Oil filters are getting tiny

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

I

Even on my Jeep's old 4.0 I've gotten into the habit of changing the filter every other oil change.

Every other oil change? Really, they're so cheap. Newer cars are so clean with emissions and microfinishing of bearing surfaces that used oil comes out pretty clean. If you're old enough, you may remember that 1960 and 70 cars needed plugs, points, rotors, etc. every 5K-10K miles. My 08 Camry Hybrid calls for new plugs at 120K miles.

True story, about 15 years ago, an associate tried to off himself by putting a hose in the tail pipe of his new Saab 99E. His wife found him in the car drunk and passed out. It turns out most new cars don't put out enough CO to kill you. Lesson learned, use your 66 Chevy Impala if you want to off yourself.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

You've nailed what can be the danger in the idea that just going with a larger filter is going to be mo betta. Sacrificing filtration for flow is bad juju.

Isn't that the K&N business model?

[rfuerst911sc]

Many high performance cars now run the same oil filter part number as the filters that go on garden tractors !

[yetibone]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Modern engines don't dirty up filters unless the engine is damaged and eating itself up, and by then a filter won't help.

Bingo!

Effectively controlling condensation in the crankcase, mitigating any blow-by gases, and drastic leaps in engine management technology have brought us to where we are today. The result is longer service intervals, and less critical component wear, thus, an engine can go a quarter million miles without a major overhaul, where 30 years ago, you'd only expect 100k.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

And cars went from $3000 to $40,000 .......

Right, and you still make $1.25 an hour ...

G

[wdfifteen]

A couple years ago I walked into NAPA and for the first time ordered oil filters for my Tundra and my lawnmower (16 hp B&S V-twin) at the same time. They were the same part. For years I bought them separately and never noticed.

[beepbeep]

I just buy Volvo 240 filter. It's big, it's cheap and thread/gasket size seems to be the same on most cars anyway.

Re: modern cars being clean...my "modern" VW Passat drinks half a quart of oil every 700 miles due to "modern" thin piston oil rings allowing much more blow-by. Factory says up to quart per 700 miles is OK. My older cars never used oil between changes.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by beepbeep

Re: modern cars being clean...my "modern" VW Passat drinks half a quart of oil every 700 miles due to "modern" thin piston oil rings allowing much more blow-by. Factory says up to quart per 700 miles is OK. My older cars never used oil between changes.

POS. That is not normal. Sure, it won't break from that but totally bad design with "specs" made up later to avoid having to buy new engines. All my cars use minimal amounts (no refills between 10k oil change intervals). That incudes my VDub - 2011 TDI.

G

[sc_rufctr]

The Lambo way. No mucking around!

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Now that's an oil filter! lol

[beepbeep]

Originally Posted by aigel

POS. That is not normal. Sure, it won't break from that but totally bad design with "specs" made up later to avoid having to buy new engines. All my cars use minimal amounts (no refills between 10k oil change intervals). That incudes my VDub - 2011 TDI.

G

To be frank, manual for my -93 Audi S4 says "up to 1L per 1000km is OK if driving hard" as well. But it seems that newer engines are using thinner oil control piston rings in order to lower friction losses, which inherently raises oil losses...