Can I use an oil filter twice

[twX]

On most engines, I wouldn't hesitate to use a FRAM Endurance for 3 OCIs and 12k miles. On a Subaru, that filter will effectively have a lower dirt holding capacity due to the low bypass setting (11 psi vs the 23 psi Subaru spec), and the holding capacity of the Endurance is not particularly high to begin with.

I estimated the maximum initial dP for this filter on my turbo Subaru to be around 10 psi, just below the bypass setting. Your engine has a smaller oil pump, and so the dP might start out at more like 8 psi, which will give a decent margin, but bypassing will still occur before the filter hits its rated dirt holding capacity.

Subarus can also have some crazy high cold oil pressures (>150 psi), and oil filters will fatigue and weaken with pressure cycles. This is another reason not to leave a filter on these engines for a really long time.

I'd use it for a maximum of 2 OCIs, 6-8k miles to be safe.

 

[4WD]

On most engines, I wouldn't hesitate to use a FRAM Endurance for 3 OCIs and 12k miles. On a Subaru, that filter will effectively have a lower dirt holding capacity due to the low bypass setting (11 psi vs the 23 psi Subaru spec), and the holding capacity of the Endurance is not particularly high to begin with.

I estimated the maximum initial dP for this filter on my turbo Subaru to be around 10 psi, just below the bypass setting. Your engine has a smaller oil pump, and so the dP might start out at more like 8 psi, which will give a decent margin, but bypassing will still occur before the filter hits its rated dirt holding capacity.

Subarus can also have some crazy high cold oil pressures (>150 psi), and oil filters will fatigue and weaken with pressure cycles. This is another reason not to leave a filter on these engines for a really long time.

I'd use it for a maximum of 2 OCIs, 6-8k miles to be safe.

Ok, but you do understand the clean underwear principle?

 

[twX]

Don't remove the oil filter unless you plan on replacing it, as re-using it risks compromising the sealing gasket. Also, there is not much old oil left in the filter that will "contaminate" the new oil. Probably about the same amount leftover in the engine from draining.

The engine will actually hold a lot more dirty oil than the filter, usually 1-1.5 L in the engine, versus 200-300 mL for an oil filter.

If the filter isn't changed or drained, the oil might have to be changed a couple hundred miles sooner for equivalent performance. It's really nothing to worry about.

 

[John105]

Both the manufacturer and the government. The agenda is CAFE. They're in bed together on this whole deal. You basically have to be the husband that walks in and catches them.

This reminds me of the beginning of the movie HUD where Melvyn Douglas tells his grandson to go and find Hud (Paul Newman), there’s work to do on the ranch. He finds him coming out of a married woman’s house, and the husband is just pulling in. So Paul Newman being a stand up guy, blames his nephew and tells the husband he’ll take care of it as they leave….

 

[Nesterenko]

If I were to re-use a filter I would not take it off

This for sure. Most filters don't contain enough oil to worry about contamination of the new oil.

 

[Nesterenko]

TP media gets loaded the first time you use it, so you can't use it again. Oil filter media not so much.

So then there's no use emptying it. Probably less than 5% of total sump volume.

 

[billt460]

This for sure. Most filters don't contain enough oil to worry about contamination of the new oil.

On many engines oil will continue to drain from the filter nipple for a long time after the filter is removed. And once you have it off, why would you put it back on?

 

[Nesterenko]

On many engines oil will continue to drain from the filter nipple for a long time after the filter is removed. And once you have it off, why would you put it back on?

Read both of my posts. I'm certainly not advocating taking it off. I'd be concerned with the integrity of the seal. If I've got a Fram Ultra installed I'll use it for two OCI's but for me once it's off it's definitely off.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

After a change there is more old oil laying around in the upper parts of the engine than what is in the filter. If it is a small filter even less of a worry. Use that filter twice if you want. OTOH if I'm crawling under the engine to let the oil out of the engine and out of the filter, IMO you might as well change it.

the filter for the OP's Subaru is on top, but often makes a mess by flooding the cup it sits in when you unscrew it

 

[atikovi]

+1

Don't remove the oil filter unless you plan on replacing it, as re-using it risks compromising the sealing gasket. Also, there is not much old oil left in the filter that will "contaminate" the new oil. Probably about the same amount leftover in the engine from draining.

How so? Is the filter such poor quality that the gasket hardens to stone after just 3-4K miles? People reuse the aluminum drain plug washers all the time without issue and they are certainly harder than oil filter gasket.

 

[Dave Hess]

Folks I got a Fram Ultra with 73K miles off a Mazda CX5 and another Ultra on a 5.0 Mustang with 30K miles.
Both are the old school wired backed Fram Ultras.

Ultra on Mustang is currently still in use but eventually I will remove it.

Obviously these filters have multiple OCI’s.

I hit 155 miles per hour racing a Shelby GT350 and had the car at that speed for approx 2 miles.
My Coyote shifted to 10th gear and Shelby was slowly catching me on the top end.
No oil restrictions with 30K miles on this filter.

Pictures in the future….

 

[ZeeOSix]

Hello, I own a 2020 Subaru Impreza with 49k miles, I do 3-4k mile oil changes because I live in the city with lots of traffic and stop-and-go. The Fram endurance oil filter claims it can be used for 25k miles, I'm wondering if I can use it 2 or even 3 times without issues.

3 x 4K OCI = 12K on the filter. That's still only ~50% of it's max use rating. So on a 2020 Subaru with only 49K miles it should be no problem at all.

 

[oil pan 4]

I did it once. The filter looked like h3ll.

 

[carl2591]

I have reused oil filter on a 03, 7.3L PS diesel engine but I am also running a bypass filter. these FL-1995 filter do take about a qt of oil to fill,, I fill it up and let it soak in then install as they dogs are heavy full of oil.. most cars filter are like 1/4 to 1/2 of a qt at best and on a 5 qt change that like on my 15 qt change is noting in the great stream of life.. plus it save resources,, one less filter in the trash not recyclable in any way..

 

[SARG52]

Times have indeed become "tough".

 

[SARG52]

Gotta say ... I read these threads & it's beyond my comprehension ...... spending many ... many thousands of dollars for a vehicle and then reusing contaminated oil filters and even worse than that folks seem to believe the advertising for more than 10K between oik changes when the vast majority of reputable mechanics recommend 3K intervals.
Next will be reusing of tampons to save a dime.

 

[jeepman3071]

Gotta say ... I read these threads & it's beyond my comprehension ...... spending many ... many thousands of dollars for a vehicle and then reusing contaminated oil filters and even worse than that folks seem to believe the advertising for more than 10K between oik changes when the vast majority of reputable mechanics recommend 3K intervals.
Next will be reusing of tampons to save a dime.

I agree, in many cases the theme of oil being cheap and engines being expensive makes sense. I know I change the oil much earlier on my own cars and equipment than most. With that said, there are exceptions. Honda has recommended for years to change the oil filter every other oil change, and a lot of commercial lawn equipment engines will recommend an oil change every 50-100 hours and filter change every 200 hours. There is a big difference between someone using a better filter that can go the distance for 2 changes such as a Fram Endurance or Purolator Boss, and someone reusing $2 Supertech or Champ jobber filters to save a buck. Using a $13-16 filter for two 5000 mile or 6000 mile intervals is no big deal, where the same thing on a cheap filter isn't recommended.

We also have the opposite on this forum, people who use $13 filters and $20/quart oil for a 100 mile "flush".

I live in the rust belt, so if my oil filters stay on for more than a year with the salty roads they become crusty and harder to remove.

 

[ZeeOSix]

It's OK to use an appropriate oil filter for more than one OCI if you know what your doing, like what Honda recommends on many of their vehicles.

 

[SARG52]

To each his own ...... I grew up in a toolmaker environment ..... dad was a class A and I went through the apprentice training 50 years ago .... all to say I'm familiar with machining & tolerances.
The stuff I'm seeing on the forum are in the majority of cases ......... clearly stupid.
Common sense is indeed rare.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Most people who use an oil filter for more than one OCI will do relatively short OCIs on an already pretty clean engine, and use a high efficiency filter (because high efficiency is their main goal) that's rated for more use than they totally use it for - ie, using an Endurance for say 3x 5K or 2x 7.5K OCIs for 15K total on a 25K rated filter. That's when using an oil filter for more than one OCI makes sense.