How often should you change your oil filter?

[montmil]

This question popped up a week or so ago on the Airlist.

A few Airlist comments later, Bob "Snowbum" Fleischer stated that oil filters, under normal Airhead operations, are good for 10,000 miles (16000+km). Snowbum advises an engine oil change every 3000 miles (4800+km) so that works out to a new filter with every third oil change.

I've been plugging in a new "bendy" filter every time I change the engine oil in any of the three Airheads. Just a habit much like the routine on our three cages.

Comments anyone?

[marcmax]

I change the filter with each oil change just like I do in the cages. Just the way I was taught growing up.

My neighbor never changes his oil in his truck. Just changes the filter and tops it up. Truck is 14 years old with 190,000 plus miles and never had an oil related mechanical breakdown.

[Ed Miller]

Oak just answered that question in the same December Airmail that has a picture of my namesake.  10,000 miles, change the oil every 5,000.

Do you guys dissect your used filters?  I've never found anything interesting in mine.  Which is what I was hoping for.

  

[montmil]

The Cadillac SRX, Ford F-150 and the VW Cabriolet get filters with every oil change; just as R65 Sidecar Man does.  I wasn't raised that way but always seemed the best policy.

I cut open the filter from the R100S as I was doing a post-purchase service. Nothing there.

Have done the same with each of the R65s with the same results. Nothing.

[Barry]

I change the oil at 2000 miles and I change the filter every other oil change so they are only doing 4000 miles.

I've dissected a couple of filters but never found anything in them.

Back in the early 70's I had to rebuild my car engine following a bearing failure. For whatever reason (probably extreme youth and ignorance) I forgot to treat it as a new engine and do an oil and filter change at 500 miles).  By the time of the next routine service the result was a very noticeable drop in oil pressure due to a heavily loaded filter.  Not sure what happened to the filter bypass - maybe a late 60's car didn't have one. Even if it did there would still have been a drop in oil pressure particularly noticeable at idle.

To me that illustrates the time to change a filter is when it's loaded up enough to cause a noticeable pressure drop or perhaps when it causes the bypass to open.  I got in the habit of letting the engine idle when fully hot and noting the oil pressure and I can tell with the gauge on my current car that it just never drops between filter changes so I'm happy to change the filter every other oil change on the car as well.

We all like the idea of an engine having a fresh oil and filter and probably don't want to be labelled cheap but there isn't necessarily a rational reason to change the filter as often as it's sometimes done particularly where oil changes are at short mileage intervals.  One concern might be the old oil retained in the filter but that's less of an issue with an airhead filter.

[Mike V]

Oil filters: Every other oil change for me.  That equals about 4k to 8k miles.  That's probably an overkill and waste of product.

Air filter: whenever I remember about it - every other year or so.
Drive train assemblies fluids, forks and brakes - once a year (nearly).
Wheel bearing seals replacement, bearing and frame lube - once a year. (nearly).
Check speedo boot and drive shaft boot - constantly.  Change whenever needed.

Also depends on how many miles a year, and what type of miles and weather conditions.

I've gone 3 years and nearly 20k miles without an oil change on my '78 R100/7.  It uses enough oil on my long distance annual cross country tours that it always stays clean.  I have to add about a liter every 1000 miles.  I gotta get those original valve guides and rings replaced one of these years.

-Mike V.

[nhmaf]

I also do every other oil change, or at least 1X per year if I don't do enough miles on that particular bike that year (like this one)!

[Barry]

If anyone needs reassurance to extend filter change intervals consider there should be little to filter out in a healthy engine so what is there to load up the filter ?  

It isn't the combustion products  - the stuff that makes the oil go black as those particles must be small enough to pass through the filter - otherwise the oil would stay clean.  It should only be wear particles and it's to be hoped that except for running in there wouldn't be too much of those.

I think short filter change intervals are a throw back to early engines and poorer quality oil. I would think differently though where the engine and gearbox used the same oil. That's a whole different situation which must be much harder on the oil and filter.

[Luca]

I also change the filter at every oil change, but i suppose every other or third/once a year would be good too.  Switched to Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 on the last change and will push my oil change intervals to 4k miles.

On a bike that doesn't get ridden much I'd probably still change the filter once a year as I suspect they start degrading once they get bathed in oil.

[Matt Chapter]

I've mixed it up and I'm rethinking my process to consider the Texas heat.  Had been doing 5k intervals on the oil and sometimes every other change for the filter.  I think I need to change oil more often.

Speaking of oil filters Monte, didn't you say there was a place a short ride away from Austin to get a good deal on filters?

[montmil]

Speaking of oil filters Monte, didn't you say there was a place a short ride away from Austin to get a good deal on filters?

Well, it's not really a short ride but Denver-based John Rayski and his Euro Motoelectric outfit has been my go-to supplier for some time now.  http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/default.asp

I use his EnDuraLast "bendy" filters in all my Airheads so I like his 5-pack filter deal. John also has all the $3000.00 O-rings, shims and -for those Airheads what use 'em- gaskets. Plus those elusive crush washers.

Lots of other Airhead bits, too. Very fast service plus John is more than willing to assist with any tech questions even if you don't buy anything right then. Both John and R65 forum cat Mike Valenti "held my hand" and walked n' talked me through a too deeply set oil filter canister issue on my R100S.

[Matt Chapter]

Euro Motoelectric outfit has been my go-to supplier  

Wow 5.75 for a filter! that's less than a pint of the good stuff any more.  And a quick visit to his shop tells me that yes, I am missing the oil drain plug washer.  No wonder I'm still leaking after the oil pan gasket change.

[montmil]

I'm still leaking after the oil pan gasket change.

I'm still leaking? Pick one or the other, Matt... a fresh crush washer or a Depends.

Here's to the good stuff, amigo. [smiley=beer.gif]

[tvrla]

I change the filter every other oil change - 8 or 10K. I think Matt Parkhouse pulls the filter, drains it, wipes out the filter area and puts it back in.

A truth about filters is they filter better the older they get.

But you don't want to let them go till they're restricting flow, downside being a crushed filter and no filtration what-so-ever.

[Bob_Roller]

The airheads and Guzzi get an oil and filter change every 18 months, which is around 2500-3000 miles .
The oilhead gets  filter and oil every year, about 5000 miles .
Just changed the filter and oil  on the oilhead yesterday, went to Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 .