Does Your Car Need an Oil Filter Replacement?

A car oil filter removes contaminants from the engine oil, preventing dirt and debris from reaching and harming the engine and keeping the engine clean. An engine relies on the filter just as much as it depends on clean oil to run smoothly. Without a regular oil filter replacement, the oil will not be sufficiently filtered, and the contaminated oil will cause damage to the engine components, leading to costly repairs.

Does Your Car Need an Oil Filter Replacement?

Why a Clean Oil Filter Is Vital

The oil in your vehicle lubricates the engine’s internal components and reduces friction and heat that causes wear. The oil filter ensures that the oil flowing to the engine is clean and free of contaminants. Over time the oil filter gradually becomes dirty and eventually clogged with dust and debris.

The clogged oil filter reduces the amount of clean oil flowing freely, radically reducing lubrication and increasing friction. If there is less oil to lubricate the moving parts, the friction and heat will result in premature engine wear and damage to the engine components, severely reducing the life of your engine.

Effects of a Dirty and Clogged Oil Filter

A clogged oil filter will affect your vehicle’s performance. Your car will feel slow and sluggish when you step on the accelerator. The dirty filter will prevent the engine oil from flowing freely, disrupting your vehicle’s acceleration. In addition to slow acceleration, your car will not maintain constant speeds.

A dirty oil filter won’t prevent the engine from working or cause a breakdown, but if you continue to drive your car, the contaminated engine oil will cause severe damage to the engine components. You will begin to hear horrible noises coming from under the hood and see black smoke pouring out of your exhaust. The sooner you ask your technician to fix the problem, the better before you have to spend tons of money on high repair costs.

Oil and Filter Change Intervals

The most critical maintenance task is a regular oil and filter change. The filter removes contaminants from the oil that keeps the moving parts lubricated. Regular oil and filter replacements will ensure that your engine runs smoothly and lasts longer. Generally, the oil and filter must be replaced every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, depending on the vehicle type, model, and year.

Always ensure that your technician changes the filter every time the oil is replaced before the filter becomes dirty and clogged. A car’s engine needs clean oil to operate at full capacity. When the oil filter is not replaced at regular intervals, the filter becomes clogged and prevents clean oil from flowing freely to the engine. Ask your technician to replace the oil and the filter at regular intervals to avoid engine damage.

Check the service schedule and recommended oil and filter change intervals in your owner’s manual and replace the oil filter at regular intervals to avoid damage and high repair costs and ensure that your vehicle performs at its best. Contact J.H. Barkau and Sons, Inc. today for an expert oil and filter change. Our qualified technicians will ensure that your engine runs smoothly.