HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR OIL FILTER?

Oil is essential for the smooth lubrication of your engine. And your oil filter plays a vital role in ensuring your oil can do this.

An oil filter protects your engine from potential damage by removing the contaminants (dirt, oxidized oil, metallic particles, etc.) that can accumulate in the motor oil due to engine wear. See our earlier blog about the potential damage a clogged or damaged oil filter can cause.

You can help extend the life and effectiveness of your oil filter by using a high-end synthetic oil. Synthetic motor oil is more refined and distilled than regular oil, so it will last longer and is less likely to clog your filter.

How often do you need to change your oil filter?

You should replace your oil filter every time you carry out an oil change. Typically, that means every 10,000km for a petrol car, or every 15,000km for a diesel.  However, we recommend that you check your manufacturer’s handbook to confirm the specific service interval for your vehicle.

There are several reasons for this:

The ‘full-flow’ filtration process

Modern engines use a ‘full-flow’ filtration process, which means the oil goes straight from the reservoir to the engine via the filter. This means your oil filter is your engine’s first line of defence against contaminations.

Reducing engine wear

Over time, contaminations will build up on your oil filter. If you wait until your filter is completely clogged there is a chance that the passage of oil will be obstructed, stopping the flow of purified oil to your engine. Luckily, most oil filters are designed to prevent catastrophic engine failures from improper lubrication in case of an obstructed oil filter. Unluckily, the bypass valve allows oil (and contaminations) to pass without going through the filter. While this means your engine is lubricated, there will be accelerated wear and tear due to the contaminations.

Reducing maintenance costs

By synchronising your oil change and oil filter replacement frequency, you reduce your overall maintenance costs by only needing a single maintenance. A new oil filter isn’t expensive, especially when compared to the cost of the potential damage contaminants in your engine can cause.

Avoiding soiling your new oil

It is possible to leave your old oil filter and only change your oil. However, the clean oil will need to go through the dirty, old filter. And as soon as you start your engine, your clean engine will quickly become as dirty as the oil you just drained out.