Wis3d may have the answer. Just went out and looked at the prefilter that I changed tonight and the media is black (no goopy stuff). The chinese oil doesn't "settle out" like the diner oil, it doesn't appear to have any animal fats, or very little, in it. After sitting for a week it is the same translucent amber color top to bottom (almost looks like bio) with a few scraps of breading sitting on the bottom. Diner oil is typically 1/4 to 1/2 cloudy, fatty sh-t on the bottom. Oil in the car is at about 130-140 degrees when it hits the filters, 180 at the IP.

Think that I'll buy a bagful of the prefilters and see how things develop over the next few thousand miles.

Appreciate the input,

Jim

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2005 C240 4matic wagon (daily driver)
87 190D - 225K (on loan)
85 190D - 312K (on loan)
2011 Subaru Legacy AWD (Wife's)