staff@slashgear.com (Mike Bedard)
2024-05-05 12:30:19
www.slashgear.com
Your car needs more than new oil once in a while. With every oil change, you should also install a new oil filter, which helps prevent dirt, debris, and gunk from circulating around the engine, and ensures clean, efficient oil goes through. If you change the oil but keep the same dirty filter in place, you might as well not have changed the oil at all because sludge and other contaminants will get everywhere. The engine won’t be as lubricated as it should be, and there’s a greater risk of overheating.
A full-service oil change at a shop should come with a new filter, but it’s one more thing to purchase when doing it yourself. You want to make sure you get a full-flow filter, which is the main device used to grab any impurities in the oil. Additionally, some vehicles require secondary oil filters, which are in place to try to catch anything that might’ve been missed from the main filter. You’ll need to make sure to check what your car needs so that you have everything ready before moving forward with the job.
Fortunately, you can replace an oil filter without having to replace the oil. In the event you forget, you can always go out and buy one without having to do everything all over again.