I have see where you have trouble getting a filter off. While working on farm machinery it seems like when equipment has not been maintained properly filters and other servicable equipment does not function properly. I have never had a hard time getting my oil filter off, just use a strap wrench and it spins right off. I do punch a hole in the bottom after i break it loose to drain any oil. It sounds like it is a lack of maintance or just overtighting of the filter. Should just be a little over hand tight maybe 3/4 to 1 turn past hand tight.

 

The 0W40 Oil I use is sold by our local Federated Co-op and lots of the farmers I know around here swear by it. It is full synthetic and is branded DMO ( Diesel Motor Oil)

 

I don't even do a filter swap between changes, that's why I asked earlier. How many others do this? I would think that if we were in bypass mode, or no longer filtering that it would surely turn up on someone's UOA.

 

So are you saying that I really don't need to do the filter change at the halfway point? This is the first time running the synthetic and want to make sure that I don't do any harm to my engine. I always thought I read here that with synthetic the rule of thumb was twice what you would go on conventional oil but you should do a filter change at the halfway mark.

 

No, I'm not saying anything, I'm asking and perhaps learning something too. I run dyno oil though.

 

First of all, I have to agree with Mike (Tenn) on the UOA issue. If the filters were not filtering over the life of the oil, the sludge buildup would show in the oil analysis. I've never heard of someone getting those kinds of high solids counts unless they simply haven't changed the oil in an excessively long time (tens of thousands of miles).

Regarding the filter change philosophies, there are many "approaches" used out there. One extreme is people who take change the filter every three thousand miles, top off, and never do a full oil change. The other end of the spectrum are the ones who have a bypass filtration system and change oil and filters every 3K miles. There are many approaches between these two ends of the spectrum. Since I have a bypass filtration system, I have surveyed a number of people and have determined that I will change both the bypass and full flow filters when I do the oil change, and I will decide when the change the oil based on the used oil analysis (hopefully at least 10K, but no more than 15-18K miles). Several who have the bypass filter change the full flow filter only at every oil change, and change out the bypass element every other oil change, but I do not want to go that far on the bypass element myself.

The bottom line (in my opinion) is that we should make our decisions based on factual information and not just what other people think or do (unless those are based on supportable factual information).

Personally, I am using a fully independant lab to perform my analysis... one who does not have a dog in the fight... and I am investing moeny in a lot of "up front" testing on at least three different types of oils to see how my engine behaves and responds to extended oil drains. Once I've established a "best practice" on my engine, I will back off on analysis frequency and enjoy knowing that I've established good practice based on fact. Every new engine I get (or rebuild) will then go through the same process until its particular personality is established and I know how to best treat that engine.

My approach is probably considered to be overkill, and I may end up deciding that myself after a while. However, being fairly new to diesels myself, I want to do everything I can to protect my investment while enjoying it at the same time as I drive around.

$0.02

 

However, being fairly new to diesels myself, I want to do everything I can to protect my investment while enjoying it at the same time as I drive around.

Hey I'm totally on board with you there man. I sent in my first oil analysis to Blackstone last week, and hopefully I'll get my results soon. F250- when you come to a conclusion, let us know how it worked out, it should be good advice to check out!