If you have soot problems an oil filter isn't going to help you any. Soot is a produced from blow-by, as is nitration. Soot also will raise the viscosity of the oil and prevent proper oil flow through the engine including the filter. It will put undue stress on the pump and increase the production of wear metal particles, none of which is good for the life of the engine.
Any extra filtration on the oil is a good thing. Filters grap the fine particulate which can cause larger particles to form in the component which will help to increase longevity in the component. How long the oil will last running inside a system that has a high filtration filters depends on what type of conditions the component is operated.
A high filtration system cannot prevent viscosity increase/decrease, sulfation/nitration, oxidation, lowered TBN readings, and the increased wear particle production that these condtions create.
Bottom line is if one really wants to increase the life of the oil it is best to have regular OA preformed on the component rather than guessing.
The Navy utilizes Oil Analysis too NOAP (Navy Oil Analysis Program) /JOAP (Joint Oil Analysis) as part of PMCS http://www.msc.navy.mil/N7/engmgmt/MSCOILANALYSISPROGRAM.pdf
Not trying to sell you on OA participation, but if you decide to not adhear to published Oil change intervals then the smart money is on a good, routine Oil Analysis schedule.
i couldnt agree w/ you more...i have since my very 1st oil change sampled and
tested all but maybe TWO oil changes in 65k miles...
all indications for my situation are that both my oil & filter are performing
well at the change interval that i use (5k) and that the engine wear
is at a minimum....reports indicate that i could go longer on the oil/filter
change interval (6-7k total) but ive also been able to determine (thru sampling
and testing) that it depends on the type of driving (among other things)...and
so ive determine (again thru testing) that 5k is a consistantly SAFE change
interval.
looking at the oil is NO way to gauge a safe change interval much
less a method of determining engine wear or potential oil contamination.
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