The oil filter
To protect the internal combustion engine, a special cleaning device is used – an oil filter. It needs to be changed at every oil change in the car, as it filters abrasive particles and residues from the combustion process.

In order for the car to never let you down, you need to carefully monitor it: undergo maintenance on time, change oil, candles, all available filters.

– An oil filter is a part in the engine, it does not matter gasoline or diesel, which is designed to clean engine oil. It plays a big role in the car, affects the quality of the ride. It is important to change it in time and make sure it is not clogged. You can do it yourself or contact a car service, – comments Nikolai Voronin, mechanic, owner of the AutoLiga 161 auto parts store in Rostov-on-Don.

In our material, we will tell you where the oil filter is located, what it is for, how often to change it, and the expert will answer the most popular questions from readers.

What is an oil filter for?

– As mentioned above, the oil filter performs an important and necessary function in the car – it cleans the engine oil that enters the engine. The fact is that when the machine is running, it is in motion, combustion products from the cylinders accumulate in the oil. These products impair lubricity. Also, when the metal parts of the engine are rubbed, chips are created, which, in turn, wears out the plain bearings. The oil filter just filters all of the above and ensures smooth operation of the motor, says the expert.

The oil filter is:

  • Non-separable. Its body is one-piece – that is, it is removed along with the filter element. Such a filter is very convenient to use – unscrew and screw in a new part in its place. But it costs more.
  • Collapsible. In this case, the housing remains in place, only the filter element is pulled out, which needs to be replaced. Changing it is not as convenient as non-separable.

Where is the oil filter

There are a huge number of cars, and the oil filter can be located in different places, depending on the model. But in most cases, it is located next to the crankcase, that is, at the bottom of the engine.

To find the oil filter in a front-wheel drive car, you need to open the hood, look at the space near the left or right headlight below. Its location can be explained by the fact that the engine in front-wheel drive vehicles is located transversely, above the front axle. But again, everything is individual, and there are exceptions – for example, in Hyundai Solaris, the filter is located at the very bottom of the engine and unscrews only from under the car, despite the fact that the car has front-wheel drive.

In rear-wheel drive cars and many crossovers, SUVs, the engine is located longitudinally. In this case, the oil filter is located closer to the windshield.

How often should the oil filter be changed

The oil filter serves as a protection for the machine from possible damage, it removes various contaminants, protecting the engine from wear. The oil filter must be changed in time, and in order to extend its service life, fill in high-quality synthetic oil. It is cleaner than regular oil and will clog the filter less.

– Every 10 kilometers, motorists must change the oil, and with it the oil filter. Also, these consumables change in the off-season, for example, in October, when the car is being prepared for winter. By the way, on diesel cars, oil can be changed every 000 kilometers. Do not leave the old oil filter when you fill in fresh oil – says Nikolai Voronin.

By replacing the oil filter in time, you get:

  • Less engine wear. If the filter becomes clogged, oil will stop passing through it. Then there will be many problems, up to critical engine failures. The thing is that lubrication will not occur properly.
  •  Reduced maintenance costs. An oil filter is inexpensive, especially when compared with the repair of breakdowns that may occur due to the negligence of the owner of the car.
  •  No contamination of fresh oil. Some people change only the oil, and leave the oil filter change until better times. As a result, new oil passes through a dirty old filter.

How to change the oil filter with your own hands

Some choose to go to a car service with the replacement of the oil filter and oil, while others do it on their own. The second is the place to be, if you know how to do it right with your own hands.

There is a version that you can replace it without lifting the car onto a flyover. But in practice this is not always the case, and often one cannot do without a hole. The fact is that the oil filter “sticks”, it cannot be unscrewed without the help of special tools. We will tell you step by step how to change the oil filter with your own hands.

So, first of all, you need to prepare the following replacement tools. Namely:

  • a special key or a special puller to remove the filter;
  •  a special key that you will use under the drain plug on the engine case (crankcase);
  • bowl/container with a volume of at least 7 liters to drain the used oil. Both a bucket and a basin will do;
  • gloves – the oil is hard to wash off and rags (you can use rags) – come in handy to wipe the dirt.
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The oil filter is usually changed along with the oil in the car, so the work must be done in a certain sequence:

  •  warm up the car engine to operating temperature. This is necessary in order for the oil to be sufficiently fluid;
  • drive on the flyover / lift / viewing hole for the convenience of replacing consumables. It is better to install the machine horizontally without a slope;
  • unscrew the filler cap;
  •  unscrew the drain plug on the pan, be sure to first place an empty container below where the used oil will drain;
  • then dismantle the old filter with a wrench. Check if the gasket has remained in its place;
  • tighten the drain plug immediately after the old oil has stopped draining;
  • screw in the new filter;
  • fill in new oil through the neck;
  • screw on the filler cap;
  • make sure you did everything right, start the car for a few minutes, inspect it, check for any leaks.

— There is nothing difficult to change the oil filter yourself. It doesn’t take much time and effort. However, for beginners, it is better to turn to specialists, – notes the auto expert.

Popular questions and answers

Our readers will answer questions about replacing the oil filter that are of interest to KP readers. Nikolai Voronin, expert, mechanic, owner of the AutoLiga 161 auto parts store in Rostov-on-Don.

Do I need to add oil to the oil filter?
– No, you don’t need to do that. Of course, this will not bring any harm, you will just do additional unnecessary work. There will be no benefit from this. Many people think that an air lock can form due to the fact that the oil filter is dry. But it’s not. I want to note that after replacing the oil filter with a “dry” one, it will not work. Fresh oil is already pumped through the system, filling all the necessary friction points, the expert says.
How much does an oil filter cost?
– On average, an oil filter costs 300-800 rubles, in rare cases more expensive. Therefore, I want to note once again that there is no need to save on its replacement, this is an affordable price for everyone. Repairs will cost many times more – says Nikolai Voronin.
Can the oil filter be reused?
– No, you don’t need to do that. Once again, I note that the oil filter is inexpensive, but it performs very important functions, it protects the engine from clogging. I would even say that if you are not going to change the oil yet, it seems clean and good to you, check the oil filter – it might be worth changing already. Still, oil enters the engine through it, and if it is clogged, the engine will wear out faster, the auto expert answers.
What happens if the oil filter gets clogged?
– The oil filter is clogged with dirt, leaves, metal particles, etc. All this prevents the normal lubrication of engine parts, and it can jam, – said the mechanic.

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