Pros, cons to every other OCI filter change...

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fuel tanker man

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I wanted to get some feedback from some of you guys as to whether or not it would be a good idea to begin changing the oil filter on my Harley Davidson motorcycle every other oil change, instead of changing it each time.

I'll be using very short drains, as this engine is pretty hard on oil, and can shear and fuel dilute the oil rather quickly. The plan is to change the engine oil every 2000 miles (the dealer service plan changes the oil in these bikes every 2500), and I would be changing the filter every other time at 4000 miles.

I've heard pro and con on the "every other OCI oil filter change." I've heard that it makes no sense to run "clean oil through a dirty filter" but I've also heard that filters can become even more efficient as they get some use.

In any event, I don't think 4000 miles is too much running to put on one filter--but I could of course be wrong. There is a larger filter available for my engine, and this is the one I plan to use. It appears to be about 1.5 inches longer than the standard filter, which I assume gives it more filter media...

Opinions?

Dan
 
I wouldn't hesitate to do an every-other filter change on your bike. That's personally the same regimen I follow on mine. I've cut the filters open after 2k and 4k and seen no difference. As long as the oil is fresh I don't see anything wrong with it.

keep in mind there's a lot of riders out there that don't change oil OR filter every 6k or so and they're still on the road.
 
quote:
Originally posted by kingrob:
I wouldn't hesitate to do an every-other filter change on your bike. That's personally the same regimen I follow on mine. I've cut the filters open after 2k and 4k and seen no difference. As long as the oil is fresh I don't see anything wrong with it.

keep in mind there's a lot of riders out there that don't change oil OR filter every 6k or so and they're still on the road.
Click to expand...
most of the stuff in the filter can't be seen by visual inpection .
 
IF your oil is ACTUALLY breaking down, I wouldn't want any of it left in the filter to "dilute" the fresh oil.
You might consider a "better" oil.

As far as dirt carrying capacity, I see no problem with alternating intervals.
 
People with boats who must drain oil by pumping through the dipstick are frustrated by the 1/2 or so QT of oil left by this method but have no choice. But your doing a similar thing on purpose. How much are we talking about for filters?
 
On my 93 Mercedes 190, severe operating conditions requires that the oil and filter that is normally done at 7500 miles or one year intervals, is done at 3750 miles WITHOUT a filter change. I highlighted "without" in this post because Mercedes hightlighted it in my service book. I also change oil without a filter in my BMW R-65 and R1100rs and Ducati 900 SS. My Saab 900 turbo got alternating filter changes till some lady rear ended me. My 92 Ford Escort and 92GMC Astro Cargo Van get 2500 mile oil and filter changes because of antifreeze concerns. Your gut feeling are probably right. I'm not a Harley guy but I did'nt concider my Ducati broken in untill 10,000 miles. I'd just wait untill you felt everything was seated in and running perfect. My Duc and R1100 have oil coolers that leave oil behind during changes, whats a little oil left behind in a perfectly good filter?
 
quote:
Originally posted by edwardh1:
every other used to be the norm.
then by magic it went to every change

probably a jiffy lube 3000 mile oil change like marketing thing
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Wouldn't have anything to do with how loose the tolerances were in the "old days" and OBD I, now OBD II.....
 
Keep in mind that the people that say "change filter every OTHER time" are usually the ones that want to sell you another vehicle in 3 YEARS!
 
As more and more quality manufacturing leaves the states, I don't see it as a marketing move. I see it as prevention for some low quality imported filters.

You'll need to cut/compare the stock sized and oversized filter to see if it has more filtering media. Some brands use the same internal cartridge with various filter sizes/PNs.

I would always change the oil and filter at the same time even if the OCI is short. Its just not worth the risk to save a few bucks.

What year/model/engine/bike?
What stock/larger sized 'filter brands' and PN's are you planning on using?
 
quote:
Originally posted by H2GURU:
Keep in mind that the people that say "change filter every OTHER time" are usually the ones that want to sell you another vehicle in 3 YEARS!
Click to expand...
Yep, this is a really good point. Brings up the "lower cost of ownership" that automakers are pushing. Great for the "leasing" and "trade-in" crowd. But, not great for those of us that keep vehicles forever or hand them down to relatives.
 
The filter I'm using is a Harley Davidson part, probably made by Champion from what I've read.

I don't think it would hold more than 8 ounces of oil or so...

I also have an option of using a non-chrome filter which would be about 1/2 the cost of the chrome filter, but the filter shows up pretty prominently on the front of the engine, so I'd rather have chrome--or at least a chrome cover if such was available.

The bike has about 24000 miles on it, it's a '94 Low Rider, 1340 Evolution engine.

Perhaps I'll reconsider the "every other" filter change. I had just read (somewhere around here, I thought) that an oil filter can become more efficient after it has been used a while. Total miles on the filter for the regimen I was planning would be 4000 miles.

But even if the filter's efficiency would be improved for the second part of the run, the old oil left behind might offset any potential gain.

Perhaps I'll look around for a more economic filter. The HD part I've been using is ten to eleven bucks...
frown.gif


Dan
 
Yuo're right, I have seen several topics on here claiming a filter gets more efficient as it loads but I still have problems with this concept.
 
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