Originally Posted By: SilverC6
That way, it doesn't bother me when I throw it into the garbage can.
I don't believe every state considers used oil filters as hazardous waste, but tossing them in the trash seems like a pretty bad practice, IMO.
Originally Posted By: Joenpb
Originally Posted By: CELICA_XX
So many people on this site recommend using the Fram ULTRA for multiple oil changes, so I finally decided to try it a few weeks ago.
I drained the oil and kept the old filter on.
The very next morning I checked my oil and it was considerably dirty/dark compared to how it should look 12 hours after an OCI.
I didn't realize just how much oil comes out when I remove the filter, not to mention the filter itself being full of dirty oil.
I won't be doing it again.
Exactly, people here do so because they don't want to change the filter, too messy I guess.
Not exactly. The oil coming out is relatively small, and the effect on the new oil in the sump is negligible. I actually prefer having some used on in there, since the dipstick on the Civic is a major pain to read without some color to it; color that means nothing, BTW.
The filter on the Civic is underneath the engine and vertical. The filter on the Forester is on top of the engine and vertical.
Neither filter creates much of a mess, especially since I have a lift and large collection container to use at the local hobby shop.
I choose not to replace them every single interval, because they don't need to be. If a filter is designed for a certain mileage (probably a conservative spec, at that,) there are no engine issues, and there are no apparent risks (who knows someone who properly maintains his/her car who has had an oil-related engine failure? :sees no hands in the air.) There are supposed benefits, however, in that a used filter will filter more, and for a properly maintained engine, the risk of particulate loading is pretty small, IMO, and based on reading here.
Originally Posted By: Joenpb
I have to say i find this thread refreshing, many people using some common sense and going with OEM specifications, or erring conservative. A much better alternative to using a car or truck as an oil & filter test bed, and finding the limits the hard way.
I find it interesting when people cherry pick and reach the conclusion they wanted to come to. Did you feel like you were finding the limits of your oil and filter 10, 20, or 30 years ago, when the intervals weren't much shorter, but the oil and filters and engines were much lower quality, relatively speaking?
Materiel comes with a spec for a reason. If an oil and filter are apparently or empirically shown to be good up to and even beyond their spec with very low to no risk, and even some benefit; and if there is no apparent or empirical evidence to support the supposition that cutting said specified or prescribed interval by any fraction will provide any benefit, then what's the point of running a shorter interval?
The simple fact, is that if you change your oil and filter more frequently than what is based on empirical data and trusted conjecture, then the benefit is solely for you and your peace of mind, not the actual vehicle which is being discussed. Be that because you like changing your oil (for whatever reason,) have heard stories that oppose what many other and I have said here, or because you can't assimilate new methods and accepted maintenance schedules, the fact is, the vast majority of our engines will outlast the rest of the car.
The difference, however, will be that an appropriate maintenance schedule will conserve resources, waste less time and money, and possibly benefit the vehicle in some immeasurable way (wear, lower risk, etc.)
To end my rant, I'll just say that common sense has nothing to do with when you change your oil and filter, since 'common sense' is based solely on emotion these days, and not data.
