Yearly oil filter change?

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I'm changing engine oil every 6 months due to short trips which is considered severe driving conditions. If I changed oil filter only every other change would it make any sense? It would certainly save time and hassle of dropping skid plates etc. My oil filter doesn't look too dirty when I take it out every 6 month. What do you all think?

 

[ZebRuaj]

I'm still in the old school thought when it comes to oil changes:

It's not an oil change unless its oil + filter. I know some of the newer Honda's actually recommend filters every other oil change.

For <$10.00 (depending on your filter of choice), why not? It's a maintenance item to prolong the life of your truck.

The only way you'll really know if it's good or not for your specific vehicle and driving is to try it, send in an oil sample to get tested and see how the results comes back with reusing a filter.

 

[skiyota76]

[QUOTE= oil change should be every 3 months or 3000 miles. Filter always goes with it.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

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Not per 2013 Toyota service manual intervals. It actually recommends every 12 month or 12,000 miles and 0w20 weight. Every 3 month is overkill unless you are towing daily.

 

[Bumbo]

I change my filter every oil change... and I change my oil every 3000-5000 miles.

Fresh oil is better than old oil
Fresh filter is better than a used filter

Even if I ran fancy pants synthetic I would change it often... extending oil change intervals or not changing out the $4-5 OEM oil filter is not the right move.

 

[nevada]

Not per 2013 Toyota service manual intervals. It actually recommends every 12 month or 12,000 miles and 0w20 weight. Every 3 month is overkill unless you are towing daily.

based on that, I see no reason why you couldn't do the filter every other time. that would still be ON schedule.

 

[SR5Bart]

Here is my .02 cents. Why would you spend nearly 40K on a car and cheap out on a $6 filter when changing oil. Does't add up to me. Then again its your truck so you can do as you please

 

[shepster]

Agree with SR5Bart. If your vehicle, do what you want.

Looks like you already made up your mind on what you want to do. Why even change your oil twice a year.

Send a sample out to get analyzed, and they'll let you what to do and when to do it.

 

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Didn't make up my mind or why would I be asking for opinion. Skid plate removal is PIA and it is common practice in Europe for every other change but I agree about the fact that it is a cheap but good insurance to change both. Every 6 month Oil and Filter it is. Thanks for all input.

 

[tinman831]

You can also get your oil tested by Blackstone Labs. You'd then be able to tell if you need to shorten your oil change intervals or if the oil is good enough for you to lengthen the changes a bit. It's a waste of oil to be changing it every three months if the oil is still good. Getting the oil examined will tell you that.

 

[(none)]

How short are your trips? Do you routinely take longer trips throughout the week as well?

The issue with short trips is moisture in the oil. The oil never reaches and maintains a high enough temperature to boil the moisture off. Our motors do have an oil heat exchanger on them which helps better regulate the oil temperature with the engine coolant. The coolant warms up quite a bit quicker than the 6.5 qts of oil do on their own.

If that is the only reason you change your oil early, I'd say just let the filter ride and change it every other oil change. Many manufacturers have been making this recommendation for year. A lot has to do with improved technology as well as reducing waste.

My commute is only 6 miles, so a pretty short trip, but I also make a few 15-20 mile trips per week into town, giving everything time to fully come up to temp.

Just a tip, if you do plan to do that route, get yourself an evacuation pump and just suck the oil out of the dipstick. No reason to get under the vehicle at all and an oil change will take no time. Most of my current and previous vehicles (BMW 525i, Audi A4, Jeep JK) all have top mounted oil filters. I'd suck the oil out through the dipstick tube, change the filter up top, then add oil and go. Once you get your technique down, you'll still get all the oil out. most I've left in after sucking it out then dropping the drain plug was about 1 cup.

 

[Rwhockey29]

Didn't make up my mind or why would I be asking for opinion. Skid plate removal is PIA and it is common practice in Europe for every other change but I agree about the fact that it is a cheap but good insurance to change both. Every 6 month Oil and Filter it is. Thanks for all input.

skid plates are what, 6-8 bolts? hardly a PITA.

 

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5 bolts, 4 clips, cartridge drain plug, cartridge cup, 2 O-rings, messy cartridge... It is PIA to me, but like I said worthy and cheap insurance.