How to change oil filter w/o loosing all the oil

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Sep 9, 2008
Messages
92
Location
CA
Ok,

I've made the switch to Pennzoil Platinum 5-30w with 1,350 miles on my 08 Sierra thanks to the great information I found here on this site. I'm using a Wix filter and planning on changing it at 4,350 miles. But how in the world can I do this without the engine oil spilling all over the place once the filter is removed?

Any advice would be very welcomed.
Thanks!
 
Don't do it. mid-OCI filter change is crazy-talk. Just run your interval and cut the old filter open for a look-see. After you will not want to change mid-OCI again, more like run it two intervals.
 
I'm planning on running the Pennzoil Platinum in my truck for 6,000 miles. So your saying to just leave the same oil filter in for the entire 6,000 miles?
 
Agreed. Leave the filter on.

With a new engine, I would change the oil & filter a little earlier if you're planning on keeping it a looooong time.
 
filters tend to, well , filter better with some miles on them. I would not change out the filter early. Hondas/Acuras state in the manual to change filter every other oci. My pure 1 filter will get changed out this oci, it will have been on there for two oci's, total of 12K
 
Don't bother changing the filter. You will not benefit and any off the shelf filter can go 5-6k miles. I have run supertech filters to 9k miles before and found them to work just fine. In my thread down positioned tacoma I run Supertechs to 5k miles and never have startup issues even after 4-5k miles on the oil.

I sometimes like to play with a Motorcraft FL400s or use a Wix Filter when it is convenient to get them.

Oil filteration is meant to catch the slightly smaller big hunks of floating debris that the pickup screen may have missed. No matter how great the filter media there is always the chance of a bypass event allowing unfilterd oil into the lubrication circuit. So long as a filter holds up, doesn't leak and the media stays intact there is not much to worry about here.
 
Thanks for the advice, so looks like I'm going to leave it in place until I change the oil.

Tpitcher,

I thought the reason to run syn oil was to extend the oil change intervals. If (quality) dino oil can be run for 5,000 miles why do you see a concern running syn for 6,000 miles? I'm just curious? I've read some folks going 9-12k on PP with no issues and even that the oil checked and it came up fine.

Thanks
 
You can run syn for 9-10k miles easily; its just a better idea to do the first 2-3 changes earlier to ensure flush-out of any break in junk that may get in the oil.
 
Quote:
I thought the reason to run syn oil was to extend the oil change intervals. If (quality) dino oil can be run for 5,000 miles why do you see a concern running syn for 6,000 miles? I'm just curious? I've read some folks going 9-12k on PP with no issues and even that the oil checked and it came up fine.


YMMV. PP isn't marketed as an extended drain oil like M1EP and Amsoil. Some do well in the 10k range ..some times it's taxed
21.gif


Ask yourself how long it takes you to reach your mileage limit. With few exceptions, it would be hard for someone not to manage a 6 month OCI. What you use would depend on how many miles are accumulated in the 6 month period. It's the same with filters except that if you're doing enough mileage, you can run them for 2 OCI's. 10k or less a year? I tend to say 6 months on conventional (outside of a severe 4 season environment, perhaps) with any filter changed every OCI. The further you're over 10k ..then the more you can justify higher cost lubes and higher cost filters.
 
I drive 1,500 mostly city (stop & go) miles a month, freeways on the weekends. So based on my 6,000 OCI that I want I’m looking at changing my oil every 4 months (4x a year). However after the next two changes I think I’m going to extend my OCI to 9,000 miles based what addguy suggested. And that would put me at 6 month OCI’s, do you think the Wix oil filter can handle that mileage?

Thanks for everyone help.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: gnet158
I’m looking at changing my oil every 4 months (4x a year).

That will be 3 times a year. At least in Canada, we have 12 months year
wink.gif
... even if we have a 6 months winter
shocked2.gif
frown.gif


Originally Posted By: gnet158
However after the next two changes I think I’m going to extend my OCI to 9,000 miles based what addguy suggested. And that would put me at 6 month OCI’s, do you think the Wix oil filter can handle that mileage?

Yes, oil filters can handle way more than we think.
 
Last edited:
Your sierra has an oil life monitor why not use it? Especially since you're wanting to extend your OCI. It adjusts the OCI based on driving conditions. Most people don't go by the OLM because they want to change the oil sooner than it says to.
 
The first time I changed oil on a older GM I bought with the intention of using as a work car, a good bit of oil ran out of the engine when I pulled the filter off.
May have been nearly a cup of oil.
Given the filter location and the likelyhood of a sizable oil gallery just above it, I realized that it was no big deal.
Since the filter is mounted vertically (3.1), I fill the filter before install and no longer worry about it.
 
Thanks again for the advise and for catching my math skills.

I'll leave both in for 6,000 miles and then change them. I'll wait until after my third oil change to to run them for 9,000 miles between OCI.
 
What is the current consensus on filling up oil filter before putting a new one on? I have always filled mine up, making a mess usually in the process, but have seen some here saying that this is not good practice. Something about you have to fill up the outside holes only. Anyone know what I am talking about?

Keeping on topic, I run the Amsoil EA filter 3x 5K intervals and will run the Mobil 1 EP oil filters 2x 5K intervals. I have thought about taking the plunge on going 4x 5K on the EA filter, but can't bring myself to do it.
 
Last edited:
I always pre-fill mine. If it's in a location where it would be prone to spilling before I get it installed, I only fill it enough to saturate the media. If it's vertical I'll fill it completely.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom