1 filter, 3 OCIs

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sir1900

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Lexus wants 5000 mile OCI (Canadian maintenance schedule).

So I'm visiting your wonderful country for the week and stopped in at Walmart to pick up a Fram Ultra XG9972 cartridge-type filter for the Lexus.

Question: Could one conceivably do 3 OCIs at 5000 miles each? I'm thinking it probably can as the filter doesn't have a clue how many OCIs you are doing over the life of the filter itself.

I want to reiterate. This has absolutely nothing to do with cost. I'm saying this because someone here will use the "cheap insurance" argument -- I understand your position if you subscribe to it. But it's all about whether or not you need to change the filter when the box says it can go 15k. Also, its about saving resources too. No point changing a filter out at 5 or 10k when it can go 15k.

It's a very impressive looking filter for sure.
 
YES, YES, YES, YES !!!!!!!!!

I do 3 OCI's (20K miles) on an oversized Purolator Classic on our Hondas.
7K miles, 7K miles and 6K miles.
 
You are correct: the filter knows no difference, whether you run it for one 15,000 mile OCI or whether you run it for three 5,000 mile OCIs. An oil change in and of itself should never be the reason to change a filter (in my opinion). Filters aren't good for a certain number of oil changes. They're good for a certain number of miles. It's convenient to change the filter during an oil change, but if you have a filter that is durable to 10,000 or 15,000 miles, and you change it every 5,000, you're simply using more money and resources that you need to.

Does Fram specify 15,000 miles on the box? I'd certainly be comfortable running it for at least 10,000 miles. With your car having a cartridge filter design, you can inspect the filter at 10,000 miles and evaluate how it's performing.
 
I run my OEM (Mopar) cartridge filters for my chargers for two 5k OCI's and they look fine upon inspection, I would say yes, the fram cartridge equivalent on my vehicle appears to be better built than the mopar filter.
 
I think that this may be the thread that finally sends BOF over the edge! This should be interesting.
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Possible, but I wouldnt. I end up changing my filter 3 times per OCI due to clogging due to some odd gumming problem supposedly attributable to ethanol fuel. Thats a wix engineered paper element.
 
The filter is certainly capable, the only downside really IMO is you're leaving a good bit of old oil in the system when you change it (what's in the filter plus whatever the filter is holding in the top of the engine) and that is in addition to the fact you can't get ALL the old oil out anyway.

In my Jeep that works out to over half a quart, so I've now discontinued the practice of leaving the filter on.
 
I would say, given the conditions you specifically state, then "yes" the FCI = 3x OCI.

The filter you mention is a premium one; good efficiency rating and a very high holding capacity.
The engine in question is a clean running one.
The OCI is "normal" and so 3x that is not out of the question.
The oil in your ride is a good one.

I'll add that for this to be true, we must rule out the topic of unwanted contamination (coolant, dirt, fuel) that is beyond "normal" rates of healthy engines.


For reference, as an andecdotal note, my 2000 Galant recommends an OCI of 7.5k miles, and an FCI of 15k miles for "normal" use. And they make no mention of the need for premium filter; just the use of any filter meeting their OEM criteria, of which a multitude of "normal" filters meet. I will be testing this in upcoming used oil analysis to see if wear can be accentuated one way or another with longer O/FCIs. Considering running Classic filters for this trial, but have yet to make up my mind. It will be a normal and not premium filter, whatever I choose.

Also, I am currently running a M/C FL400 out towards 15k miles (along with the conventional oil) in my wife's van to test the bounds of "normal". I want to see localized singular data that echos my mass-market macro data for wear trending. If you feel this heresy is beyond your ability to stomach the details, avert your eyes from the horror! Good, bad or indifferent, I will post when those used oil analysis come due.

And so, in a friendly manner, I throw down the gauntlet and challenge you to run 15k miles with your Ultra! I triple-dog-dare you! You ain't chicken, are ya?
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Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
I think that this may be the thread that finally sends BOF over the edge! This should be interesting.
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Originally Posted By: dnewton3
The oil in your ride is a good one.

And so, in a friendly manner, I throw down the gauntlet and challenge you to run 15k miles with your Ultra! I triple-dog-dare you! You ain't chicken, are ya?
grin2.gif



If the oil can take it, should quadruple-dog-dare to run 2 each 7500 OCIs with the oil to give 2 OCIs on the Ultra for 15K.
 
seems with more media we could get to a 30,000 oil mile filter (I dont believe the little bit of old oil has any significance.

My 1979 fuel injected VW called for a FUEL filter change every 15000 miles. (obscessive?)
My 94 Toy camry had NO specified FUEL filter change frequency, we drove it to 188000 miles and sold it without a change on the fuel filter
 
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Originally Posted By: edwardh1
seems with more media we could get to a 30,000 oil mile filter (I dont believe the little bit of old oil has any significance).


According to dnewton, old oil that still has life doesn't cause as much wear.
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Originally Posted By: sir1900
the box says it can go 15k.


The box states: "provides greater than 15,000 miles of engine protection*"
"*Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle's owner's manual"

I do not see where 15,000 miles is recommended in your application.
 
What, no replies to my latest self portrait I took? You're not scared of what I look like, huh?

If the OP wants reassurance to what he is asking, who am I to give him advice or reassure him that his intentions are/will be ok. If he has not performed the task he is asking about, how will he know unless he tries it? Only time will tell if his intentions will provide the answers he is looking for.
 
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