Thanks to all for the awesome feedback. Im swayed by the yays so im gonna do a change, genuine oil filter and that dexion certified penrite sound like the way to go! Like alot have said - cheap insurance.
I realise this is an older thread, but felt that I would use my first post to mention the following.
A few years ago I met a gentleman who was the General Manager of one of the big two Aussie manufacturers, Brisbane-based plants. The plant is long gone, but he gave interesting insights into the constant tussle between the engineering and marketing departments.
The subject of servicing intervals came up, and he explained that the engineering department would consistently want oil and filter changes occurring at 5000-7000km's, whereas the marketing department would prefer 20000. Engineers understood that fluids are the lifeblood of an engine, but the marketing department understood that servicing costs are an important consideration in a purchasers' decision making process.
The two departments would often tussle over the final figures, and inevitably the chosen interval would be a compromise between the two.
I never forgot those words.
I also met the Australian head of a large Japanese fishing equipment manufacturer at a conference, and the subject of quality and warranty came up. I mentioned that a major U.S. manufacturer offers a five year warranty on their reels and asked why his company didn't do the same. His response was that the five year warranty was a disaster from a business model perspective. His company's strategy was to make sure that the reel lasted just long enough so that the owner felt that he'd had a fair run, AND that he enjoyed ownership of the product enough that he would purchase another of the same brand.
My point is that unlike days of old, it is not in a modern manufacturer's interests to make a product last forever. You can be sure that it was not an engineering department who thought that "sealed for life" was a good idea.
I vote for more frequent fluid and filter changes.
