Oil filter replacement with synthetic oil

[BLRobertson]

Since purchasing our 2000 camry used with 50K, I've used Mobil 1 and changed the filter at 3500-4000 miles. The oil gets changed at 7500 mile intervals. I was concerned the filter may plug up and start to by-pass if I left it on until the oil is changed. Is this a valid concern or am I just being a anal about this. The 4 cyl Camry is driven about half & half city/highway and now has 110K. Thanks for your ideas.

[Mike Gerber]

I don't think it is necessary IMHO, but it doesn't hurt anything, just a bit messy on the 5SFE engine. Just make sure you use a good quality filter and the filter should last 7500 miles. I recently heard Click and Clack, the 2 brothers who do the Car Talk show on public radio, discuss BMW's 15,000 mile recommended oil change interval using synthetic oil. Their take was to change it every 7,500 miles. No mention was made to do extra filter changes.

Mike

[lenjack]

No problem. I've been using M1 since '76, with 10 to 15 thousand mile intervals, and filters only at change time. Never, ever had a hint of a problem.

[BLRobertson]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll start changing the filter with the oil from now on. Every little bit helps these days. To keep the mess down I usually puncture the top of the filter while the oil is draining and by the time the pan is done most of the oil in the filter is gone.