Oil Bypass - Should I?

[TravisT]

So I just picked up a '13 FJ, and I've been thinking long term investment protection. I've decided to run Amsoil in the FJ even though there doesn't seem to be a bypass filter available at this time.

This got me to thinking. The wife drives our '04 4Runner, which has 130k + miles on it right now. I've been running Mobile1 Synthetic oil in it since we've owned it. Mechanically, the 4Runner is in excellent shape - and I'd like to keep it that way. The thought of draining my oil and it being clean-looking is pretty amazing to me. I've done the math, and with oil changes every 6k miles with Mobile1 Syn, I would save money by using Amsoil's top of the line oil once a year (with potential of going longer between changes).

What do you guys think about running a bypass on this engine? In a way I think it is almost too late now to start, but also think that with 130k miles of wear on the engine, it may not be able to afford much more before it starts causing problems.

Just curious of your thoughs.

 

[TheeMikeB]

130K is just broken in never too late to start.

But I"m confused by your question, are you talking about adding the dual guard oil filter system? A bypass just basically relocates the stock filter to an alternate location for better reach and or using different/better filter.

I'm still skeptical of running oil for 25K miles or a year even though I know Amsoil says you can and that becuase there is no 'organic' material in it to break down and cause corrosion etc.

But I know they have a proven record and for me personally I've considered it becuase we have 3 cars and tracking maint and finding time to do all the upkeep is tough, it would make sense to use an extended life oil system like Amsoil.

Right now i've just been buying Mobile 1 at Costco when it's on sale and just stock it in the garage all the time.

 

[TravisT]

I don't know much about these systems, but from what I understand, the bypass unit is a remote mounted dual filter unit that relocates the stock-style filter (>15 micron) and adds a second filter (<15 micron) that only filters a percentage of the oil flow to the remote unit. Otherwise, because of the high level of filtration that the bypass filter is capable of, it would clog quickly and limit the oil flow through the engine.

Maybe I have it all wrong though.

 

[TheeMikeB]

I don't know much about these systems, but from what I understand, the bypass unit is a remote mounted dual filter unit that relocates the stock-style filter (>15 micron) and adds a second filter (<15 micron) that only filters a percentage of the oil flow to the remote unit. Otherwise, because of the high level of filtration that the bypass filter is capable of, it would clog quickly and limit the oil flow through the engine.

Maybe I have it all wrong though.

That sounds about right. The additional quality filter along with the synthetic enables the extended change interval. You don't want to go 25 k miles on a stock filter. You could however just do a filter change every 5 to 7 k miles on a stock filter and Amsoil.