Dumb question, here goes.....

[AV8R4AA]

I have a 2004 X5 4.4i engine.
Can I just change the oil filter and not lose all
the oil?
Oil filters are inexpensive. 9 quarts of Mobil 1, not-so-much.

On my 528 wagon M54, it's easy.

I like to do an interim oil filter change halfway through the OCI.
Always install new filter, just like to see if it's dirty or not.
If it's worse than expected, I do an oil change then.

Thank you.

[David.X5]

Ive done it on the M62 engine. The oil filter housing sits higher than the oil in the sump, so it won't all leak out. It's a good idea after some engine work. You can also send an oil sample out for analysis if you want to quantify the life left in the oil.

[AV8R4AA]

The N62 has the oil filter on the oil pan.
My inline 6/ M54 engine has the filter up high.

Don't want to try removing the N62 filter if I'm going to get 9 quarts of
oil draining out.

[upallnight]

Why don't you drain the oil into a clean container and reuse it after you replaced the oil filter?

[AV8R4AA]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Why don't you drain the oil into a clean container and reuse it after you replaced the oil filter?

Ummmmmm, I already thought of that.

Thanks for the idea

[diyanich]

Filter drain plug doesn't drain it all,only about a liter or so.

Originally Posted by AV8R4AA

Ummmmmm, I already thought of that.

Thanks for the idea

[jfoj]

Just remember that oil is cheaper than steel.

I change my oil at most every 10k miles depending on the type of driving I do.

Even 9 qts of oil can get contaminated quickly if the engine is not running at the proper temperature and/or the vehicle has not been driving far enough to properly warm up the oil. 9 qts of oil can take about 3 times longer than the engine to come up to temperature.

I buy my oil on sale at Advance Auto when they have oil change specials for 5 qts of Castrol and a filter for $30. They do not have filters for our vehicles, so I get a filter for another car or one for a family or friends car.

If you want to run Mobil 1, Walmart usually has the 5 qt jug for like $22.

Think about it, if you change your own oil every 10k miles, this is only 10 times over 100k miles and this is like $700 depending on what you are paying for oil and filter.

[Clockwork]

yeah, just my thought, but I never understood reusing a fluid that is not that expensive. its insurance against potential problems. I have to say it sounds very cheap to replace just a filter OR if you just wanna investigate something potentially with the oil/filter, just change it all out anyhow.

[mig25]

"dumb question is the question not asked!"

[AV8R4AA]

I tried it yesterday. You can in fact just drain the filter, without
draining the pan.
It gurgles and you think here comes 9 more quarts, but
it's just the quantity of the oil canister.
I didn't reuse, I topped off with new.