1,000 Mile Oil Filter Dissected

[Old smart]

Don't forget to take this into consideration. From "Debunked..." FAQs:

"How do driving conditions affect the distance motorists can go between oil changes?

Automaker oil change recommendations differ depending upon driving conditions, as well as car make, model and year. According to car manufacturers, drivers considered “severe” should change their oil more frequently or at shorter mileage intervals than drivers considered “normal.” Severe drivers are those that drive in one of the following conditions in a typical week:

Extensive idling or in stop-and-go traffic
Cold weather, less than 10 degrees
Extreme heat, more than 90 degrees
Extreme humidity
Repeated short-distance trips of less than five miles
Towing a trailer or hauling heavy materials"

Typically, smart provides no such guidance, just be normal "go for the 10K."

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by Old smart

After "benchmarking," Purolator subsequently listed the better L14612 semi-synthetic and the best PL14612 full-synthetic fleece in their application guide for the 2008 smart. I note that they are still listed though I sent them Kane's photos showing the exposure of the longer 14612s. Performance-wise, Purolator determined that the 14612's characteristics equaled or exceeded the OEM.

According to

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

the Purolator PL14612 doesn't fit smart. They could be wrong, but what do you say?

I'm glad to see scattered through this thread that Mobil 1 (Exxon) isn't required, I'd rather avoid Exxon when possible. There's no way using Castrol Syntec could be a warranty issue, right?

[Feral_Collie]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

I'm glad to see scattered through this thread that Mobil 1 (Exxon) isn't required, I'd rather avoid Exxon when possible. There's no way using Castrol Syntec could be a warranty issue, right?

Castrol Syntec 0w-40 is on the list of approved oils, though I think it says European blend, if that's somehow different.

P.S. lol, Starship Enterprise, NCC-1701. BRILLIANT!

[Old smart]

I don't think Amazon.com is necessarily authorative on anything automotive. I note that the depiction of the filter is somewhat dated (a blue can). Sometime before Purolator USA benchmarked the OEM smart/Mitsu/TR filter (early June '08) they had been "re-canned" the PL14612 to the present gold with non-slip gripping surface. The Amazon info looks outdated.

That said, it still doesn't change the fact that the longer 14612s are somewhat exposed. At the time I alerted Purolator about the exposure, I also suggested that they consider developing a shorter, full-synthetic, fleece, "PL" alternative.

[Old smart]

All of this compels me to get off my lazy duff and get the thread back to "Feral Collie's" thing by cutting my delivery filter (@101 miles) and the second (a Yamaha @ 586 miles) and see what is there to be found.

[Ron F]

Old Smart---thanks much. VERY informative.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Ron F

Old Smart---thanks much. VERY informative.

Ron,

Do you know the Rodgers in Ford's Colony?? Red/black/leather package cabrio - one of the perhaps dozen now in the local "Triangle" area.

[rarebird]

Does anyone know if my new 2009 Smart Passion DEFINATELY came with Pure Synthetic oil in it???? If it did, then I won't change the oil yet. If it didn't, then I will since I'm at 1,200 miles and it's broken in.

thanks!

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by Old smart

At 800 miles+ I am on my third oil fill and filter

Why, pray tell?

[John_H]

Originally Posted by rarebird

Does anyone know if my new 2009 Smart Passion DEFINITELY came with Pure Synthetic oil in it????

Since reading this post by Old smart, I thought the engines came in with non-synthetic oil. Rereading the post, I'm no longer sure if the original oil was a different synthetic or dino oil or if the swap-out experiment became the way they now process the engines.