Thoughts on oil filter replace each or every other time?

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JeffKeryk

JeffKeryk

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Hi All - I have noticed numerous posts stating they change the filter every other service...
I generally do 5K to 7K services and use quality filters, usually Wix and M1.
I have started to use Fram XT here and there; I service a lot of friends vehicles.

I just helped a friends daughter get a Nissan Sentra with 45K miles.
I initially serviced it with Super Tech 0w20 and an XT.
It hit 50K; I am considering doing a quick spill and fill and calling it done.

I have never not changed the filter...
And the idea of going 10K miles hurts my head to think about!

Your thoughts?
 
I just put a $15 K&N oil filter on my G/F's son's 3.1 Buick..I'm going 3 OCI's or 24k on it.
 
How do I feel about ? - who cares.
Whose thoughts are worth listening to?

Hondas maintenance minder staggers the filter change interval.
Modern autos typically create much less than a gram of contamination per K driven.

a couple of caveats.

1. The rig starts out clean - you can't be doing a sludge cleanup regimen.

2. As long as the filter is constructed correctly and rated to go the mileage. No 5K 1.39 specials on for 20K.

Otherwise changing filters every other OCI is fine.

You don't throw away half used paper towels, or half used tires or other half used consumable items.

IF you just can't sleep at night go 1-1.

On certain cars 10K is a walk in the park, on others a really bad idea.
Is that sentra a chain drive or belt drive car? Di or port injection?
The chain drive and DI cars are harder on oil and tend to shear it down.

UD
 
Last edited:
Depends on the filter...for the ines you usually use, one per oci. Using a Fram Ultra or Wix XP or Amsoil, go the rated distance (or one year)
 
Originally Posted By: JeffKeryk

I have never not changed the filter...
And the idea of going 10K miles hurts my head to think about!

Your thoughts?


I have ran filters for 10K for years and years in different vehicles with never a problem. Ever. Most were regular NAPA Golds or similar. I even did this with a NAPA Silvers a few times without any issues.

If you can get past overthinking it even once, you will believe. Want reassurance? See ALL the cut filters photos posted here. Unless there is some very rare extreme issue present, almost every one gets comments like "Could have gone for another interval, EASY."
 
I did about 18k per filter many times with never a problem. There isn't normally much for them to catch IF the engine and air filter are in good shape.
 
Synthetic media filters are generally good for about 15 to 20,000 miles, so you can easily leave them on a mechanically sound engine for more than one OCI, in some cases probably three, as long as you don't exceed the maximum rated mileage for that filter.

I find changing oil filters to be a messy job, so that's why I run them for two intervals on my Honda and on my wife's BMW. Because the Corvette is under warranty I will change the filter every time, but once the warranty is up I have no problem doing it every other interval (especially since two intervals with the Corvette will be way less than 20,000 miles that the Ultra filter is good for)

I will say this. I'm a little concerned that the Mann oil filter I'm running on my wife's BMW might not be up to the task of going 15-20k, so I plan on switching her car over to a Fram Ultra soon (especially since I found out that the Fram Ultra for her car might actually be priced at less than what I pay for the Mann)

I know a lot of people cringe at the thought of re using the same filter on another interval, but what is the harm? If the filter isn't even close to being full, what benefit do you get from putting on a fresh one? There is always that debate that older filters actually filter better as well, but regardless of whether that's true or not, I still don't think a brand new filter is going to actually filter out any better. Yes, you leave behind a slight bit extra old oil if you leave the filter on there, but I really don't think that extra 5% old oil is going to make much difference. Much more oil than that gets left behind in the rest of the engine, you'll never be able to remove 100% of the old oil. So to me, an 85% oil change is just as good as a 90% oil change.
 
Originally Posted By: JeffKeryk
I have started to use Fram XT here and there; I service a lot of friends vehicles.


Fram XT ... ?

You mean XG, ie "Ultra" .
 
Originally Posted By: dblshock
I just put a $15 K&N oil filter on my G/F's son's 3.1 Buick..I'm going 3 OCI's or 24k on it.


It's pretty common.

I once did 30,000 (3X oil changes) on a Motorcraft FL-1A in the 1990's... It looked perfect when disassembled.
 
If the car is in good condition, I would sometimes do a 6k miles (10k KM) oil change with the filter every second oil change. This was back in the day before synthetic oil and synthetic media filters, just paper and conventional - but it worked fine and was a common practice around me. If BrocL is around, I believe he has mentioned the State of California used something very similar.

Now days I've experimented with 50% off set oil & filter change. By this I mean (assume a 10k interval) then oil only at 5k, filter only at 10k, oil only at 15k, filter only at 20k, etc

I do the oil when the car is hot and the filter when the car is cold. Doing it this way seems to save me both time and mess. A cold filter change is a snap for my car, with no drips. I like hot oil changes as I believe there is more contaminants in solution when draining.
 
Recently changed the oil on my two Ford Transit vans. Using Mobil 1 oil filters. I will change the oil at 7,500 miles and re-use the filter one time. Oh and using Pennzoil Platinum 5w30
 
+1 on every other time. I'm using Fram Ultra's for that reason.

On the civic I'm going to use the ultra for 2 years total with approx 20,000 km total driven in that time.
 
you know for the price of a filter and Im under there anyway why not replace.I know it might not need it but for a few extra $$ whats the harm except for my wallet. My budget is not tight enough not to replace the filter.
 
Very good post by Patman.


And a lot of very good posts by a lot of other members as well.

I've gone 14k and 3 runs with 1 filter on my Nissan Altima 3.5. You will be fine skipping a change.
 
I think the OP's question has been addressed. So-is it ok to go two OCIs when it's the element type and you just open a "cartridge" under the hood and switch out the media?
 
Originally Posted By: UncleDave
How do I feel about ? - who cares.
Whose thoughts are worth listening to?

Hondas maintenance minder staggers the filter change interval.
Modern autos typically create much less than a gram of contamination per K driven.

a couple of caveats.

1. The rig starts out clean - you can't be doing a sludge cleanup regimen.

2. As long as the filter is constructed correctly and rated to go the mileage. No 5K 1.39 specials on for 20K.

Otherwise changing filters every other OCI is fine.

You don't throw away half used paper towels, or half used tires or other half used consumable items.

IF you just can't sleep at night go 1-1.

On certain cars 10K is a walk in the park, on others a really bad idea.
Is that sentra a chain drive or belt drive car? Di or port injection?
The chain drive and DI cars are harder on oil and tend to shear it down.

UD



I’m more like this when the vehicle, the filter, the lube are right for it.
But when I can’t find a long life filter with a higher PRV psid setting … well, a $6 filter for 7k OCI is what’s happening …
 
One filter, one OCI
smile.gif
 
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