How Often Should You Change Your Oil Filter?
No denying that oil is essential to the engine of your car, truck, or other vehicles. However, oil takes up several contaminants in the form of dirt during circulation through the engine. These pollutants can cause potential damage to the engine gravely, contributing to its death. As a vehicle owner, you might know the importance of oil filters. But, how often should you replace oil filter? This is the question that must be addressed so that your vehicle doesn’t stop performing in the midst of nowhere. Continue reading this crucial guideline for more valuables!
Ideal Interval For Changing Your Oil Filter
You might be wondering about the significance of the oil filter in your car, right? Well, an oil filter plays a significant role in removing contaminants from transmission, lubricating, hydraulic, or engine oil. Their leading function is in internal combustion engines for motor vehicles, powered aircraft, and stationary engines, like generators and pumps. Returning the focus to vehicles, what is the most appropriate time to change oil filters? To answer this question, you need to consider a number of factors. There are different engine types in vehicles, and they all demand unique maintenance processes. For instance, trucks equipped with diesel engines have differences in their maintenance pattern in comparison to gasoline-engine cars.
The same applies to the engine capacity and quality of engine oil. The size of oil filters is another important factor to consider. Usually, your vehicle owner’s manual book is the best guide to tell you how often you need oil filter replacement. Many parts manufacturers would suggest replacing the oil filter every 3000 miles or 3 months. Aside from this, the best time to change the oil filters of modern vehicles is every 6000 miles. You might not know but older vehicles demand oil filter replacement more frequently than the newest ones. You can follow some tips;
- If you drive in harsh conditions, it is recommended to change the oil filter frequently
- In case the check light appears on the dashboard, your oil filter may need to be changed
- On top of that, you must also ensure to replace your oil filter with every oil change
Consequences Of Not Changing Your Oil Filter On Time
For many reasons, you may forget about the oil filter lookup. This situation happens to many vehicle owners that must not be taken for granted. Anyhow, you may need to experience the following consequences of not changing the oil filter of your vehicle within the stipulated period.
Oil Will Turn Into Sludge
If you forget about replacing an oil filter, the oil that is not being filtered may break down, turning into engine sludge. At this moment, even if you change the vehicle’s oil, you must ensure the replacement of your oil filter too. Otherwise, the congested oil filter can cause many issues.
Oil Will Not Be Filtered
The oil filters are engineered to filter out engine pollutants and prevent them from entering the engine again. However, when the engine oil filters are damaged, you must go for immediate replacement. Taking this situation for granted can make the filter lose its filtration properties.
The Engine Will Get Damaged
With the clogged oil filter, there would be more friction which can lead to increased wear and tear. Aside from this, excess heat is the contributing factor to making the engine’s internals lock up. If this situation is not addressed on time, it would demand even more money on replacements, which can be quite expensive. Hence, it is best to get the oil filter replaced timely.
The Engine Will Be Filled With Sludge
If the oil filter of your vehicle is faulty and you still continue to drive under this condition, the dirt will start accumulating inside your engine, which is not good. What happens next is the internals of your vehicle’s engine will be filled with sludge. This means there would be more friction and less lubrication in the engine, causing the wearing of the critical engine components.
How To Change An Oil Filter By Yourself?
Are you thinking of changing your vehicle’s oil filter by yourself? You need to follow some simple steps for that purpose. However, you need the following things to replace oil filter instantly;
Material You Will Need
- Socket wrench
- Work gloves
- Mallet
- Oil drain pan
- Motor oil
- Oil filter
- Filter wrench
Steps You Need To Follow
- Open the oil filling cap slightly so that the oil takes some time before it becomes stationary on the ground.
- Place an oil drain pan at the bottom of the oil drain plug.
- Next, pull out the oil plug let out all the oil, and then replace the plug.
- Look for the oil filter, which is connected to the engine block with a metal cylinder.
- Wipe off any dirt from the oil drain pan and position it directly below the oil filter.
- Remove the oil filter Senator using your hand rather than the filter wrench.
- Place the old filter in the oil pan and allow it to drain for approximately one day, 24 hours.
- Apply motor oil on the gasket of the new oil filter and pour it into the filter.
- Place your hand over the filter and twist it clockwise until it touches the engine block.
- Tighten the new filter.
- Last of all, replace the old motor oil with a fresh one in the engine of the car.
Concluding Remarks
To conclude, oil filters are requisite for the optimal performance of your vehicle. Not only do they ensure the flawless running of your truck, but also improve efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to pay as much attention as possible to keep this component in a well-maintained condition. Hopefully, reading this article was worth it on how to replace oil filter of your car.
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