Using cheap oil filters first?

[Rxman01]

Using cheap oil filters first? Hey guys, I have a question for you all. I have a 2015 Subaru crosstrek. I've been taking good care of it, I only use brand name full synthetic, (Mobil 1 or castrol edge, usually) and a mobile one or a [email protected] filter. Every 7500 miles. By the way, for a laugh, the dealer ( or at least the young lady that writes at my car when I bring it in) insists that "tough driving that we do here on Long Island" requires 3000 mile oil change intervals. I politely decline and do my own. I recently came across a closeout deal and bought four inexpensive ($2.00 -I don't remember the brand name, a name I never heard of before ) Oil filters for this car. My thought process was between oil changes I could change my 5000 mile old Mobil 1 and get "brand new" filter, Even if it's of dubious quality for the last 2500 miles. The filter is a top mount under the hood, I can change the filter in about 10 seconds. My second thought was for my next oil change, put this filter for a week, To get most of the basic crap out of the oil,and then change to my good mobile one filter. Any thoughts on the wisdom of this? After I made the purchase, I was wondering if I was being silly by putting on a crappy filter when I've typically been spending $12 or more on a good one. I'd love to hear your comments. Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Seriously for one or two changes use them it isn't going to hurt a thing. Now if it was going to take 10K miles off your Honda Motor we might be talking about something of significance.

 

[DuckRyder]

This should be interesting - possibly not in a good way. First of all, there is the Subaru bypass valve pressure specification ... this started being beat about the internet about the time Columbus discovered the new world... it is as resolved today as it was in 1492. Currently it is being discussed (read: argued, hypothesized, pontificated, hand wrung and guessed about) in the oil filter forum, should you care to pull up a chair and throw your hat into the ring. Then we can get to the "cheap" filter issue. There are "cheap" filters that are quite good and "cheap" filters that are quite bad. There are also expensive filters that are quite good and quite bad (some would argue the K&N might fall into the "expensive, quite bad" category.) So you're gonna have to tell us what your cheap filters are to get any sort of accurate opinions (read: wild guesses) on your question. That said, I will postulate that it would be highly unlikely for any filter to make an appreciable difference in 2500 miles.

 

[JC1]

Which filter is costing you $12? I hope it's not the K&N. Do what you want to do with your car. Personally I've made the switch to Fram Ultra based on what's been observed and posted here. I'll use the ultra for 2 OCI on the Caravan (which will probably be a 1 to 1 1/2 year duration). On the civic I'll keep the filter on for two full years which is about 20,000 km. They can go for a longer mileage duration, but I want to see what the first change catches in the media.

 

[Zee09]

In the end most likely it is just a waste of time. If the filter is certified for your car, use it but in the end, nothing will be gained.

 

[CT8]

What are you trying to gain? Exactly

 

[dawgn86]

just stick to your current OCI...

 

[danez_yoda]

agree with above. Waste of time. oil is so good nowadays there are very few engine failures on a regularly maintained engine that are attributed to using a poor oil filter. Show me any blown engine and tie it directly to a pattern of using a Tearolator, OCOD, etc. There will be none. Enjoy your car with the regularly scheduled maintenance.

 

[eljefino]

Use the junky filter in the summertime. Driving's less hard on them then.

 

[PeterPolyol]

Going to assume the cheap filters are cellulose media and that you have absolutely no other use for them otherwise. Why not use as short changers, to absorb any moisture that doesn't get burned off. Definitely an intermediate filter for if you see short trips/cold weather.

 

[NormanBuntz]

I prefer the time saved by using better filters (Fram Ultra) for longer terms vs. cheaper filters for shorter terms. And make sure those cheap ones meet your Crosstek's specs.

 

[Patman]

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable running some cheap unknown oil filter on any car I own. Maybe you could use them as paperweights

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted by Patman

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable running some cheap unknown oil filter on any car I own. Maybe you could use them as paperweights

Remember when Bob ran the test with no oil filter on his Ford Escort? Oil tested the same for wear particles as with filter.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted by danez_yoda

agree with above. Waste of time. oil is so good nowadays there are very few engine failures on a regularly maintained engine that are attributed to using a poor oil filter. Show me any blown engine and tie it directly to a pattern of using a Tearolator, OCOD, etc. There will be none. Enjoy your car with the regularly scheduled maintenance.

This^^^

 

[bbhero]

Originally Posted by wemay

Originally Posted by danez_yoda

agree with above. Waste of time. oil is so good nowadays there are very few engine failures on a regularly maintained engine that are attributed to using a poor oil filter. Show me any blown engine and tie it directly to a pattern of using a Tearolator, OCOD, etc. There will be none. Enjoy your car with the regularly scheduled maintenance.

This^^^

^^^^^^^^^ I agree Wemay. Danez hit this right on. Very, very good post by Danez Yoda.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted by Bluestream

Originally Posted by Patman

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable running some cheap unknown oil filter on any car I own. Maybe you could use them as paperweights

Remember when Bob ran the test with no oil filter on his Ford Escort? Oil tested the same for wear particles as with filter.

I do recall that test, but I also recall that his wear numbers really weren't all that great on that little Escort. At the same time, there is a difference between running no oil filter and running a cheap one. What if the cheap one falls apart and pieces of media go through the engine? That is a remote possibility, but the chances of that happening with a high quality filter are much much less than with a cheap unknown filter. It's possible these filters are so cheap because they are counterfeits, or are made by some hole in the wall oil filter manufacturer in some remote part of the world that isn't up to speed on technology. There is just too much risk here, I still say pass.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted by Bluestream

Remember when Bob ran the test with no oil filter on his Ford Escort? Oil tested the same for wear particles as with filter.

That's because UOAs are pretty much worthless to measure wear unless an engine is destroying itself or you have a coolant leak. etc that will show up in the report. And by that time, you already know it's toast.

 

[Rolla07]

Use it for a full OCI interval. Id doubt that 5k miles will result in ur expensive filter in being less efficient and not getting all the particles..i stick to 3-5k mile intervals and use napa proselects without worry. Id go longer but i get bored sooner..lol.

 

[Dallas69]

Yes you are being silly. If the filter meets your specs just use it for 4000 miles or so and toss it. What is the brand?

 

[Rxman01]

Thanks, guys for weighing in with all the information you have shared and just for checking in. I couldn't remember the name so I finally got to the garage and took the filter off the shelf. It's a Pentius.