New filter every other oil change?

[rationull]

I've got an 07 Honda Civic, and am coming up on the time for its first oil change at around 6000 miles. Through lots of reading on this site and trust in Honda I'm confident in following the car's OLM to determine when I need to do oil changes on the car, but I'm not quite sure what to think of the recommendation to change the filter on every other oil change.

I'm sure the Honda OEM filters are good but I'm not sure whether this is a recommendation more based on lowering maintenance costs or more based on what would actually be better for the engine.

Are many models of new cars recommending this "every other oil change" schedule for filter replacement? I'd never heard of it before reading the manual for this car. Can modern filters combined with modern oils and relatively clean burning engines really survive upwards of 12,000 miles without clogging?

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Being a brand-new engine, with only 6k on the clock, it's still putting out baby shavings from the new enging - highly recommend changing that filter every time for now. At least until the engine is no longer shedding, i.e. UOA.

 

[Auto-Union]

I'd change it the first time. However, I often re-use filters after draining them. It depends on the interval, cost of the filter and the oil. Cheap oil changed at a short interval with an expensive filter would be the one end of the spectrum. With my 06 RSX, I can get Supertech filters for $2, so not much incentive to re-use it, especially that I use expensive oil at a long interval (want to make the new oil as fresh as possible). My woman's 98 CRV has a big WIX on it now and I'll change after 4 months/6000 miles with cheap Mobil C7500, so I'll leave that filter on twice. My current MC filter has been on over 3 different oil changes. If I cut it open, probally see nothing in the media as the Hondas run clean.

 

[Steve S]

For the price of an oil filter change it . Then you won't have to worry about it.

 

[Big Jim]

I've never understood reusing an oil filter. It's sort of like taking a shower and then not changing your shorts.

 

[Steve S]

Quote:

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I've never understood reusing an oil filter. It's sort of like taking a shower and then not changing your shorts.

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It is exactly the same but different.

 

[Donald]

Even the best oil filter costs under $15, times 2 or 3 a year. A VERY SMALL percentage of your total vehicle expense (payments + insurance + gas + tires + maint).

 

[cmhj]

Since I now run Amsoil or Mobil 1 filters, I run them on an annual change cycle, with OCIs of twice a year. My average mileage is about 10K a year and use only group III oils.

When I do an OC where the filter is to remain for another OCI, I do remove the filter, drain it and re-install.

Some will scuff at removing the filter and reusing because it will damage the gasket. Bull hockey, been doing that for years even with cheap filters and have never had a leaker.

 

[Titan]

I run 7500 OCI's on my two Subarus, and I change the WIX 51365 every OTHER oil change. UOA shows insoluables at less than 0.2%. Obviously, in my vehicles, this is an acceptable technique. I've cut open the filter at 7500 and another at 15000...they look essentially the same. Do what you want...but every other oil change is fine. Oh, I don't drain out the old oil, either...I mean, it's only a tea-cup sized filter, and there is no difference between the first UOA numbers and the second set of numbers. Really, it's OK to follow manufacturer's instructions on this matter.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Quote:

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I've got an 07 Honda Civic, and am coming up on the time for its first oil change at around 6000 miles. Through lots of reading on this site and trust in Honda I'm confident in following the car's OLM to determine when I need to do oil changes on the car, but I'm not quite sure what to think of the recommendation to change the filter on every other oil change.

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Chnge the filter - along with the oil when doing 6K OCIs under warranty. Supertech filters for around $2.60 work fine.

 

[vronline]

Change the filter every time!!! Use a good filter like Purolator, Wix, Supertech, etc. that cost may $3. It's cheap insurance.

 

[Titan]

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Change the filter every time!!! Use a good filter like Purolator, Wix, Supertech, etc. that cost may $3. It's cheap insurance.

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Or, it's a waste of 3.00. When you take into consideration that filters can get more efficient over time, maybe it's even not as good to change each time. Either way, it won't have an effect on total longevity of your vehicle. The vehicle will most probably rot before the engine gives up....in that case, it's certainly a waste to change it more than needed.

 

[sHERM]

Man come on, why would anyone not spend the $5.00 for a new filter every time he changed the oil? If you change it 3 times a year that's saving you on average $7.50 a year. WHY TAKE THE RISK ?

 

[greg_J35]

Quote:

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For the price of an oil filter change it . Then you won't have to worry about it.

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I agree with you.

 

[Gary Allan]

The thing is, you don't have to worry about it. 10k-15k is nothing for a filter unless you're driving some null and void massively polluting engine anyway.

..but, by all means, do what makes feels right about it.

 

[Warlord]

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Man come on, why would anyone not spend the $5.00 for a new filter every time he changed the oil? If you change it 3 times a year that's saving you on average $7.50 a year. WHY TAKE THE RISK ?

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What are the risks then? IMO the filter change every other OCI will get more and more popular. People used to go around saying that 3K oci's are cheap insurance too. Now we know better.

 

[lindermant]

I just changed the oil in my '05 civic (9,980 mile OCI on Havo 5W-20), and I was tempted to let the filter ride until 20k just to see whether it had any impact on particle count.

I ended up changing it and made my usual mess of the undercarriage; I have to go out in the morning and catch the spots I missed. Maybe I'll let the current filter go for 20k

trying to collect three UOA samples from the stream is not an easy task

 

[Triple_Se7en]

07 Hondas under warranty are allowed 12K filter changes????

 

[rotorray]

Let me try and understand this: You pay $15K or so for a vehicle and then skimp on a $3 oil filter? Am I missing something here? Look, just change the oil and filter. Your car will love you for it and you won't question your sanity. Believe me!

 

[rationull]

Thanks for all the responses! I feel I should clarify something, though. I'm not considering leaving the filter on because I want to save the $3 that a new filter would cost me. I'm not generally a cheapskate when it comes to my cars, and I've spent more than I needed to on various things over the years and never worried about it.

However (yes, Triple Se7en) Honda's service schedule for the new Civic DX/LX/EX recommends a filter change every other oil change, and the OLM puts the OCI at just over 6k miles for myself and many other drivers. They recommend this for a reason, and as far as I can tell that reason is driven by a mixture of how well the change schedule will maintain the engine and by a desire to lower TCO and (so I've heard) to create less waste by requiring fewer filters be thrown away/recycled. I was just looking for some input on which way the balance is tipped between those influences on the maintenance schedule. Like Titan and Warlord mentioned, it's not that the filters cost so much, just that there's no point in wasting filters and money if it's not necessary (like 3k OCIs).

It sounds like a lot of people have had success leaving filters on for multiple oil changes. Given that, I think I'll follow the recommendation and leave it on for another change. At that point I'll cut it open and report back on how it looks.

Thanks!