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Oil change/fiascos

1320 messages,  Last post on Sep 26, 2011 at 7:42 AM

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What is this discussion about? Engine, Oil

Messages Page 128 of 132

#1271 of 1320 Personal Observation...re. Oil Filters by deminin

Apr 13, 2008 (8:45 am)

We have a 2006 Impala LTZ which has an "Oil Life" monitor...which tells me how soon I need to change the oil/filter. I'm not too sure how it works...probably some sort of Light/Sensor, which measures the clarity of the oil as it passes the sensor. I'm kind of old fashioned, and change the oil/filter every 3,000 miles, anyway. Over the past 2.5 years, I've tried Wix, Napa, Fram and WalMart filters. I notice that with the Wix, Napa, and WalMart filters, at about 3.000 miles, the sensor says I have between 60 and 65% of the oil life remaining. With the Fram, the number is usually around 50%. Also, I notice that when I remove the old filter, the W-W-N filters seem to be "heavier" than the Fram. The combination of the oil sensor, and the "weight" of the old filter tells me that the WalMart, Wix, and Napa filters are probably removing more dirt from the oil than the Fram does. Based upon my experiences, I have quit using Fram, and may just go with the WalMart, since they are only about $2.50. I'm not sure who makes these filters, but they seem to perform just as well as the $8 Wix...and certainly far better than the $5 Fram.

#1272 of 1320 Re: Personal Observation...re. Oil Filters [deminin] by shipo

Apr 13, 2008 (10:30 am)

Replying to: deminin (Apr 13, 2008 8:45 am)
I think we need to clear up a few misconceptions.
 
1) Your Oil Life Monitor (OLM) does NOT in any way look at your oil. The system is programmed to assume your oil is in a certain condition based upon pre-programmed metrics that in turn were based upon hundreds of thousands of miles of empirical observations (metrics such as how much fuel was consumed, the number of engine revolutions, and the number of cold starts since the OLM was last reset). Said another way, you could use rot-gut oil and an empty filter can and get the exact same OLM recommendations as you would with Mobil 1 oil and a pricey Mobil 1 filter.
 
2) Determining filter effectiveness based upon weight is an exceedingly poor and error ridden methodology, and as such, is not a definitive measure at all.
 
3) While Fram filters have shown up in study after study as being of less quality at any given price point (compared to the competition), that isn't to say that it isn't doing its job after an exceedingly short Oil Change Interval (OCI) of only 3,000 miles. In fact, with an OCI that short, I'd venture to say that any filter (or no filter at all) would be just as effective.
 
4) Please understand that I'm not defending Fram filters, I wouldn't use one on my cars if you paid me to do so.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1273 of 1320 Re: Personal Observation...re. Oil Filters [shipo] by isellhondas

Apr 15, 2008 (7:35 am)

Replying to: shipo (Apr 13, 2008 10:30 am)
If anyone ever saw a Fram filter cut in half, compared to a quality filter, they would never use one.
 
But, Fram is perfectly capable of making high quality oil filters too and they do to match the specs of the companies who buy them and private brand them.
 
The off the shelf, discount store orange ones are made to compete price wise.

#1274 of 1320 Re: I agree completely - [zueslewis] by goodgradesnow

May 28, 2008 (12:05 pm)

Replying to: zueslewis (Sep 06, 2003 6:33 am)
I recommend that you put synthetic oil in your car it may be a little more expensive but it will do better then regular oil for your car.

#1275 of 1320 Re: I agree completely - [goodgradesnow] by shipo

May 28, 2008 (12:21 pm)

Replying to: goodgradesnow (May 28, 2008 12:05 pm)
Uhhh, you do realize that you're responding to a post that is nearly five years old, don't you?

#1276 of 1320 Re: I agree completely - [shipo] by finzz

May 28, 2008 (6:40 pm)

Replying to: shipo (May 28, 2008 12:21 pm)
LOL... well, it's still good advice!

#1277 of 1320 This post may revive this discussion! by wtd44

Sep 06, 2008 (3:32 pm)

We have had a lucky "escape" from what could have been the destruction of the engine in our 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee V-6. A few days ago, my daughter drove about 70 miles from her job location to our family house. The trip was mostly at Interstate speeds. I happened to glance at the driveway under the car where she had parked the vehicle some 30 minutes prior. It was obvious that the vehicle was loosing a meaningful volume of fluid. We proceeded some two miles to the Jeep dealership where we had an appointment for a totally unrelated warranty repair which amounted to the replacement of the electronic shifting module. We asked them to look into the source of the leak as well. The next day I was called and told that there had been an oil filter failure! The tech saved the filter for me. He found a depression in one area of the rubber seal ring, and could find no other apparent problem. He "guessed" that the ring had allowed oil to begin leaking out. We are grateful that the engine lost only about one quart of oil before the discovery. Mind you that at the time of the discovery of the leak, the car had traveled some 2500 miles total on that filter and oil change! What can be concluded here?

#1278 of 1320 Re: This post may revive this discussion! [wtd44] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 06, 2008 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: wtd44 (Sep 06, 2008 3:32 pm)
Somebody tightened it too much probably.

#1279 of 1320 Re: Overtightened? [Mr_Shiftright] by wtd44

Sep 06, 2008 (7:32 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 06, 2008 7:04 pm)
I wondered about that very thing, but saw no reason for the leak to start 2500 miles post installation! And I confess to being the installer. I've never had this happen over several decades, but then, the Purolator filters under scrutiny here seem to be excessively thin-walled to me.

#1280 of 1320 Re: Overtightened? [wtd44] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 06, 2008 (7:46 pm)

Replying to: wtd44 (Sep 06, 2008 7:32 pm)
Oh don't ever use a Purolator in an Audi. Always use German filters or Audi filter. You'll have this trouble time and time again. MAHLE or BOSCH or Audi.

Messages Page 128 of 132

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