If you own a car or truck, you’ve likely heard of your oil filter. However, you may not know what it is. Understanding some of the essentials of engine maintenance and how your vehicle works can help you keep your car or truck in better shape. This is the guide for you if you’ve ever asked what do oil filters do?

Oil Filters: The Basics

Unsurprisingly, the main purpose of your oil filter is to filter out contaminants from your car or truck’s oil. Engine oil is used by your vehicle to lubricate the moving parts inside your engine including gears, cams, piston, bearings and more.

Your oil is not consumed by the engine running. Instead, the same oil is used continuously and repeatedly until you change it. Therefore, it can pick up unwanted contaminants during its journey around your engine. This is where the oil filter comes into play. The filter helps to keep your oil cleaner for longer. Without it, you would constantly be needing an oil change.

As your oil finishes a loop of the engine and is about to start again, it passes through the oil filter. The benefits of the filter include:

  • Catches contaminants in the oil including dirt, soot, varnish and sludge
  • Keeps your oil cleaner for longer
  • Helps oil flow around the engine more freely
  • Improves engine performance

Changing Your Oil Filter

Clearly, the oil filter is an essential part of your engine’s regular operations. It is important to change your oil filter every time you change your oil. If you don’t, the new clean oil will be immediately exposed to the contaminants that were removed from the old oil. Additionally, the oil filter will not be effective in removing contaminants from the new oil.

You may be wondering how long does an oil change take? Depending on whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it, the process can take 15 to 60 minutes. If you are experienced or you take it to a shop that can see your vehicle right away, it will only take about 15 minutes. Otherwise, it can take a while longer.

During your oil change process, replace the filter once you have removed the old engine oil. Keep in mind that it may contain old oil, so you should place your drain pan beneath the filter before removing it. Simple losing the filter with a wrench then clean the mounting surface, ensuring you haven’t removed the gasket with the old filter.

Lubricate the new filter then screw it into place by hand. Typically, you do not need to use a wrench to tighten the filter. However, you should consult the filter’s instructions. Once the new filter is positioned, you can continue with your oil change.

Get Started

Changing your oil and oil filter is a simple maintenance task. Anyone can learn how to do it. Head down to the best auto parts store near you and pick up a drain pan, wrench, funnel, oil and oil filter. You’ll be taking care of your own car or truck in no time.

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