Extended oil change intervals..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 13 2007, 08:38 AM) [snapback]538824[/snapback]</div>

Evan:
What brand/model oil filter do you use?
The oil filter type in an extended interval is critical.

I have changed the oil in my 2000 Insight at 30 to 36,000 (one year). It now has 160,000 miles on it.
I use Amsoil synthetic lube and Amsoil filters at their recommended drain interval. I previously had a Nissan Maxima and Nissan Frontier that I changed at 24,000 miles or 1 year per Amsoil recommendations for product. Both were traded in at over 100,000 miles with no leakage or usage.

Several friend had used Amsoil with good results and one friend sells it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Nov 15 2007, 11:16 AM) [snapback]539982[/snapback]</div>

Like I said, I can't find the spec for the PureOne filters, so I emailed Bosch directly. They made the PureOne filter. This is their response,

Those are great numbers, I wonder why they didn't publish them. From their spec and other filter study website (http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilter....html#purolator), this seems like a keeper. Amazon.com is having a sale on PureOne filter if anybody's interested. Search for PL14476, pack of 2.

 

10-15 micron particle size is appx. 600 grit. or .0005 in. Looking at a piece of sandpaper with a magnifying glass will show how big and nasty those would be to moving parts. I like the pure one filter but am still unclear about those ratings they and others give. Those particles are big. Sand some wood with them.

My dad and I used Frantz filters back in the days of yore, which claimed sub micron filtering I believe. Unfortunately good quality toilet paper became scarce and we gave up on it many years ago.

I just know a good oil filter has to filter better than 10-15 microns, and I don't get how ANY 15 micron particle makes it's way through the filter media. I bought the Toy. filters, and only can assume they do a good job.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr.Vanvandenburg @ Nov 21 2007, 10:19 AM) [snapback]542504[/snapback]</div>

There is an interesting article at this URL: http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/89-5R3.pdf

The Mobil 1 filter complies with the SAE J1858 Multi-Pass Efficiency test.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr.Vanvandenburg @ Nov 21 2007, 01:19 PM) [snapback]542504[/snapback]</div>

Toyota OEM oil filter is made by Denso in Thailand (at least the ones I bought from the dealer). http://www.densoproducts.com/product.asp?productCategoryID=3

The Denso filter uses paper as the filtering media. As I understand, paper allows bigger particles to to pass and more restrictive to oil flow compared to synthetic and cellulose blend media.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Nov 21 2007, 01:30 PM) [snapback]542513[/snapback]</div>

apriusfan, thanks for the link. From the same website, they have a TSB on extended oil drain intervals, http://filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/98-1.pdf

To summarize,

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 13 2007, 07:38 AM) [snapback]538824[/snapback]</div>

I've used synthetic oils for 20+ years and currently use AMSOIL oil and filter. Their research boasts 25,000 mile intervals and while I balk at that a little, it's always dependent on the way we drive. I typically do once or twice a year (12-15K), sometimes I just change the filter when the mood strikes me. Ultimately oil testing will be clear on the correct interval for each usage.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 13 2007, 07:38 AM) [snapback]538824[/snapback]</div>

I've used synthetic oils for 20+ years and currently use AMSOIL oil and filter. Their research boasts 25,000 mile intervals and while I balk at that a little, it's always dependent on the way we drive. I typically do once or twice a year (12-15K), sometimes I just change the filter when the mood strikes me. Ultimately oil testing will be clear on the correct interval for each usage.

 

I change my oil every 10k or so. I use mobil1 I did a UOA at 11k and they said I could continue using the oil. I of course, changed the oil but felt good about their recommendation to keep using it.

The UOA places are set up to service fleets with high volume engines. You are supposed to send in the oil every so often and they tell you when it's time to change it. When an engine takes gallons of oil per change a UOA is much cheaper than just changing it on an arbitrary schedule.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Nov 21 2007, 09:58 AM) [snapback]542384[/snapback]</div>

The Pure One PL20195 works out to be a nice, 2x oversized filter on the Prius. Plenty of filter area (because the filter is so large) so I'm not worried about it getting clogged with extended intervals. As you found out, it's a pretty good filter too.

I will probably run Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w-30 to 15,000 miles and then have Blackstone test it (and TBN too!). I'll keep you all posted.

 

Wow, that M1 5w20 is doing very well! It does seem to have thickened up a bit.

I am tempted to try 5w20 in my Prius with a UOA like that one, but I've got a box of M1 5w30 waiting to go in right now to replace the factory fill, likely this weekend.

I would be careful at the longer range of UOAs, past experience shows that at some point the oil's effectiveness may drop off significantly and wear may shoot up, but 9k should be OK!

 

Thanks for that information Evan. It makes me feel better about going ~9K on my last change.

 

That's consistent with my last results. I just got a Blackstone report back (M1 5W30) and the TBN was 4.6 on their scale at 6,000mi. They suggested I take it up to 6,500 next time but I'll probably go ahead and try 7,000mi.

 

My cousin is a courier and drives a 4-cyl 1996 Toyota pickup. He changes the oil with Mobil1 5W-30 every 10,000 miles. He's got 450,000 miles on the engine now and still going strong.

 

Eye Ball test of Mobil 1


Evan, my bet is a 10,000 interval for Mobil 1 5w30.

Been changing my own oil for 40 years...typically have changed standard 5w30 oil at 3500 miles, color is dark brown to black.

On my first Prius oil change, went to Mobil 1 5w30 at 3800 miles. Factory oil was dark brown.

I checked color at 10000 miles and Mobil 1 was still a very amber color.
At 12000 I need to add about 3/4 Qt. Color amber.
Changed oil today at 13350 and color was now light-medium brown.

Using the ole eye ball test, I'd say 10,000 miles is good for me. I drive 100 miles a day, 40% rural/suburban (40mph) and 60% Interstate speeds (70mph) average 50-51 mpg in the Fall, currently with temps below freezing have dropped to 44-45mpg.

I can't see going to the expense of an oil analysis, just change the oil when the color starts to darken.

For what it's worth....Anyone else use color as an indicator?

 

I'd take it all the way up to 7500 if your numbers are as good as the OPs!

Unfortunately, oil color is not a good indicator of it's overall health. It only lets you know how much micro-carbon is in the oil (typically a result of blow-by and are particles too small to get caught by the filter) and doesn't let you know much else.

So black oil could still be perfectly serviceable, and gold/amber oil could be junk.

UOA would only let you know for sure.

For example, my Prius has about 3700mi on it now, and checking the dipstick, the oil looks pristine. But you know that it's going to have a decent amount of wear metals in it left over from break-in, so I'm changing it anyway by next weekend.

 

I've been using the 10,000 mile OCI with Mobil1 5w-30 for the last two changes. I've decided to go to the new Amsoil SSO 0w-30 synthetic and their Ea oil filter and do once a year changes. It's going in on Jan 1. I put on about 20-25k per year. My driving is 90% highway and over 10 miles on nearly every trip, so I think I fit the criteria for 'normal' ( or maybe even a little better than) service. The 1NZ-FXE engine in the Prius runs remarkably cool so I don't think that breakdown from heat is even an issue. Since I plan to keep my car to 200,000 miles, at least, this will be a good test. I currently have 88k on it so I have a few years to go.

 

Thanks for the reminder. I changed my oil last week and I forgot I need to take the sample in for testing. I hope my sample bottle is OK, I used a PET poweraid bottle washed with fresh water shaken dry and sun dried for a few hours before changing the oil. Sample was taken midstream.

I think I have found a local company to test my sample, I'll ring them tomorrow and ask. I get the impression from the phone book they do.
Unfortunately I don't know what oil was used, it was clean looking when I bought the car so I assume it was changes as the service sticker on the window sugested it was.

 

i got mixed feelings about my last change which was at 181000 km, i saw metal bits inside my oil filter and as well in the main oil. I felt it with my bare hands and its definately pieces from the engine, not sure of how many km i racked up on this oil (m1 0-20) but this suggest my new commute (which includes a lot more hills) maybe a bit harsh on this thin oil and on this old engine.

Right now trying penzoil 0-20 for hybrids, this time instead of 3.4L i added 3.8L (four 950ML bottles instead of 3 and a half) and now will check the oil level religiously and will change at the 5000 km mark. If I still get metal pieces I'm going to freak out.

I'm always trying to keep the RPMS between 1500-2300 and when engaging EV mode trying to smooth out the ICE transitions everytime. I rip it once in awhile but I ensure oil temp is between 70-90 degrees C before WOTing though.

One thing for sure the engine sounds smoother after the change, and my mileage is much higher than usual (low 50 mpg instead of high 40's)

if i have some extra money i'll take an oil sample, when i got the car i didn't change its oil until 11000 km later, i think that was a mistake :S and then my previous oil change was before the summer, so not sure how many km i racked up... but 5000 km this time just to be safe! metal bits make me paranoid :S