How Do Oil Filters Work?
Your Underappreciated Oil Filter — Silver Lake Auto & Tire Centers
Most oil filters don’t cost a lot of money, but they sure do work hard. If you’re wondering exactly what function that part serves or suspect it’s time for a change, trust your vehicle to the ASE-certified technicians at Silver Lake Auto & Tire Centers in Brookfield, Wisconsin. We’re here to help you with all your preventive maintenance, repair, and tire needs.
What it Does
As its name suggests, your auto’s oil filter removes particles that can damage the engine. As oil circulates, it picks up and suspends dirt and debris such as metal shavings, suspending them to keep them away from the vital components. The filter traps these engine enemies so that they cannot go back to be deposited where they will cause damage. Also, this part helps ensure that your motor oil is where it needs to be at the appropriate time for maximum effectiveness.
How it Works
Give or take a few dollars, the do-it-yourselfer can usually pick up an oil filter appropriate for their auto for about $10. If you don’t want to perform the work yourself, you can likely get an oil and filter change for a reasonable price. For that nominal cost, can you really expect a lot from that filter? In a word, yes. The compact, budget-friendly oil filter is actually a very hard working part. What’s more, this small investment saves you big money over time in damage repair. Here’s how. Oil goes through the smaller holes of the tapping plate into the filtering material. This filler is a pleated synthetic material that traps debris and dirt. End discs on each side of the component keep unfiltered oil from getting to the engine. Once the oil is cleaned, it goes to the engine through the larger center hole of the tapping plate. A relief valve allows a tiny amount of oil to reach the engine until it can warm up when temperatures have caused the oil to thicken, while the anti-drain back valve keeps oil from going back into the filter when you aren’t operating the car.
Replacement
To ensure your filter’s capability to keep the lubricant clean, replace the filter each time you change the oil. That’s critical since oil circulates through the filter about four times for every mile driven. Rely on Silver Lake Auto & Tire Centers for this preventive maintenance service.