OIL FILTER LIFE
- Thread starter twigdog
- Start date
- Status
Changing oil w/o changing the filter is like taking a bath w/o changing your undies. Alway something left behind.
I think because manufacturers believe that oil filters are good for a lot longer than one oil change.
I recall one test on BITOG that showed the pressure drop on a 1-interval used filter was only slightly higher than new and significantly below bypass levels.
Up until a filter bypasses (or fails) it will always filter better than when it was brand new.
I personally would run an oil filter over more than one interval if it weren't for the pesky problem of it being full of used oil. That's probably not really a big deal, but I'm on BITOG so pretty much any oil-related thing seems like a big deal.
One guy I saw recently on here actually claimed that he takes off his filter, drains it, and puts it back on! Me... I figure that if I'm going through the effort to remove the filter, I am just putting a new one on.
I recall one test on BITOG that showed the pressure drop on a 1-interval used filter was only slightly higher than new and significantly below bypass levels.
Up until a filter bypasses (or fails) it will always filter better than when it was brand new.
I personally would run an oil filter over more than one interval if it weren't for the pesky problem of it being full of used oil. That's probably not really a big deal, but I'm on BITOG so pretty much any oil-related thing seems like a big deal.
One guy I saw recently on here actually claimed that he takes off his filter, drains it, and puts it back on! Me... I figure that if I'm going through the effort to remove the filter, I am just putting a new one on.
I agree with the first two callers.
If you are draining the oil, etc. May as well change the bloody filter.
I mean the filter probably would be OK, it's the dirty underwear that makes me gag.
If you are draining the oil, etc. May as well change the bloody filter.
I mean the filter probably would be OK, it's the dirty underwear that makes me gag.
It is appealing especially if you have a vehicle where getting at the filter is a P.I.T.A.!
twigdog, I really think that they're trying to reduce apparent maint costs and environmental impact. Which doesn't mean that it isn't a sound recommendation.
I plan on following Honda's rec to change every other time because it's a PITA to change on the cr-v, and it seems a waste to throw out a filter if it's still good.
All of this 'dirty oil left behind' is overblown IMO. It's a very small percentage of the overall capacity, and it's not that dirty if you change it with some reasonable frequency.
I plan on following Honda's rec to change every other time because it's a PITA to change on the cr-v, and it seems a waste to throw out a filter if it's still good.
All of this 'dirty oil left behind' is overblown IMO. It's a very small percentage of the overall capacity, and it's not that dirty if you change it with some reasonable frequency.
if everyone would change their filter every other time we could reduce the number of filters that are recycled or put into landfills by 50%.
thats a huge impact.
thats a huge impact.
I change the oil and filter every 6 months.
I'm uncomfortable with leaving a Wix or any other filter except the Amsoil Ea filter in my Explorer for a year going only 7-8K miles.
Do you go two years on the filter in your parents car?
If so,I just may leave the filter in for a year....well maybe.
I'd go with a Amsoil Ea oil filter for a year but I have 5 Wix filters on the shelf.
if everyone would change their filter every other time we could reduce the number of filters that are recycled or put into landfills by 50%.
Ya' what?
Do you know how many filters go into landfills?
The majority of used oil filters are sent to smelters to be recycled and made into rebar for construction.
Only those filters tossed away by dyi'ers go into a land fill. As most filters are changed by a shop...those go for recycling.
However, there are Federal, State, and local regulations about sending a filter to a land fill. Basically all one has to do if they are a dyi'er is turn the filter upside down and drain the oil out for 24 hours, then it can legally be sent to a landfill.
Ya' what?
Do you know how many filters go into landfills?
The majority of used oil filters are sent to smelters to be recycled and made into rebar for construction.
Only those filters tossed away by dyi'ers go into a land fill. As most filters are changed by a shop...those go for recycling.
However, there are Federal, State, and local regulations about sending a filter to a land fill. Basically all one has to do if they are a dyi'er is turn the filter upside down and drain the oil out for 24 hours, then it can legally be sent to a landfill.
Oh I understood what you were saying.
I'm sure you've seen pictures of filters who have been used a bit to long on here and the outcome in some cases.
I'll change my filter every time..thank you.
Smelters are going to melt down all kinds of various metals whether or not you and others go twice with their oil filter.
It is not---as you may want to know--- not the filter that is the problem, it's the residue oil in the filter which makes a used filter a problem.
If i was to go twice with an oil filter I would worry more about capacity than efficiency. Most European and Asian filters have higher capacity and lower efficiencies than domestic filters. So if you owned a Toyota and wanted to go twice as long on an oil filter---you may not want a Purolator, et all on your Japanese car.
Plus, as I have mentioned before, as a filter plugs with contaminant it's usefull life shortens rapidly the last 30% of it's life. It gets more efficient at removing contaminant, and more , and more..
So your by-pass valve is more likely to open and stay open longer because of the pressure differential---and that means conataminant is going past the element more often.
If you're happy using a filter twice, go for it.
Most OEM's know that consumers change cars every 3-4 years. So their warranty exposure and outlay because of a "filter" failure being used twice is remote. Once the "second" owner gets the car, he/she may not have oil change information and filter change information and the OEM can void any warranty considerations because of oil changes. So to "recommend" keeping an oil filter on twice is a low concern of those OEM's who would recommend it.
And if you do change your filter once per two oil changes--my advise would be to follow exact mileage/time change recommendations and have definitive records. Better yet..have the dealer do it so that they have the records.
I'm sure you've seen pictures of filters who have been used a bit to long on here and the outcome in some cases.
I'll change my filter every time..thank you.
Smelters are going to melt down all kinds of various metals whether or not you and others go twice with their oil filter.
It is not---as you may want to know--- not the filter that is the problem, it's the residue oil in the filter which makes a used filter a problem.
If i was to go twice with an oil filter I would worry more about capacity than efficiency. Most European and Asian filters have higher capacity and lower efficiencies than domestic filters. So if you owned a Toyota and wanted to go twice as long on an oil filter---you may not want a Purolator, et all on your Japanese car.
Plus, as I have mentioned before, as a filter plugs with contaminant it's usefull life shortens rapidly the last 30% of it's life. It gets more efficient at removing contaminant, and more , and more..
So your by-pass valve is more likely to open and stay open longer because of the pressure differential---and that means conataminant is going past the element more often.
If you're happy using a filter twice, go for it.
Most OEM's know that consumers change cars every 3-4 years. So their warranty exposure and outlay because of a "filter" failure being used twice is remote. Once the "second" owner gets the car, he/she may not have oil change information and filter change information and the OEM can void any warranty considerations because of oil changes. So to "recommend" keeping an oil filter on twice is a low concern of those OEM's who would recommend it.
And if you do change your filter once per two oil changes--my advise would be to follow exact mileage/time change recommendations and have definitive records. Better yet..have the dealer do it so that they have the records.
I for the life of me can't understand why anyone would want to risk damage to an engine by saving what, $3-10 on a filter?
I'm a nOOb here, but not to oil/filter changes, and that seems odd to me...
Scott
I'm a nOOb here, but not to oil/filter changes, and that seems odd to me...
Scott
filter guy, im not sure that you fully understood what i typed.
i dont know how many filters go into landfills however smelting a used filter down to make it into rebar costs more money and is more damaging on the enviroment compared to just using that same filter over again for a second change interval and THEN smelting it down for rebar.
not only are you saving 1 filter to use again which saves the smelting for rebar process, but you are also saving the filter on the auto parts store from being used earlier than it would have been if one were to use a 1 filter per oci so theres less enviromental impact on melting metals and assembly on new filters.
another way to look at it is if you cut the volume of used filters in half, you also cut the volume of new filters being bought in half. consider it a double edged sword of savings?
i think the saying goes reduce reuse recycle.
i dont know how many filters go into landfills however smelting a used filter down to make it into rebar costs more money and is more damaging on the enviroment compared to just using that same filter over again for a second change interval and THEN smelting it down for rebar.
not only are you saving 1 filter to use again which saves the smelting for rebar process, but you are also saving the filter on the auto parts store from being used earlier than it would have been if one were to use a 1 filter per oci so theres less enviromental impact on melting metals and assembly on new filters.
another way to look at it is if you cut the volume of used filters in half, you also cut the volume of new filters being bought in half. consider it a double edged sword of savings?
i think the saying goes reduce reuse recycle.
- Status
