Fram Ultra for 2 OCIs ?

[ChrisJH]

Ive always been one to automatically change the filter at the same time as the oil. They are cheap enough that it was never a big deal to me, and 10-15K OCI filters never existed at the time.

Now that I have a bunch of Ultras because of the 50 off 100 at Advance, Im wondering - in my G37, I only put about 5K miles on it in a year. I change the oil twice (once before the cold weather, once before the hot weather).

With a filter like an Ultra, can I use the same filter for BOTH changes? Just draining and replacing the oil?

Im not cheap, Im just curious. Just didnt want a nice filter to go to waste if I didnt have to.

Thanks.

-Chris

 

[gregk24]

Absolutely! Fram says the Ultra is good for up to 15,000 miles. I plan on using the Ultra on deck in my Accord for the next two OCI's.

 

[147_Grain]

The Fram Ultra will easily go past 5,000 miles, but there are TIME limits too. Personally, I would change the filter every year with the oil.

 

[901Memphis]

I don't think you can impose a time limit on a frame Ultra beings that it's not cellulose based and if I was going to it would be 3-4 years by mileage.

 

[tenderloin]

Been doing this the past two years or so using Ultra, Bosch DistancePlus as well as cartridge filters (VW Beetle, Volvo C30, BMW,just started with Mercedes). No used oil analysis but I feel comfortable doing this. Vehicles run like champs.

 

[HTSS_TR]

My LS400 OCI with dino is 6-7k/6mo and standard filter is changed once a year. It never had any filter better than P1, Motorcraft and Bosch premium. The car has more than 350k miles.

 

[dnewton3]

Cellulose filters can easily last 3 years in service (excluding mileage from the topic here for the moment). Even at 5 years, it's "iffy" and not an assurance that the filter media will grenade itself.


Frankly, you could use the OCOD for 10k miles, but I suspect you won't. The TG is a good filter for the money, and it's rated up to 10k miles, and could go more as well.

If you use the FU, then I'd change oil and filter every other year. That's only 10k miles total. Two years will NOT make the lube components degrade to a point of unserviceability.

I run several units in my fleet on multi-year O/FCIs, and not once has a used oil analysis or disection indicated there was any hint of problem. My classic 1966 Mustang is on a 3 year OCI plan with HDEO, as is my Kubota and my Dmax.


I find it ironic that you don't want a filter to "go to waste", but you'll dump lube at 2.5k miles ....

If you truly don't want to waste money or product, then head straight to Walmart and get some SuperTech conventional lube, a decent Puro Classic or OCOD, and OCI once a year. And your engine will never know the difference.

 

[ChrisJH]

The only reasons I dump the oil after ~2500 is that the car is still under warranty (for another year or so), Nissan specs a 3 mo/3750 mile service limit, and the engine (VQ37HR) is known for being hard on oil.

From the looks of it, hard on *oil* isnt the same as hard on the *filter*, so I figure the filter should be able to last a year no problem. And the oil most likely could as well, I just want to minimize the possibility of warranty issues.

After its out of warranty, if Im still driving it 5K/year, yeah Ill probably move to one oil change a year.

 

[Sayjac]

Just a word to the wise, doesn't matter what filter you use including Ultra, in order to keep your vehicle warranty in force you must change the filter 'at minimum' at the vehicle manufacturer's recommened fci. Even if you read the Fram website, #1 footnote says "Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle owner's manual".

Something to keep in mind with a vehicle under warranty.

 

[ChrisJH]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Just a word to the wise, doesn't matter what filter you use including Ultra, in order to keep your vehicle warranty in force you must change the filter 'at minimum' at the vehicle manufacturer's recommened fci. Even if you read the Fram website, #1 footnote says "Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle owner's manual".

Something to keep in mind with a vehicle under warranty.


Understood. Which is why Im keeping fairly close to what the manufacturer says.

3 months/3750 miles is a little much, and Nissan has recently changed to a 7500 mile recommendation even for "severe" duty, but I dont know if that means they will retro that change as well.

If i was hitting 3750 miles even in 6 months, I would be changing because of mileage. But as it is Im only changing because of time....even a year would be OK, but I figure if I do every 6 months I probably wouldnt get any grief from Nissan if something needed warranty-ing. They can clearly see I dont put 3750 miles on in 6 months, and they could analyze the oil to see its not el-cheapo stuff, so 6 months on Pennzoil Ultra with a PureOne filter should make them happy, maybe even happier than 3 months on whatever the dealer would use instead.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: ChrisJH

3 months/3750 miles is a little much ...


I take it that's their "severe" service recommendation? Even if so, that's is pretty crazy. You'd have to really be doing some crazy driving and punishment to the oil for that kind of change interval.

So what's their "normal" driving condition spec?

 

[ChrisJH]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: ChrisJH

3 months/3750 miles is a little much ...


I take it that's their "severe" service recommendation? Even if so, that's is pretty crazy. You'd have to really be doing some crazy driving and punishment to the oil for that kind of change interval.

So what's their "normal" driving condition spec?


That is their severe service schedule at the time of purchase of my car. And yes, it is pretty "severe". If I had any other Nissan/Infiniti engine (minus the GT-R engine) in the car I wouldnt even bother, but since I have an engine known to be hard on oil I want to pay attention.

They recently changed BOTH schedules to the same OCI but I forget exactly what it is (there is a forum thread about it). Im pretty sure the mileage is now 7500, but Im not sure about the time. I also dont know enough about it to know if they've retroactive-d it to cars with the same drivetrain that were purchased before the change.

 

[Cristobal]

A Fram Ultra should be fine for two OCI's. It depends on your warranty. If the warranty demands that the filter be changed each time, do so, but while the warranty is in force you would be better served with a cheaper filter. At least that is how the economics of this will go. Save the Fram Ultras for later use. The same can be said for oil. If the warranty say is demanding a 3750 mile change, if Pennzoil conventional would not void the warranty that is what I might use.

Once you are out of warranty there is more freedom. An Ultra should be good for 15,000 miles use in most car environments.

 

[Umibozu]

I'm doing 20k FCI now in all of my vehicles with an oversized Fram Ultra or Purolator Synthetic. In a clean engine I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[Sayjac]

Afaik Nissan has not gone to an every other oil change, filter change interval. So whether severe or normal service profile is observed, according the OM the filter should be changed each time. Certainly Ultra is good for two oci's totaling to 15k miles. But if that is the OP's choice, he just needs to be aware (which he seems to be) that he is assuming some of the vehicle warranty risk (however small) with such a practice.

OT. As for Nissan severe service definition, unless it's changed drastically in recent years, it's not nearly as inclusive as Hyundai/Kia. Most any kind of driving falls under the severe service profile with H/K. One of the caveats of the 10yr/100k powertrain warranty.