OK to use longer oil filter ?

[Corvette Owner]

My Nissan Murano uses a very small oil filter, it is only about 2 1/2 inches long. There is a longer (about 3 1/2 inches) filter that meets all specifications (oil flow, bypass pressure, anti-siphon valve, gasket dimensions) available.

Are there any minuses to using this? What if car was under warranty?

 

[Silver]

 

[galaxy]

That filter will work just fine...I'm running something other than the stock type filter on every vehicle I own and have been for about a combined 230,000 miles. Since you said "what if", I'm going to assume it's not. In that case, don't worry about it. If it were, they would have to prove the filter you were using was the direct cause of whatever malfunction you took it in for before they could deny anything. If by chance it did and they prove it, you'd be SOL, but odds are slim to none...and slim just left town.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
My Nissan Murano uses a very small oil filter, it is only about 2 1/2 inches long. There is a longer (about 3 1/2 inches) filter that meets all specifications (oil flow, bypass pressure, anti-siphon valve, gasket dimensions) available.

So the spec filter is a PureONE PL14612 equivalent, what I call a "shorty". The longer filter that you're talking about it probably the PureONE PL14610 equivalent. Use the longer one. There's nothing to be concerned about. Many of us Nissan owners are doing exactly that.

 

[beast3300]

Use the longer filter. It won't hurt anything.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I had been using Motorcraft FL400S and equivalent in "94 LS400 for more than 10 years/150k miles without any problem. It is about 1.4" longer than OEM filter, the only thing you should do is add about 6-10 oz oil above spec's because larger capacity of the longer filter.

 

[mevsme]

So would you have to add slightly more oil then as well or would that be unnecessary and just fill it at normal levels?

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: mevsme
So would you have to add slightly more oil then as well or would that be unnecessary and just fill it at normal levels?

Fill at normal level, check the dipstick, and adjust if necessary.

 

[HTSS_TR]

If you use larger/longer oil filter you should add a little more oil to bring the oil level on dipstick to the max line when you change oil. If the manual calls for 5 quarts with OEM oil filter, you may need to add several ounces above 5 quarts.

 

[fdcg27]

Are there any pluses to using it?
Once the engine has run a few hundred miles or so, there is almost nothing to filter out.
The shorty has plenty of media for any reasonable OCI.
Even if you go for a really long drain interval, which you probably won't do until the car is out of warranty, you'd probably change the oil filter midway.
When I have run ARX in vehicles where there was a choice, I've gone with a larger filter for both clean and rinse.
I even put an FL1A equivalent on the Aerostar for both phases.
Necessary?
I don't know, but I got the Sunoco brand equivalents for ~$3.00 each, so why not?
What I'm trying to say in a long-winded way is that the spec filter is undoubtedly fine.
Our Subie takes a really tiny filter.
I'm not worried about it.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
The shorty has plenty of media for any reasonable OCI.

While I myself use the longer PL14610 equivalent, I agree with fdcg27's statement. My primary motivation was standardizing on a single filter size that all three cars that I maintain can use. My wife's Saturn VUE and mother-in-law's Civic both call for the PL14610 equivalent. Since that size fits and works just fine on my Nissan, I had my common filter size.

The most important thing, whatever size filter you use, is to buy a quality filter.

 

[tinmanSC]

I use a longer filter in my SC and my GS. It calls for a PL10241 and I use a PL20195. Same filter, just 2x the length. Works great.

 

[Virtuoso]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Once the engine has run a few hundred miles or so, there is almost nothing to filter out.
The shorty has plenty of media for any reasonable OCI.


I disgaree with the statment about having nothing to filter out. Even after a short, 2.2k mile run with a mix of short trip/highway runs, the filter off our Windstar caught some insolubles. No visible wear metals, but a good dose of black junk.

The filter's off our Malibu with 8k on them have even more caught up in there (as you may suspect). A lot of this stuff could be "smeared" in between your fingers, so I'm not sure how much/if any damage would be caused to your bearings having it flowing around in there.

I'm sure there would be less break-down with a synthetic oil, and maybe on one of the next OCI's I'll give that a shot. But not on the van.

I totally agree that the stock, shorty filter has plenty of media for the OCI inteded by the manufacturer. If not they (hopefully!) would have spec'd a larger filter.

 

[fdcg27]

I didn't say "nothing".
I said "almost nothing".
Were your used filters overloaded with insoluables?
It doesn't seem like it, from what you have posted.
The filters served their purpose, and kept any particles exceding the bearing clearances from going through the bearings.
That is what they're for, and they did their job.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I use larger/longer filter in my LS400 so that it can be on the engine for the long OCI up to 13-15k or 1 year with syn oils.

 

[Hootbro]

Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
............... What if car was under warranty?


If the filter grenades and causes engine failure, the dealer is going to refer you to the filter maker for restitution. The filter maker can if it so chooses, deny warranty claim because you used a non-catalog filter to your application. This can happen regardless of you playing "engineer" with selection to all the other specs.

Very few applications have the need for a larger non-cataloged filter to be installed, It is more of a placebo effect for most people who do this.

 

[casperfun]

It's like asking a woman if longer and larger is better. I think the majority would say yes.

I am using a longer Bosch Dplus filter but on planning to use a smaller Amsoil Eao filter I got on ebay.

If your OCI is 5000-7500 miles I believe it does not really matter.

Longer OCI's perhaps.

 

[RF Overlord]

^^^what Hootbro said^^^

I'm not trying to dissuade you from using a longer filter, just know the possible downside. That's why every vehicle I maintain for family/friends gets the OEM-recommended filter until the warranty is up.

 

[wn1998]

I am now using the "longer" PL14610 on my 2009 versa with no problems thanks to Barlow.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Are there any pluses to using it?

Yes, more filter material means a potentially longer OCI if you choose to use a long drain oil or if you inadvertantly went significantly beyond the recommended OCI for any other reason.

Since the longer filter costs no more than the shorty, think of it as free insurance; you won't likely need it but it's nice to have if you do.