I usually use Mobil-1 oil when I do an oil change,but I buy the cheap oil filter like fram or similar brands on sale.They seem to work allright,but as the truck gets a few more miles on it i find I have to change the oil a little more often.I'm thinking of going with a better filter.My question is,are the Mobil-1 oil filters,priced around $10-$11 bucks, worth the extra money,or are they just more expensive because the oil happens to be pricey?I change my oil about 4 times a year so it would add up over a long period of time.My last oil change cost me about $26.With that type of filter it would run about$33 .I'm a penny pincher,so i'm looking at the price as having to pay for an extra oil change each year.I do a lot of traveling on dirt roads and cold starts,so I don't like to wait too long to change the oil.Would this type of filter extend the milage I'd get between changes?Thanks

 

Why do you feel you need to change the oil more often than you used to?

I can’t see spending $10 on a filter when good filters like purolator and wix are available in the $3 - $6 range.

 

Well,I don't know what the exact problem is that I find I have to change more often,if it's because the of the carburator,or extra road grime due to the road sand used this year.I'm finding my oil seems to be getting thinner and a little more discolored than usual.I was thinking that upgrading my filter might help until i cure the problem.It seems to be about a 500-600 mile difference in the length of time between oil changes ,compared to past oil changes.It has 170,000 plus on it.I figured it was getting a little tired.It does't seem to be using any more oil than usual,just seems to be breaking down a little sooner.I don't have a heater system like lower radiator heater or block heater.It's never failed to start,but wind chills of -40 to -50 make it run a little rough for the first couple of minutes.I did a tune up in Nov.It seems to run as good as it ever did.Pehaps I need to have a mechanic check it out.The problem doesn't seem to be anything obvious.I'm just guessing.

 

I am very happy with motorcraft filters...at 3-4 bucks a filter. That is about as much as I am willing to spend. the only thing I can see spending that much money on a filter would be for a higher flow rate for racing. I guess I cant picture any harmful particles in my engine that a good 4 dollar filter couldnt stop...its not like we're gonna be drinkin the stuff and need it that well filtered...lol

I am asuming Mobil 1 filters are only good for 3000 miles or so, like other filters. but hey if you are only changing your oil a few times a year it may be a luxury worth the money. I cant see you extending the life between oil changes...they recommend every 3K miles or 2 months. you cant be too much of a penny pincher cause I know that 58 has gotta like gas...lol

I tend to agree with changing the oil a little more on an older engine...they dont tend to burn as clean...thus the oil gets dirtier quicker. let us know if ya try it though....I am curious if my theories are right....and theories is all they are so take me with a grain of salt.

 

If you have any doubts about the carb check it out. A little bit of gas can thin the oil out. Could also be its just getting a little old.

 

One more (hopefully educated) opinion: Mobil 1 filter is probably not significantly better for your use, and definitely is not cost effective. Motorcraft is better than Fram and usually costs the same as Fram (buy it at WalMart).

 

I use Mobil 1 filters on my cars with full synthetic mobil 1. Yeah it is expensive but its better than buying a freaking fram filter for gods sake.

 

I honestly wonder if the hated Fram is statistically more prone to some sort of failure than other major brands.

 

MotorCraft, SuperTech, and WIX

 

I was never too concerned with oil filters until my vechicles started going over 150,000 miles.I always just used fram,because they were cheap,but you get what you pay for,so I figured I should upgrade the quality of my filters.Have you guys had problems with fram filters?I noticed they aren't very popular here.lol.I never had any problems,but maybe I'm just lucky.

 

It's not. There's nothing wrong with Fram filters - they're no better or worse than any of the other cheap filters.

faggiole - you weren't lucky. The best thing you can do to assure long engine life is to change the oil and filter when you're supposed to.

 

I am not a fan of fram...it just feels like a cheap filter to me. But I agree with oppy in the sense that I think timely oil and filter changes are far more important than the quality of the products you use. I guess a fram would work just as good as anything for 3000 miles....but i would be nervous about pushing the limits...like the guys who try to stretch longer mileage out of synthetic oils. In that case a Mobil 1 filter may be a good investment. just my humble opinion

 

Are the Mobil-1 filters more for high-performance engines?

 

Mobil-1 filters are for whatever you want to run them on.