Oil make-up and replenishment oil filter and method of use

A method for extending the life of lubricant in an internal combustion engine in a vehicle;

• the lubricant comprising a base oil and at least one additive, the additive being progressively exhausted during engine operation;
• the engine comprising at least one sensor capable of a making measurements representative of oil condition and additive usage;
• the vehicle comprising a computer in operative communication with the sensor and capable of processing sensor measurements to assess the current concentration of base oil additives to assess a lubricating capability of the lubricant;
• the engine further comprising an oil filtration system, an oil-additive storage device and an oil-additive dispensing device all contained within a housing which is removably attached to the engine and located in the oil circulation path of the engine for filtering the oil and transferring an amount of additive from the storage facility into the lubricant flowing through the filtration system;
• the method comprising:
• a) repeatedly assessing the lubricating capability of the lubricant;
• b) comparing the assessed lubricating capability of the lubricant with a pre-determined threshold lubricating capability representative of the end of useful life of the lubricating oil and when the assessed lubricating capability is less than the threshold lubricating capability;
• c) dispensing pre-determined quantities of base oil additives from the oil filter and engine oil additive dispensing device to restore lubricating capability to the lubricating oil in response to the assessed lubricating capability of the lubricating oil being depleted below the predetermined threshold;
• d) repeating steps a) through c) while the oil filter and oil-additive dispensing device contains oil additive material.