Toilet Paper Size?

So what is all this hype about toilet paper size? Let’s talk a bit about the history of toilet paper for the past 25 years.

Originally, all toilet paper companies manufactured their toilet paper to be 1000 perforated sheets at the same uniform size of 4-1/2” wide with a center cardboard tube of 1-1/2” inside diameter. This made all the packaging the same size on the grocery shelf. So why did it change? You did have a choice between single or double rolls.

One manufacturer decided if he increased the center inside diameter of the cardboard tube it would cause the overall roll to be larger with the same 1000 sheets. This was sure to increase sales for buyers would believe they are getting more paper for their money. Not so! They are only getting more air inside the cardboard center tube.

The idea caught on and the center tubes began to increase in size from 1.5” to 1.6”, 1.7” and even more. One even did away with a center cardboard tube. It was a crazy business. They went from a plain paper to an embossed and on to fancy patterns creating a softness but another way to take thin paper look thicker and softer.

Over recent years it has really gotten bad. Now the width is no longer 4-1/2” wide. Commercial paper went to a 4.2” and even 4.0” and smaller. It is obvious when installing a new roll on the holder as it can slide sideways back and forth. Some rolls are too large they no longer even fit in the holder and cannot turn.

Just when you thought this foolishness was done and they could do no more, you are wrong! Now there are rolls where they shortened each square but kept the packaging labeled “1000” sheets! So you now have a single thickness section (not square) that is 4” or less wide and less than 4” long but still packaged as 1000 sheets . . . maybe. Next, the 1000 sheets will no longer be available.

How does this affect the popular Refiner bypass oil filter invented by John Frantz?  Mr. Frantz’ original filter he invented over 50 years ago was a by-pass oil filter meaning it was the second or additional filter used on a vehicle’s engine and filtered engine oil utilizing a standard roll of toilet paper as the filter media being 4.5” with a 1.5” center tube. This was important because his original design had a center metal tube that the toilet paper slipped over. Since he wanted the oil to pass vertically through the turns of the roll of paper he had to make sure no oil went down the cardboard tube and returned back to the engine unfiltered.

 This worked perfectly while the paper roll had a 1.5” center but when they began to increase the center core size now oil can sneak through unfiltered.

There were a couple design changes.

 First, the inside gasket/seal was eliminated in lieu of a sharp collar that pierced the first few turns of toilet paper against the cardboard core when the roll was made.

 Next, a 3” metal sleeve was introduced that had a 1.5” I.D. and an O.D. that matched the center size of your toilet paper cardboard core you are using. This sleeve effectively made the filter metal tube believe it was thicker thus eliminating any leakage through the toilet paper center core. This system is still in use today for those who own the older model filters sometimes referred to as the SKY filter when sold by SKY Corporation or Frantz distributors.

What is the status today?

 In 2014, Ed introduced a brand new design called the Refiner by John Frantz. This design was Mr. Frantz’ latest and best design he invented prior to his death. It is manufactured and only available from the Toilet Paper Oil Filter Company of Southern California owned by Ed Greany.

Ed is no newcomer to the product by John Frantz. He began using the original filter back in 1960 as a young teen on his 1951 Chevy. After he served in the Navy Submarine Service and retired as a fraud investigator, he became a distributor in 2000 and eventually became the manufacturer and introduced the Refiner by John Frantz in 2014.

This improved design does not have an issue with oil sneaking down the cardboard tube and in fact, that is actually how the oil flows in this filter. There are no internal parts to this filter other than the two fine and coarse screens the toilet paper rests upon. This means no pull tab to pull the paper out of the canister, no split ring to seal the outer edge of the toilet paper against the canister, no sleeve to seal the inside diameter of the toilet paper cardboard tube. Further, the Refiner by John Frantz oil filter is manufactured utilizing superior resource materials.

The filter base is an improved cast aluminum design that has a 1” “wall” to catch any drips when changing the toilet paper during servicing. It is very slightly larger to accept the full toilet paper roll eliminating unwinding and destroying up to 50 turns of paper from a fresh roll. The canister cannot rust any longer. Mr. Frantz even introduced some cooling fins that go down through the center of the canister to help cool the hot oil as it goes through the filter.

The Refiner by John Frantz canister is made of solid stainless steel and to make it even better Ed hires a man to manually polish each canister to a highly polished finish that actually looks like the canister is chrome plated but it is not. It is simply polished and looks like a jewel under your vehicle hood. The canister and filter base is assembled together utilizing a waste band and T-bolt with screw knob. Servicing this filter is the easiest ever. Simply place a new roll of toilet paper centered on the aluminum filter base, cover it with the canister and clamp it. That’s it. You’re done. There is no longer a need to add a quart of oil for each servicing. Some owners like Ed doesn’t even change their engine oil since the Refiner by John Frantz keeps their oil “analytically clean” as evidenced by their routine lab oil sample analyses. If you would like more information about Ed’s Refiner oil filter installation kit by John Frantz you may reach him on the phone at (951) 897-4153 or via email at crest25@verizon.net.

Mr. Perry authorized the posting of his memo and photos for the benefit of other Duramax owners who wish to install a Refiner oil filter by John Frantz.