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.
Can I use an oil filter twice
- Thread starter papang
- Start date
You can do 2 oil changes on one filter.
thanks
You absolutely can
dnewton3
Staff member
Some OEs (Honda, Mitsubishi, etc) even state that changing the oil filter every other OCI is the "normal" maintenance schedule. While not predominant thinking in the industry, it's not unheard of at all, and in many of these OE applications, there's been credible evidence to show it's detrimental.
Given your stated OCI of 3-4K miles and application, and a filter that's (generally) recognized as one of the better on the market, you FCI can easily be 2x for OCI and 3x would not be out of the question. I would recommend starting with 2x, and do a few dissections of the filters to see how things are going. Then if all looks good (probably will), then go to 3x and do a few more dissections. Your car is nearing the end of its warranty; while there are risks, those risks are small.
Given your stated OCI of 3-4K miles and application, and a filter that's (generally) recognized as one of the better on the market, you FCI can easily be 2x for OCI and 3x would not be out of the question. I would recommend starting with 2x, and do a few dissections of the filters to see how things are going. Then if all looks good (probably will), then go to 3x and do a few more dissections. Your car is nearing the end of its warranty; while there are risks, those risks are small.
YES! I believe that the oil filter is the most changed out filter on our vehicles.
I always use my oil filters 2X or once/year. But, I use a good filter.
If the filter mfg. claims that a filter can be used for 10K, 15K or even 25K miles and we change our oil
at e.g., 5K-7K miles, then use the filter that long( 2X-3X ).
I would not use a filter that long^^^ if I were using the poorest made filter(whatever those may be) on the planet.
I always use my oil filters 2X or once/year. But, I use a good filter.
If the filter mfg. claims that a filter can be used for 10K, 15K or even 25K miles and we change our oil
at e.g., 5K-7K miles, then use the filter that long( 2X-3X ).
I would not use a filter that long^^^ if I were using the poorest made filter(whatever those may be) on the planet.
This is one of those questions that there is no definite answer to. Because much like politics, people believe what they WANT to believe. In that regard they create their own reality. And that's fine.
I never have run an oil filter more than a single oil change. And I never will. When the oil come out, the filter comes off. There are plenty people who like to argue otherwise.
And they may not be wrong. It just doesn't sit well with me. The logic of paying $50K+ plus for a vehicle, then trying to save $8 bucks or less by pushing a oil filter, along with the 5 minutes it takes to change it, is just false economy. For me, the peace of mind alone is well worth the $8 bucks and 5 minutes.
I never have run an oil filter more than a single oil change. And I never will. When the oil come out, the filter comes off. There are plenty people who like to argue otherwise.
And they may not be wrong. It just doesn't sit well with me. The logic of paying $50K+ plus for a vehicle, then trying to save $8 bucks or less by pushing a oil filter, along with the 5 minutes it takes to change it, is just false economy. For me, the peace of mind alone is well worth the $8 bucks and 5 minutes.
Just make sure you empty the filter between changes so the old oil therein doesn't contaminate the new oil.
That's a bit like saying, fold the toilet paper over before you use it again.
TP media gets loaded the first time you use it, so you can't use it again. Oil filter media not so much.
There is always oil remaining in the engine that doesn't get drained out.
Removing the oil filter to empty it allows for that little bit extra oil to be put back in the engine.
However that are two schools of though on this when removing the filter(do it...or not!)
I still often do it but not always when using the filter again. I'm not sure if it matters.
Like stated above, some manufacturers recommend that. As long as the engine isn't super dirty, I wouldn't see how it could be a problem
You can reuse head bolts too but nobody does. Must be a reason.
Are you afraid to unscrew the filter every time because it fills the cup and spills everywhere? 
If you do use the same filter for multiple OCIs, leave it on and don't touch it! If you remove the filter, you must replace it.
If you do use the same filter for multiple OCIs, leave it on and don't touch it! If you remove the filter, you must replace it.
I have been educated this forum recently that like a quart of oil stays in the engine at every oil change anyway. How would the extra cup in the filter matter at that point? Also, why dry start if your re-using the filter?
If I were to re-use a filter I would not take it off.
Full disclosure - I never re-use a filter - 1 oil change, one oil filter.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Why would I argue here? I run a 20k filter for two 5k OCI's - and what do I get from this site.
"That's like taking a shower and putting the same underwear back on" LoL - That's technical.
People believe what they WANT to believe. In that regard they create their own reality. And that's fine.
Here are some discussions/threads on filter reuse, including unscrewing the filter or not:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reusing-oil-filter.316734/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/question-for-those-who-reuse-oil-filters.354397/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/oil-filter-clean-empty-reuse.327420/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/is-it-ok-to-reuse-an-oil-filter.23998/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reusing-oil-filter-question.130264/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/i-changed-the-oil-without-changing-the-filter.354735/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reusing-filters.382221/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/drain-filter-if-i-reuse-it.208798/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/your-opinion-on-reusing-oil-filters.133999/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-i-reuse-an-oil-filter.27180/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reuse-filter.216381/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/2-oil-changes-per-filter.299391/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-i-change-oil-without-changing-my-fram-ultra.329598/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/not-changing-oil-filter.375282/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-i-skip-filter-change.208970/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/if-i-want-to-use-my-filter-twice-can-i.310121/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/honda-oil-filter-every-other-oil-change.81650/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/how-many-miles-can-you-go-on-an-oil-filter.141013/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/filter-change-poll-run-em-twice.123637/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reusing-oil-filter.316734/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/question-for-those-who-reuse-oil-filters.354397/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/oil-filter-clean-empty-reuse.327420/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/is-it-ok-to-reuse-an-oil-filter.23998/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reusing-oil-filter-question.130264/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/i-changed-the-oil-without-changing-the-filter.354735/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reusing-filters.382221/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/drain-filter-if-i-reuse-it.208798/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/your-opinion-on-reusing-oil-filters.133999/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-i-reuse-an-oil-filter.27180/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/reuse-filter.216381/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/2-oil-changes-per-filter.299391/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-i-change-oil-without-changing-my-fram-ultra.329598/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/not-changing-oil-filter.375282/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-i-skip-filter-change.208970/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/if-i-want-to-use-my-filter-twice-can-i.310121/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/honda-oil-filter-every-other-oil-change.81650/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/how-many-miles-can-you-go-on-an-oil-filter.141013/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/filter-change-poll-run-em-twice.123637/
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
That was a good read. Thanks.
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