Being that the filter is higher than the oil pan, it would seem that it would be possible to remove the filter with minimal spillage and put on a new filter without having to drain the oil pan first...I've read several posts about people changing oil filters and just topping off the oil rather than changing it completely, only changing the oil completely every other filter or so. Just makin sure, I don't wanna make a mess in my driveway...:)

I'd change oil and filter concurrently unless you have a 2-3 micron filter and do an oil analysis to be sure oil is us still clean enough. To save making a mess you could punch a hole in the filter and drain it before taking it off. I do and it seems like it takes longer to drain the filter than it does the pan.

No I've done it cause I'm trying a new synthetic brand with molyblend and when I changed the filter all I did was spill some out of the filter and that was it. With as small of filter that the duramax uses it didn't really take hardly any to fill it back up to full.

Bill Gisse What kind of filter has the 2-3 micron filtation? Thanks

Bill Gisse What kind of filter has the 2-3 micron filtation? Thanks

Add secondary filter of some kind maybe a centrifugal oil filter would be best.

On my last oil analysis, I used Mobil Delvac 1 with a 10,000 mile drain interval and a Mobil full flow filter with no bypass in place. I changed the filter @ 5,000 miles--half way through the interval.

The lube engineer I had look at the sample thought there was no need to change the filter part way through the interval and thought that in the future I could go to 20,000 mile changes with no problems. He said that he sees only marginal gains in these Isuzu engines when using bypass filtration.

I just thought I'd pass this along...

No I've done it cause I'm trying a new synthetic brand with molyblend and when I changed the filter all I did was spill some out of the filter and that was it. With as small of filter that the duramax uses it didn't really take hardly any to fill it back up to full.

Bill Gisse What kind of filter has the 2-3 micron filtation? Thanks

Bypass filters are the only ones I know of that get into thatg range. Am looking at the Fs2500 right now but at $400 plus and another $22 a pop for filter cartridges every 10k miles its beginning to look to costly. Plus you have to use oil analysis to deterimine when oil changes are due.I think high mileage users with synthetic oil maybe able to ammortize there investmment.I talked to a guy at a local big truck service center who has one and he says he saves noney thru less cost for oil changes because of the extended oil change intervals and no detectable engine wear . He has over a million mile on his truck with no problems( according to him).
I don't want to buy one just so I can say I have one, have done that to many times in my lifetime.

Everybody should do what he feels comfortable with, and I don't mean to insult anyone's methods, but don't you think some of it is over kill! Without doing extremely expensive controlled testing over a long period of time scientists can't even attribute wear just to one thing such as type of oil, or a 3 micron filter! Most of what we think is just theory! Too many other varibles affect engine wear! What about the the corrosive deposits produced in combustion that pass by the rings and pollute all engine oil including synthetics? Most all of you know that an oil in a closed sytem with no combustion will lubricate for extended periods of time! We also know that as an engine gets worn oil gets dirty faster, because more corrosive pollutants from combustion get by the rings and pollute the oil! They are not filtered out or you could just change filters and run your engine oil for 35K miles or more! Are we sure the tolerances are so close in a diesel engine that we must filter things down to 2 microns? It sounds like you're trying to filter out viruses on the space shuttle! I know pro diesel drivers that have over a million miles on engines with no special oils, filters or additives! They change their oil very regularly and just drive them! My son has a Toyota he's put Walmart Supertech oil in for over 300K miles! He changes oil every 4k miles and it runs like a top and still doesn't use oil! When did diesel engines become as delicate as a Swiss watch? Of course the companies that make these super products are completely objective about their value! What do I know, I don't even buy fancy mountain bottled water produced in plant in downtown LA!

Just because it's a diesel doesn't mean you have to treat it like it's a Swiss watch! Most guys that have diesel trucks don't read this forum and treat their trucks like trucks! Until I read this forum I didn't know diesel engines where so delicate! I just drove them with no problems! Now I can't sleep at night!

LOL @ Dave! You've got a point for sure. My dad is a prime example of guys you're talking about. He doesn't abuse his truck by any means--does most of his own maintenance on schedule and takes care of his truck, but he just uses it! He seems to have fewer problems than I do with my anal maintenace and need to tinker. Oh well, it's a hobby for me.