How often is the oil filter changed?

The oil filter is a key part in the proper functioning and maintenance of an engine, since it is responsible for retaining all impurities and particles that the lubricant may contain and thus guarantee perfect lubrication.

Having an oil filter in perfect condition guarantees that our engine and all the parts that make it up work perfectly for as long as possible. Therefore, it is worth changing the oil filter when it is in poor condition or begins to fail. How can we know when it is appropriate to change the oil filter?

In this article, you will learn how often an engine oil filter is changed .

Why is it so important to change the oil filter?

The lubricant guarantees that the motor's moving gears are perfectly lubricated and that the friction of the parts does not cause wear. However, the lubricant may contain contaminants or metal shavings which, if not filtered out, would eventually wear and damage engine parts. The oil filter is in charge of purifying the lubricant before it begins its journey through the engine gears.

motor oil

The oil filter can retain more than 95% of the particles present in the lubricant.

An oil filter in poor condition can therefore lead to two serious problems for the operation and maintenance of the engine:

Friction of the pieces . If the impurities of the lubricant are not filtered, they can wear the parts.

Lack of lubricant. If the oil filter ends up clogging from the filtered impurities, it can prevent the lubricant from passing to the parts.

For all this it is so important to change the oil filter every time it is in bad condition. In addition, the cost per replacement is not very high.

What are the symptoms of having a dirty oil filter?

Having an oil filter in good condition ensures an engine in perfect working order. It is difficult to detect when an oil filter is dirty or in poor condition, so it is recommended to replace it periodically.

Is it possible to clean your oil filter?

If you were planning to clean the oil filter instead of replacing it, this is not a recommended idea. The oil filter is made of materials that make it very difficult to clean. In addition, the lubricant itself makes it impossible to thoroughly clean the oil filter for later reuse.

Every how many kilometers is the oil filter changed?

Ideally, replace the oil filter every time the oil is changed, regardless of the kilometers traveled. In this way we will prevent the accumulated residues from filtering into the new oil and we will ensure that we always have an oil filter in perfect condition.

How much does it cost to change the oil filter?

Changing the oil filter is not an expensive repair. In fact, it is one of the easiest and cheapest engine maintenance tasks. The price of an oil filter depends on the brand and the type of filter, but ranges between 10 and 20 euros. At Comercial Méndez we always recommend choosing original spare parts from manufacturers, to guarantee the quality and perfect operation of the engine.

In short, and answering the question 'how often do you change the oil filter?', it is advisable to renew your filter every time you change the oil. If you decide not to replace it for reasons of saving, you run the risk that this small maintenance expense will lead to a major breakdown in your engine.

At Comercial Méndez we are experts in the sector and official distributors of the most recognized brands of engines and spare parts.