Synthetic oil filters

[WyrTwister]

What does this term mean .

I run a " decent " filter on our vehicles & change the filter each oil change . Which is ~ 3000 miles on conventional oil on" older " vehicles ( that do not require synthetic oil ) . Around 5000 miles on vehicles that require synthetic oil ) .

Am I messing up ? Should I use a " synthetic " filter with synthetic oil ?

I order filters 6 to 12 at a time from rockauto.com . This " spreads out " the freight cost , across a greater # of filters . And seems to be cheaper than purchasing them at Walmart .

 

[shibby6600]

Synthetic just means materials that are man made. Ordinary filters typically use cellulose based materials, which are found in nature hence "not synthetic".

There's nothing wrong with what you're doing. Run whatever oil you want with whatever filter you want, they don't need to be both synthetic or both non-synthetic.

 

[WyrTwister]

Thanks ,

 

[DudeNiceRide]

I think shoppers just feel obligated to spend an extra $2 on the filter after they've spent an extra $10 on the synthetic oil. Why buy the best oil if you're not going to filter it very well?

Also a great up-sell opportunity for fix-it shops.

 

[shibby6600]

Originally Posted by DudeNiceRide
Why buy the best oil if you're not going to filter it very well?


Because synthetic oils have different properties, additives, etc. that are still worth while and independent of the filter. Filtering really comes down to the contaminants produced by the engine that you want to filter out.

Synthetic oil with a cheap filter versus synthetic oil with a synthetic filter is still going to have the same oil package.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Full synthetic oil filters are typically rated for longer use because they can hold more debris without restricting flow as much, meaning less dekta-p as the filter loads up. That's why they are recommend to use with a longer OCI associated with full synthetic oil.

If you're changing oil every 3K to 5K (regardless of what oil used), about any filter will work. Just a matter of what you're looking for out of the filter (cost, efficiency, construction, etc).

 

[DudeNiceRide]

"Synthetic filters" will also have parts/materials that have longer life in the environment of a combustion engine oil system. Everything in the filter also has to survive the OCI.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted by DudeNiceRide
"Synthetic filters" will also have parts/materials that have longer life in the environment of a combustion engine oil system. Everything in the filter also has to survive the OCI.


Yep, and that's why long OCI rated filters typically have silicone ADBVs.

 

[DGXR]

Just because an oil is labeled synthetic does not mean it's the best oil. "Best oil" is another conversation entirely. In plain terms, synthetic oil is longer lasting than standard or "conventional" motor oil, with more cleaning power and better additive package. Usually.
In your situation, I don't see a need to use a synthetic filter if you are draining the synthetic oil at 5,000 miles. Nearly any filter will go 5,000 miles.
You could use a synthetic filter and run it for more than 1 service interval, many people do that with good results.

 

[bbhero]

Originally Posted by shibby6600
Synthetic just means materials that are man made. Ordinary filters typically use cellulose based materials, which are found in nature hence "not synthetic".

There's nothing wrong with what you're doing. Run whatever oil you want with whatever filter you want, they don't need to be both synthetic or both non-synthetic.



+1 ^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have done it both ways... Conventional oil and synthetic oil filter and full synthetic oil and a cellulose oil filter and synthetic oil and synthetic oil filter paired together.