1) The oil filter specified a torque setting of 16 to 18 ft-lbs. The
mechanic told me mot to do that, just 1 more turn after the gasket
seats. He said that if I used the torque setting, it would be very hard
to get the filter off again.

What do you all do? Torque to the specification, or just 1 turn?

Torque to specs and use Dow Corning DC-4 on the seal, you shouldn't have any
problems getting it off. A 1" socket works better for us than the typical
oil filter wrench. Learn how and where to safety wire the filter. Make
sure you watch him cut and examine your filter. If you don't cut it and
inspect it, you might as well not even change it.


2) A lot of people to change the oil every 3 months regardless of hours
on the oil. Combustion waste gets absorbed by the oil. The mechanic
said he liked that idea because it would generate more revenue for him,
but he felt it was not really necessary.

http://www.lycoming.textron.com/main...oilFilter.html

Says 4 months. I'd say simply fly more. However with oil changes, more
often is better than less often. We typically change oil at 33 hours and
the filter at 66, slightly less than the Lyc recommendation on the oil,
slightly longer than the recommendation on the filter.

Jim