M-108 and OEM Oil Filters

[Jacko3]

What I am about to say maybe conjecture but I think anyone using Mobil 1 Synthetic should use Mobil oil filter M-108. I noticed a small difference between the color and clarity of my engine oil at 2,000 miles with M-108 versus OEM filters. The difference isn't that much in the short run, but I fear it may add up in the long run.

Usually, as my oil ages or gets close to 3,000 miles, the sound of my car becomes a little more coarse. Of course this is when using OEM oil filter. However, using M-108 for the first time, I am surprised at how much less coarse the engine sound is.

The oil looks dark but golden clear with M-108 at 2,000 miles, while with OEM filters at 2,000, the Mobil 1 Synthetic looks dark and not very transparent.

I know it takes a really observant person to notice these subtle changes, but from here on, I will be using M-108 oil filters. I am done with OEM oil filter. I don't think OEM filter was built with Synthetic oil in mind.

Again, i cannot say with certainty how metal particles are breaking down in the engine using M-108 versus OEM. I bet the differences are small. But over time, and cumulatively, it maybe large. I think Mobil 1 synthetic was designed for M-108 filters.

[gwoods]

oil color is an indicator of...... oil color LOL

Send a sample to http://www.blackstone-labs.com

[Jacko3]

Gwoods:

I had no idea that one could send their oil for independent testing. Thanks for sharing.

[SneaKe]

I have always used M1, and I noticed that they now make a oil filter. However, last time I checked the book at my local auto part store, there was no listing for a M1 filter that fit an 06 coupe.

I have never used OEM filters, and I've noticed that sometimes the oil looks good, and other times the oil is dark. Either way it was with the same type filter and M1. I'd say give it a few more oil changes before you make any conclusions.

[SteveTheTech]

Would you be interested in running a little experiment?

If your interested in a figuring out the efficiency difference in the two filters. I have long wondered this and I only use factory myself.

What year and model do you have?

I want to weigh a new oil filterWait till 3,750 Drain the oil and reweigh the filter and compare the difference.

This would be an interesting real world non biased test and might be pretty interesting to some of the other readers.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

OK my local advance auto parts store cut all the filters apart with a blade of some kind to show the quality of the filters!

any type of cotton filter is better than a paper one... same thing goes for air filters

The Mobil 1 filters are #1 in my book. The K&N is also a really good one!

The one i use in my Jeep is the cheapest one but the auto parts store showed me the inside and it looks just ask good at the mobil 1 filter but for 1.68 and not 9.99 or whatever mobil 1 gets for their filters!

Jacko you need to switch to Mobil 1 Extended preformance and use the mobil 1 filter! That is what the filter is designed to do; extend the life of the oil...

I get 15k miles out of the oil! I just changed the oil in my moms camry and the oil was in their for 21k miles... (not good I know) but the oil still looked clean!

Trust me... Mobil 1 EP really makes the G run smoother! A lot of the rattles are gone as well!

DJ

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Would you be interested in running a little experiment?

If your interested in a figuring out the efficiency difference in the two filters. I have long wondered this and I only use factory myself.

What year and model do you have?

I want to weigh a new oil filterWait till 3,750 Drain the oil and reweigh the filter and compare the difference.

This would be an interesting real world non biased test and might be pretty interesting to some of the other readers.

This test won't really give you good answers... as fiters with more cotton/paper will always hold more oil after they are drained! This is also why they make oil last longer... the clean the oil better!

The answers won't have any way of telling.. And if what your getting at is that the weight will tell how much stuff out of the oil the filter has cleaned! then the above statement answers that lol

Good Idea tho and I don't mean to be a debbie downer!

DJ

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I have always used M1, and I noticed that they now make a oil filter. However, last time I checked the book at my local auto part store, there was no listing for a M1 filter that fit an 06 coupe.

I have never used OEM filters, and I've noticed that sometimes the oil looks good, and other times the oil is dark. Either way it was with the same type filter and M1. I'd say give it a few more oil changes before you make any conclusions.

The updated books that came out like 5-7 months ago have it listed as the M1-108... The filter was always there but it wasn't written in the book!

I found this out the last time I changed the oil! I was like oh they finally made an oil fiter for the G... Oh and it is a very small one! The one for my Jeep is easily 4 times the size... I guess the oil needs to be cleaned better!

DJ

[SneaKe]

The updated books that came out like 5-7 months ago have it listed as the M1-108... The filter was always there but it wasn't written in the book!

I found this out the last time I changed the oil! I was like oh they finally made an oil fiter for the G...DJ

I figured it had to be an update issue... And I just changed my oil on sunday. I'll just have to wait till next month I guess and I'll pick up the 108. Thanks.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Sorry for the rant... but I did a lot of research on the oil the last months... I changed the Jeep, altima, camry, Jeep Wrangler, and my G35 all in one day!

And for the record... If you are not looking for a extended service interval like I do (15K miles) Use the Royal Purple! Hands down the best preformance oil!

Also check their website for really cool info on how they make their oil!

DJ

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I figured it had to be an update issue... And I just changed my oil on sunday. I'll just have to wait till next month I guess and I'll pick up the 108. Thanks.

LOL no prob! it had been almost a year when i Changed my oil last and i saw the up date...

I know the fiter was always there because they had a M1-110 and i know they didn't skip over 108

DJ

[SteveTheTech]

Its still not a good idea to run a six speed 15K on an oil change regardless of what type of oil you use. They recommend 3,750 if it was in the best interest of the engine they would have supplied it with Mobil 1.

Ok so it may not be a Mythbusters quality test but I still think it might be interesting. The VQ is a clean running engine and you should not have serious amounts of sludge buildup so it may be a decent comparison test to run with various people throughout the country.

Damn try to pis* on my lame attempt at car fun.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Mobil 1 EP has been tested and I have tested it myself! and it works... find me another oil that can last for 21k miles and get back to me

Oh yea I know you are a Tech and all but... correct me if Im wrong.... doesn't the transmission have its own fluid????

And i change those ever 10k miles..... that is the transmission... not the fluid

DJ

[SteveTheTech]

Hey I am just saying letting you know what I see, you are more than welcome to do whatever you want with it. You have probably done more research than I have on this topic I just fix them and have have not committed the time to researching it.

Yes the transmission does indeed have it's own fluid and if you are replacing yours every 10,000 miles you may also want to change your oil more frequently as you must be driving the hell out of it.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Steve, since you wanted to do a little test y don't you try out Mobil 1 EP and keep checking the oil as it gets older and tell me what you think???

Im sure you use synthetic oil already so it won't hurt anything!

I as a consumer (non infiniti tech lol) would love to know what you think about the oil towards the end of its life.

It would be a cool write up and then we can get the Bosses to get you a custom title!

and Please all beers on me

DJ

[Jacko3]

Steve:

I have a 2007 G-35 Coupe. I guess weighing the oil filters, assuming they are both made of cotton filters, would generally signify the amount of particles held in the filters, which would generally suggest filtering quality. Not a bad idea, but not accurate either, for an easy non-technical way of feeling out a filter. i think its worth the try.

I never ever ever allow my oil to even reach 3,000 miles before an oil change. 2900 miles is it for me! I have a GA16DE engine in my Nissan Sentra and that engine has original ~250,000 miles on it, and not a single engine work has been done to that car---original timing chain is still on the engine--car still runs. I change the oil every 2500 miles and I can see the benefit of constant oil changes.

[Jacko3]

Tampa:

I am going to try the Mobil 1 EP in my next oil change. I think its worth it. Probabaly the closest thing to Royal purple around me. I will report its performance during my next oil change which is coming up soon. But i won't leave it in my car beyond 3,000 miles---I just cant do it or at least my mind will not allow me to do it---the body is willing but the mind is weak on this one.

[SteveTheTech]

So the next morning I am reading this again and it comes off as I was being a bit of a D bag know it all. I apologize if it came off that way.

I know that some not all but some of the VHR motors comsume a bit of oil, so as long as you keep an eye one it you should be straight. All motors use a small bit of oil over time.

As our default oil here we use a synthetic blend so I do not think that would be a good base for this test. I do not have the privilage of driving an Infiniti currently as my daily but I will speak with a few of my customers about running this test it will just take some time.I am more than willing to do it for the better of the group as I am curious myself. I want to score a custom title but this test will take a few months. If there is anything else that y'all would like me to write an article about just let me know I am sure theres something I can break down for you.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Steve... You were fine as we were all in an intense discussion! I think that is what makes us in the G group unique!

Please keep us updated anything that you ask your customers about how they like the mobil 1 EP... I would really like to know what they think

Oh and when something does come to mind or if i have a question you will be the first one I ask!

DJ

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Jacko

Put your mind behind you and just keep an eye on how clean it is and on the level! It will not hurt the motor to try!

Trust me this is why it is "The Oil That Is Changing Oil"

DJ

[SteveTheTech]

OK I personally enjoy intense discussions like that, I agree that is what makes this forum better than the others. I really enjoy the differing opinions expressed here.

Update:

Three of my fellow co-workers have agreed to participate in my little experiment one has an 06 G RWD Auto, another has an 04 6MT sedan and the third has an 04X. This one is going to cost me,lol oh well I cannot wait to see what the outcome is. Give it a few months and I will have some answers for you. I am going to have everyone give me their OE oil filter I am going to completely drain them and weigh them, and run the EP and weigh them using the new filter weight as a tare on the scale and we will see which one holds more particulate matter. Then I plan to cut them and inspect the innards. Ill be sure to take pics and post them as I perform the test. Should be a good real world unbiased test.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

You going to use M1-108 filter? or just regular filter...?

[SteveTheTech]

I think I'm going to order up the M-108, for full fairness to the product

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Ok let me get the clearly for everyone else...

3 G's

3 oil changes to Mobil 1 EP 5w-30

3 M1-108 oil filters...

Testing for 15k miles...?????

Then a full test of how the filters hold up and how the oil looks at the end of its useful life!

DJ

[SteveTheTech]

The other guys laughed at me when I said I wanted to run the test for 15K as that would take more than a year for some of them and they are religous 3,750 or less guys. So we are going to run this to 3,750 for fairness sake since I would not recommend this with OE filters.

[Kendahl]

The only certain way to know the condition of your oil is to send a sample to an oil lab such as Blackstone. Their web site contains some interesting reading.

I thought about sending them samples at regular intervals to see how far I could stretch out oil changes. However, I came to the conclusion that there was little opportunity to save money. To maintain my warranty, I can't go more than 7,500 miles or 6 months. A dealer oil change with mineral oil costs about $50. After you include shipping, a Blackstone analysis is $35 to $40. I decided simply to change every 3,750 miles. If you run synthetic, the opportunity for savings is greater.

I have had two cars reach fairly high mileage. (My usual reason for replacing a car is that it no longer meets my needs, not that it is worn out.) One was a 1984 Mazda RX-7 that reached 190k miles. It was running well when I gave it away to make room for my G37S. The other is a 1998 Subaru Legacy with the 2.5 liter engine. It is running well at 180k miles and we plan to keep it for several more years. (Likely replacement will be a pickup or SUV big enough to pull a horse trailer.) Both cars ran on mineral oil, not synthetic. Change intervals for the RX-7 varied. At first, I followed the factory recommendation of 7,500 miles. Then, my mechanic talked me into 3,750 miles. Toward the end, I lost interest in the car and changed once a year. Change interval for the Subaru has consistently been 3,750 miles. We never needed to get inside the RX-7's engine. The Subaru has needed timing belts changed and a leaking head gasket replaced. Our mechanic reported that its engine is clean inside and the compression is still good.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

but you can see how clean the oil is when you pull it out of the motor!

My father ran a construction company for 25 years and we had toyota pickups with the 22r motor and my uncle was cheep and would only change the oil every 20k miles and his truck lasted to well over 400k miles!

My father liked to change his every 5k miles and had a few more problems than my uncle did...

I think some cars get lucky and then others you don't!

DJ

[SteveTheTech]

My father ran a construction company for 25 years and we had toyota pickups with the 22r motor and my uncle was cheep and would only change the oil every 20k miles and his truck lasted to well over 400k miles! DJ

You can run the old Yodas on corn oil and they would run for half a million miles that's not the same, lol. I do get what your saying though. Oh there will be pictures of everything.

[Jacko3]

Tampa:

Thats right! I am so stone age, I feel these modern items are so martian to me. Thats why you will routinely hear me speak of just the suspension, engine and transmission. Everyother part of the car, IMO, is an accessory.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

You can run the old Yodas on corn oil and they would run for half a million miles

I hope that is in the motor and not the gas tank unless you have a diesel!