

Oil Filter System In A Box

This filtration system does not replace the OE-mounted filter. It is an additional filter. How it works is, once the oil has run through the engine, it makes its way up to the primary engine oil filter. Once it makes its pass through that, it heads directly into the bypass oil filter system where it filters roughly 10 percent of the oil circulation and cleans it. After it super cleans the engine oil during this secondary filtration, it is plumbed back into the engine through the oil fill cap.

Since it’s only filtering 10 percent of the oil as it circulates, it will take some run time to super clean the system. However, it will not take long before the oil is cleaned.

Engine oil will not last forever. Conventional oil will eventually break down and lose its viscosity and the important additives that protect the engine. But with this kit, we will be adding Hot Shot’s Secret Blue Diamond engine oil. This synthetic oil is better than any conventional oil and with proper filtration and sampling, We plan to keep this oil in the engine for as long as possible. By testing the oil at roughly 5,000-mile intervals, we should be able to keep an eye on all of the additive levels of the oil and then add whatever is needed to bring this oil back to within spec. This filtering process removes the foreign particles and water from the oil that can damage the engine. This oil filter system captures carbon soot, gum residues, water, abrasives, and small metal pieces without degrading the detergents and additives in the oil.

The Cost Difference In Oil Changes 

At the end of the day, replacement engines for any truck is not cheap. Making sure they are fed with quality oil is important. On average, a replacement engine could be near the $10,000 mark — and that does not include labor to install it. So, proper maintenance is paramount to ensure it lasts a long time.

Before we explain the assumed cost of maintenance using this oil filter system system, I want to clarify how I came up with these costs based on average use. You may not have to initially change your oil based on the analysis data, but I did factor in the cost of one oil and filter change. The filter media needs to be changed roughly every 10,000 miles, which calls for 10 changes for every 100,000 miles.

With this in mind, I wanted to see what the difference in a factory oil change would cost over the course of 100,000 miles versus equipping a truck with an oil filter system system. To make an apples-to-apples comparison, we will use the pricing for Hot Shot’s Blue Diamond PAO oil for both situations. The average price for a traditional engine oil filter for a truck like this is $20. At the time of this writing, the price of a gallon of Blue Diamond 15w40 engine oil is around $54.95 To make things easier, we’ll just say an even $55. To sum up, this oil change (with tax) would cost roughly $185.

With most diesel engine oils, the used oil comes out looking opaque. Hopefully, with the Frantz filter hard at work, we can rest easy knowing our oil is cleaner.

Using 100,000 miles of driving as our base, assuming we would be changing the oil every 7,500 miles per the manual, we’re looking at just over 13 oil changes. Again, to make it easy, we’ll say 13 oil changes. That cost is $2,405 per 100,000 miles of driving if you were to change the oil and filter each time.

If we are not changing the oil but using the oil filter system, a bypass media part of the system is $5.00 (times 10), there is $50. If you need any additives (TBN Booster), we’ll estimate another $90.00. This kit will have an initial purchase cost of $400. Using the same Blue Diamond oil as before, at a cost of $165 for the oil, that brings us to $705. But we also need to figure in the cost of 5,000-mile sampling.

If running oil this long, we must take oil samples to verify the detergent and TBN levels at the recommended 5,000 miles, at $44 each time, you’ll have $880 invested in testing. That brings the new total to $1,585. Based on the 100,000-mile example, you’re saving $820 using this method.

The new filter media, developed by LSI Laboratories, filters oil more than 10 times finer than an original equipment manufacturer filter – down to two microns. LSI is currently developing two additional filter media types designed for use in various applications. Also, by using the supplied containers, you can send your oil samples back for testing using the prepaid envelope.

Where Does It Go?

The installation doesn’t require a lot of time to install. In fact, in only a few minutes, this kit should be filtering oil. With all of the parts spread out on the tailgate, we first made sure we weren’t short on any parts. That is just good practice for any installation. Next was finding somewhere to mount the filter housing on the frame rail. Unfortunately, due to the oversize exhaust for our compound turbo system, there isn’t a ton of room on the frame rail.

We ended up finding a little area in front of the passenger side fender well behind the bumper. With this configuration, we can run our feed and return lines safely down next to the radiator away from any moving parts.

There are two oil lines in this kit. One will go from the OE oil filter housing and the other routes to the valve cover to return oil to the engine. Using the supplied AN and brass fittings, you’re able to plumb it virtually any way you want.

Once your connections are made, your installation is complete. All you need to do now is start the truck and confirm that you don’t have any leaks. If you don’t have any leaks, you’re ready to rock and roll. With the engine running, I pulled the 710 (oil) fill cap off just to see the oil going back into the engine and you can already see the cleaner oil returning to the engine.

If there are changes I think could be made to improve the system, my recommendation would be to change the magnet option. While the magnets are alot easier than the drill and bolt method, there is room for improvement. Specifically, I think the magnets should have some sort of swivel option. This would make it easier to twist and turn each magnet into an ideal position. I understand that they’re meant for the frame rail, but all trucks are different. Others may pick a different spot for it.

I am stoked to see how this all turned out and I can’t wait to compare my oil samples from last year to this year. We should be able to physically see the difference this oil filter system has made as I make my oil adjustments from here. If the level is low, I can add it in. I don’t see any levels being low for a while, but this is a workhorse. We will see.

For more information on the filtration kits, head on over to the Hot Shot’s Secret’s website. For more part installs, tech articles, and truck features, stay tuned right here to Diesel Army.