A 30,000 mile oil change?

Saving money and the environment are important goals these days. Steve Kirchner, who works for a company called SOMS Technologies, says he has a product that will help both the earth and your wallet.

"Yeah it's truly a breakthrough in technology," says Kirchner. His product is an oil filter called microGreen. On the outside, it looks just like any car oil filter. Inside, though, there are two filters instead of one.

"From the inside one part is exactly like a conventional filter," explains Kirchner. "What's different is this second filter. This is what we have a patent on, it's called a micro-filter."

The micro-filter appears to be a piece of cardboard, but Kirchner says it's really more like a sponge-- capturing contaminants many times smaller than the conventional filter removes. "Therefore," says Kirchner, "this filter will clean the oil and keep it cleaner for up to 24- to 30,000 miles."

Most of us change the oil in our cars every 3- to 5-thousand miles. Kirchner claims as long as you switch out the microGreen filter every six- to ten thousand miles, your oil will last 24- to 30,000. "I actually have run my vehicle about 40,000 miles," asserts Kirchner.

A microGreen filter does cost two to three times that of a regular filter. But with fewer oil and filter changes, Kirchner says people should save 50 to 65 percent on oil costs. And there should be fewer potential threats to the environment from improperly dumped oil.

We asked Angel Borges of Angel's Auto Care in Riviera Beach to look at microGreen. Borges says two filters in one sounds great, but he's skeptical. "I need to see more," said Borges. He says even with more contaminants being removed by the filter, oil will still break down in your engine. "I think the oil will actually start breaking down after 10- or 12,000 miles," said Borges.

We also contacted a local college professor and others in the automotive field. They also questioned the 30-thousand mile claim.

Kirchner says that's a common reaction, but he insists lab tests show microGreen allows your oil to last 24- to 30,000 miles.

The bottom line-- microGreen has only been around since fall. As vehicle fleets continue to use the filter, we'll get a better idea how well it really works.

Another common question: will microGreen affect a warranty? If your engine fails, and you haven't changed your oil for 30,000 miles, the car maker will likely try to void the warranty. Kirchner says under federal law, they would have to prove it was the filter's fault. Just in case, microGreen also comes with a warranty.

So far SOMS Technologies is marketing microGreen to vehicle fleets only. But you can still buy one for your car at the microGreen website www.microgreenfilter.com.