When it comes to changing the oil in a vehicle, whether you need to replace the filter happens to be a common dilemma. ‘Yes, you don’t always have to update the filter’ is the most superficial response. If you want your vehicle to run at its best, you must understand what an oil filter accomplishes and when to replace it. Understanding the purpose and operation of an oil filter is a necessity for car owners.
Can You Change Your Oil Without Changing The Filter?
Yes. You need not remove your car’s air filter on every occasion of altering the oil in your vehicle. Even some recommend changing the filter less regularly than changing the oil. The reason is, the filter works best when complete with filtrates.
What Happens If You Change The Oil But Not The Filter?
It takes a lot of oil to keep your engine running smoothly. It is essential to replace the oil filter regularly since a clogged filter reduces the amount of oil flowing into your machine. You might end up jeopardizing your engine’s health if you do not use this oil.
Premium oil filters include a bypass valve that adjusts oil pressure inside the oil filter as a preventative measure against oil filter blockage. This bypass valve will open if the oil filter becomes blocked entirely, enabling oil to flow into your engine. There would be some oil that hasn’t passed through the filter. This would obviously be unclean and filthy. Your engine would become unusable without the bypass valve in place.
Do You Have To Change Oil Filter Every Oil Change?
As a thumb rule, cars should have their oils changed after covering 3,000 to 6,000 miles. However, few understand that you also need to replace your oil filter. To avoid clogging and fouling, this crucial component of your engine functions as a filter to remove dirt and grease.
It makes sense to get a breakdown of how often you should replace your oil filter depending on your vehicle’s make and model as well as the severity of your driving. How frequently you should replace your oil filter depends on various variables. Many carmakers expect the owners to replace their oil filters once every two occasions of oil changes. In other words, if you were driving for 3,000 miles, you would replace your filter every 6,000 miles. If you are traveling for 6,000 miles, you need to do it every 12,000 miles. On the other hand, some mechanics propose more regular replacements because of these additional considerations.
Every Time You Have Your Oil Changed
Oil changes in modern automobiles typically occur every 6,000 to 7,500 miles (the old 3,000-mile cycle is a myth in newer vehicles). It’s a good idea to replace your filters every time your car undergoes an oil change.
Indicator For Engine Service
If your service engine light turns on while you’re driving, it might be as easy as a clogged oil filter! Several items may trigger this light, and you need to take care of the simplest and most affordable ones first. Remove that filter and see if it helps.
Excessive Speeding
It is necessary to replace both the filter and the oil, depending on how much you drive under harsh driving conditions. Stop-and-go traffic in metropolitan regions or a significant amount of travel in adverse weather conditions can impact filters and oil change. This results in a rapid sludge build-up in your engine’s oil filter. Consequently, your oil filter tends to develop clogs more frequently.
What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil Filter?
After a certain number of miles, each automobile manufacturer suggests an oil change. In addition to preserving your engine, oil can also clean and cool it. Instead of following the manufacturer’s recommendations for oil changes, you may want to consider skipping them altogether. In case you ignore changing the oil filter, you might encounter these issues.
Wearing of Components
Pistons and valves are only two of the numerous moving elements of an engine. By minimizing friction, the lubricating characteristics of your engine oil aid in safeguarding these components.
An Engine That Is Too Hot
When it comes to engine cooling, your coolant system alone is not adequate. As a result, engine oil plays a crucial part in this since it reaches locations where coolant cannot. To avoid overheating, gaskets may explode, and components may wear and warp. This thermal breakdown of the oil stops it from absorbing heat.
Dirt And Grime Accumulation
Motor oil has lots of other functions than simply cooling and lubricating the parts. It also removes tiny dirt and particles. This may considerably shorten engine life. When dirt builds up in the engine, it will work even harder, resulting in less power. Sludge may form in a machine if the oil remains unchanged for a lengthy period. Oil starvation will occur in the crankshafts, bearings, camshafts, and other valve train components if the oil cannot reach all engine areas. This might cause irreparable harm to the engine, necessitating a complete overhaul.
Increased fuel usage
The engine will have to work harder as the muck in the oil hardens and gets more difficult to dislodge. To get the same level of power, you will need a lot more gasoline. It may make a difference of 1% to 2% in fuel usage. In addition, the burning of old motor oil in your vehicle may discharge hazardous fumes into the air.
When Is The Right Time To Change Your Oil Filter?
The best practice, as per car manufacturers, is to replace the oil filter once every couple of occasions of oil changes. While this happens to be the thumb rule, your vehicle might have special needs. A licensed car mechanic can give you an authentic recommendation.
Conclusion
One of your car’s most significant and crucial maintenance tasks is changing the oil filter. Regular oil filter change, whether you do it yourself or have the quick lube shop do it, is critical to maintaining your engine in peak working order. This also ensures that you can keep potential mechanical issues in your car at bay.
