Oil Filter Change Everytime or Ever? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

warmblood58 · #1 05-20-2012, 02:41 PM

I tend to change my OF every other time but was thinking the other day that while we all do this out of habit and general tradition, is it really necessary to change the filter every time or as often as every time. I drain my sump and and oil cooler completely and the oil drains out of the filter housing so in essence, what is left is a used oil soaked filter. I have a hard time believing that these filters need to be changed often and that they cannot perform for a much longer period of time. Anyone know more about this regarding performance and have any hard data on this?

sixto · #2 05-20-2012, 03:22 PM

What's left is a used oil soaked filter with all sorts of gunk collected from the oil.

Ostensibly you can monitor pressure in the oil filter canister over time and replace the filter as the pressure increases. You'll have to compare over time since canister pressure varies with rpm and temperature. Alternatively you can monitor flow and/or pressure in the bypass line. An increase suggests limited flow through the filter.

Sixto
87 300D^2

cessna5354 · #3 05-20-2012, 03:52 PM

I have no quanitive data, however It would haunt me if I did not chg OF every oil change. Cheap insurance, if nothing else.

I have gone all synth. On all vehicles to extend the cycle.

Still Dino st 30 wgt in the bus, 6V92TA.

GregMN · #4 05-20-2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warmblood58

Anyone know more about this regarding performance and have any hard data on this?

Yes, the manufacturer of your equipment does.

Follow their recommendations.

vstech · #5 05-20-2012, 05:18 PM

I'd sooner change the filter, and leave the oil in, than the other way around...

warmblood58 · #6 05-20-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

What's left is a used oil soaked filter with all sorts of gunk collected from the oil.

Ostensibly you can monitor pressure in the oil filter canister over time and replace the filter as the pressure increases. You'll have to compare over time since canister pressure varies with rpm and temperature. Alternatively you can monitor flow and/or pressure in the bypass line. An increase suggests limited flow through the filter.

Sixto
87 300D^2

Excellent feedback Sixto - some filters are more efficient when they are dirty versus clean

warmblood58 · #7 05-20-2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

I'd sooner change the filter, and leave the oil in, than the other way around...

but we know that additives break down through time and mileage not to mention lubrication values -

warmblood58 · #8 05-20-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregMN

Yes, the manufacturer of your equipment does.

Follow their recommendations.

While I usually agree with the manufacturer in this case not so sure as part of their MO is supporting their vendors as well - One reason why I am curious about this is the huge amount of debris that we throw into the landfills each year. If we can effectively get more life out of something, we should, as long as it makes good sense to do so. Very curious about other opinions and any data on this - thanks!

shertex · #9 05-20-2012, 05:58 PM

I went round and round (in my mind) on filter and oil change intervals a while back. I guess I concluded that all the anecdotal information posted on this forum is just that...anecdotal...and thus really shouldn't trump the recommendations of MB engineers. So I go with M1 TDT every 5-6k miles and change the filter every time. I plan on having the engines go a LONG time and thus don't want to do anything that runs the risk of damaging the engine.

I understand the case to be made for long intervals....and I was trying to convince myself....but for me, it's just not worth the risk.

vstech · #10 05-20-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warmblood58

but we know that additives break down through time and mileage not to mention lubrication values -

oh, Iwouldn't personally recommend to change just the filter when it's due for a change, but my point was, I would rather change just the filter, than the oil, and not the filter.
personally, I'd like to change the filter every 2000 miles, and the oil at 10K, with synthetic. especially if the oil is synthetic, and the filters have good bypass sections.

Diesel911 · #11 05-20-2012, 06:25 PM

Sounds like there is a lot of possible candidates for a By-pass Oil Filter.

If you read the Manual as to how much Oil Flows through the Oil Filter the Full Flow section of the Oil Filter seems small and inadequate.

Compare the Stock Full Flow section at about 1/3rd of the Filter length to the Baldwin P102 (Hastings LF380) Filter that has about 1/2 of the length of a Full flow Section.
The Baldwin also has the lowest Micron Full Flow section at a nominal 20 microns.

I mostly change the Filter when I change the Oil. Once in a while I get lazy or just had not ordered the Oil Filter on time to have it ready.
Typically what happens is I had been putting off the Oil Chand am way overdue for an Oil Change but my Oil level is low.

I don't want to add more Oil before the Oil Change and I do not want to wait for an Oil Filter to arrive. So I end up changing the Oil and not the Filter.

Since getting the Car I installed a By-pass Oil filter that is supposed to filter down to 0.50 nominal microns. So if I miss an Oil or Filter Change it is not as big of a deal.

As long as the Oil Return Line on the By-pass Oil Filter is hot after driving a while you know Oil is pasing through the Filter and you do not have to change it.

davidlee · #12 05-20-2012, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

oh, Iwouldn't personally recommend to change just the filter when it's due for a change, but my point was, I would rather change just the filter, than the oil, and not the filter.
personally, I'd like to change the filter every 2000 miles, and the oil at 10K, with synthetic. especially if the oil is synthetic, and the filters have good bypass sections.

I agree,
On a gas engine you might be able to get away with changing the filter every other time ( as long as you dont go too far over change intervals) I """""personally"""""" skip everyother time in my gas (Thats just my thing, not saying its right but ive owned it for 75K miles, it now has 280K and runs like a dream)
But on a diesel, change the filter every time you change the oil, Get that built up soot out of there. I wouldn't laugh at someone who said they changed their filter twice per oil cycle.

pawoSD · #13 05-20-2012, 07:03 PM

Why skimp on something so cheap. I always do both filter AND oil every 5k. Minimal cost, works out to barely once a year among my vehicles.....I'm so anal that when I get a new vehicle or engine I usually only run the oil I put into it upon acquisition for about 1500 miles then do filter/oil again.

charmalu · #14 05-20-2012, 07:11 PM

It seems like changing the oil and leaving in the old filter is like dumping in a qt of dirty oil to the new mix.
I have read that a filter becomes more efficient the more contaminates it catches. I have also read that there is more wear to the engine with an oil change.

why not do an oil analysis to see where you are at. may be changing the oil too often.

Well Iam off to take a shower, think I`ll turn my skivies inside out to get some more milage out of them.

Charlie

vstech · #15 05-20-2012, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Why skimp on something so cheap. I always do both filter AND oil every 5k. Minimal cost, works out to barely once a year among my vehicles.....I'm so anal that when I get a new vehicle or engine I usually only run the oil I put into it upon acquisition for about 1500 miles then do filter/oil again.

Ha, I do the same thing.
I always change the oil immediately when I get a car, and then again in the next 500 - 1500 miles... sometimes, I'll put Dino oil in for the first change, then put in what I want in the car after. I always change the filter as well.