2009 Buick LaCrosse with under 100,000 miles on it. It has an amsoil bypass filter on it. I gave the car to a family in need. They took it in for an oil and filter change. Only the regular engine filter was changed and fresh oil added. The bypass filter was not changed. Will the engine be harmed if they only change the regular oil filter and oil at regular intervals and leave the bypass filter attached and unchanged? Ideally, the bypass filter would be changed or removed, but I need the lowest cost option. Thank you.
What happens if I don’t change the bypass filter?
- Thread starter Bouvie
- Start date
Having previously had a bypass filter on my old TDI, it only got changed once every 50-60K miles.
I would say it's probably fine for even longer than that on gassers, since they don't produce soot the way diesels do.
My vote would be change the oil and regular filter, worry about the bypass filter later.
I would say it's probably fine for even longer than that on gassers, since they don't produce soot the way diesels do.
My vote would be change the oil and regular filter, worry about the bypass filter later.
How many miles on the bypass and what is that filters efficiency rating?
I've never used a bypass filter, but it is my understanding that only about a quarter of the oil passes through the bypass filter. Is this correct? So shouldn't bypass filters last a lot longer? I would think that if a bypass filter is changed every second or third oci, it should be fine.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
If the bypass filter clogs up, the oil simply won't flow through it. It won't kill your engine.
One of the methods to check that was in the older manuals when I ran them is after running the engine, check the filter to see if it is warm. If it is warm, oil is flowing through it. If the filter and lines remain cold/ambient, it is clogged.
One of the methods to check that was in the older manuals when I ran them is after running the engine, check the filter to see if it is warm. If it is warm, oil is flowing through it. If the filter and lines remain cold/ambient, it is clogged.
I'm just impressed the OP has been a member for over 8 years and has half his posts are on this thread. 
Bouvie
Great work donating a car to a family in need
I've been running a Amsoil Dual Bypass system for 10 yrs
The EABP90, and EABP100 Bypass Filter are able to filter oil for 60,000 and 70,000 miles Respectfully
I exclusively run the EABP100 filters for the extra size and filtering ability.
In Fact I have an extra EABP90 filter that I would gladly donate to your cause
Send a message, and I'll ship it to you.
Good Luck to you!
Wow!! Good on you. Awesome really.
