So what happens to the old oil?

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This system makes it possible for owners to change the oil by simply twisting off the current filter cartridge and twisting on a new filter cartridge that contains both the oil and filter—no need to drain the old oil. The remaining oil in the engine is refreshed by the charge of new oil (0.8 qt.) included in the replacement Easy Change system. Combine that with 40 percent more engine oil capacity, better filtration, and cooler running temperatures, and it is no longer necessary to remove and dispose of all the oil in your engine when you service it.

John Deere has a plan to get people to change their oil more often by making it a clean 30 second job. 

I guess it would make sense if the filter is in a low spot it would collect most of the old oil, but leaving almost a quart in and "refreshing" it with the new stuff seems like it would over fill rather easily. 

Even with "better filtration" wouldn't this still let a lot of crap build up in the oil?

I had a Subaru or two that already had this feature...burned off the old oil and I'd just top it off time to time. 

On a more serious note, my guess is the cartridge retains the volume of oil that is replaced by fresh oil. They're putting a lot of trust in their filters to trap all contaminants, but if they are changed often enough maybe it works. 

I remember learning how to help my dad and him sending me to an open field behind his house and directing me to pour the oil out on the ground.  1973?

If we filled a jug back then where would it go?  

Saw something similar a while ago. Thought it was kinda silly then, still seems silly now. 

If you cant handle a oil change, you probably shouldn't be operating a machine with a very fast spinning blade. 

http://archive.jsonline.com/business/new-briggs--stratton-lawn-mower-engine-never-needs-an-oil-change-b99433283z1-290423731.html

I read that as, " Screw on this new filter that contains .8 liters of additive to refresh those that have been used from the original oil."

No oil to dispose.

John Deere taking a page from Aston Martin? Perhaps they should begin painting them BRG too.

STM317 said:

John Deere taking a page from Aston Martin? Perhaps they should begin painting them BRG too.

I also immediately thought of the Aston-Martin Vulcan's oil system, we've discussed it before:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/nexcel-oil-change-system-do-want/126435/page1/

In reply to STM317 :

I thought it sounded familiar but couldn't think of where from. 

My guess is John deere doesn't like that there are 12 bajillion mowers out there that the owners can go buy their oil and filter at autozone for $10, so they came up with a system forcing you to go pay premium prices for John deere parts. 

I was raised in a John deere family. The first thing I ever drove was a model A. They have built some excellent stuff through the years, but recently some of their business gimmicks to squeeze more money out of their customers have been a bit of a turnoff. 

In reply to gearheadmb :

JD has been on the wrong end of DRM and correctly evaluating their customers needs for a while now.

Did they get bought recently or do they really have so much hubris that they think customers won't go buy a New Holland, Kubota , Case IH, or Massey Ferguson when they find out what a E36 M3 show servicing is?

I give it three months before NAPA's filter division has an aftermarket option.

If mowers needed oil filters, they would have had them decades ago. Bazillions of small engines run just fine with no oil filter and almost zero maintenance. Seems like a "feel good" gimmick to me.

The0retical said:

In reply to gearheadmb :

JD has been on the wrong end of DRM and correctly evaluating their customers needs for a while now.

Did they get bought recently or do they really have so much hubris that they think customers won't go buy a New Holland, Kubota , Case IH, or Massey Ferguson when they find out what a E36 M3 show servicing is?

that was an interesting read you linked to. had no idea.

In reply to The0retical :

I'd forgotten all about that. It's been going on for some time.

My JD mower takes the same filter as a Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift