I just did my 1,000 mile change.. It was a bit premature, but I know I won't have time to do it during the week.
I was pretty tempted to just leave the oil filter after realizing it was wedged up behind that stupid skid plate. After all, the filter doesn't even have 1,000 miles on it. I decided to at least pull the plate so I could get the lay of the land. Once the skidplate was off, I just decided to swap filters.
OMG that filter was gorilla torqued on there. I think the guys on the line are having some sort of contest to see who can put filters on the tightest without cracking the block.
I'm going to need to pick up another filter wrench so I don't go through that again.
Every time I change my oil, I think about the $11 Wal Mart oil changes. Those are starting to make more and more sense.
They use their "SuperTech" brand oil, which seems to be pretty good. We just sold a Honda Civic to someone who works for an oil testing company. He took a sample and said the results were completely normal, but couldn't figure out what brand of oil it was, other than it was a major brand judging by the additives. He was pretty impressed when I told him it was WalMart's store brand.
Of course, the problem with store brand oil is it could be Castrol one month and Warren the next.
-Steve