Cars are complex machines that rely on a number of parts in order to work properly. Among these many parts is your vehicle's oil filter. To learn the basics about this part, keep reading.

What You Should Know About Your Vehicle's Oil Filter

As a car owner, it's important that you know at least the basics of how your car operates. This knowledge will come in handy if you ever run into any trouble. Knowing the basics can help you detect where you car issues are stemming from, making getting the issue fixed much easier. One important part you should be aware of is your car's oil filter. Get to know more about in this post.

Where Is the Oil Filter Located?

The exact location of your vehicle's oil filter will depend of the make and model of your car. Most cars include an oil filter that is only accessible from underneath while some are accessible from the top. In order to be able to locate yours accurately you will have to check your owner's manual.

Why Does a Clean Oil Filter Matter?

As its name states, the primary job of this part is to filter your vehicle's motor oil. Although this job may not sound like the most important, it definitely helps your vehicle's engine stay healthy. Your car needs clean oil in order to properly lubricate the moving parts that keep your engine running. Once your oil is dirty and no longer able to perform its job well, it needs to be replaced with fresh, new oil. If it doesn't get changed regularly, you can be driving around with oil saturated with debris and other contaminants. This can lead to engine wear and deposits that add strain to your engine. Not only do you need to change your oil to prevent this, changing your oil filter is also a must. The contaminants that make their way into your oil are an issue, which is why the oil filter was invented. This part was introduced on the market in the 1920s and has improved drastically through the years. Today's oil filters sift out particles of multiple sizes in order to keep your motor oil cleaner for longer. This ensures you can enjoy longer oil change intervals as well as a healthier engine. Once your oil filter fills up, it will no longer be able to keep contaminants from circulating with your oil, putting your engine at risk for premature wear. Don't pass up getting your oil filter changed if you want to keep your engine well protected. During your next synthetic oil change in San Diego, CA, don't forget to also replace your oil filter. Contact Synthetic Oil Inc at (800) 653-0323 to make your next oil change much easier. For their full range of AMSOIL Oil products, check out their online shop.

How Often Should the Oil Filter Be Changed?

The answer to this question can be a bit different depending on who you ask. The most common recommendation is to get your oil filter changed with every oil change, and this makes sense. If you're putting fresh, clean oil in your car but keeping your used and dirty oil filter in place, your oil may end up getting contaminated faster. Others may encourage you to change your oil filter every two oil changes. Of course, how often you change your oil can also play a role in how often your oil filter will need to be changed. Don't be afraid to ask your mechanic for advice, and be sure to check your oil yourself to see how much longer is lasts with a clean oil filter.

Types of Oil Filters to Consider

Just like you can change your oil yourself, you can also take on the task of changing your oil filter at home. Before you take on this task, however, you will need to know what type of filter to buy. There are many categorizations for oil filters, so be sure to do some research before buying the first one you see. To start, be sure you know what size filter you need. If you buy one that is not compatible with the make and model of your car it can lead to issues like oil leaks. Look for a filter that has a great particle size retention, meaning it will be able to trap particles of various sizes. A good dirt holding capacity will also ensure your oil filter is able to properly perform its job for longer. Oil filters tend to be quite inexpensive so it won't hurt to invest in a quality product.

Synthetic Oil Change in San Diego, CA

Before performing your next synthetic oil change in San Diego, CA, be sure you also have a fresh oil filter on hand. To find the right products for your vehicle, contact Synthetic Oil Inc at (800) 653-0323. Their experts can help you find the perfect products, like their AMSOIL Ea Heavy Duty Oil Filters.