Oil is probably the most essential to the engine of your truck, car, or other automobiles. However, during circulation through the engine, oil takes up various contaminants in the form of dirt. These contaminants can damage the engine gravely and eventually lead to its death. 

You might be aware of how important and how often you should change your oil, but not how important changing your oil filter is. This article will teach you how often you should change your oil filter, how to change oil filter, and what happens when your oil filter is left unchanged.

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How Often Should You Change Your Oil Filter? 

You might ask – what does oil filter do in car? An oil filter is a special filter designed to remove contaminants from lubricating, transmission, hydraulic, or engine oil. Their primary function is in internal-combustion engines for powered aircraft, ships and boats, motor vehicles, and stationary engines like pumps and generators. Gas turbine engines and even hydraulic machinery are also equipped with oil filters.

Returning the focus to cars, how often do you change the oil filters? To answer, you need to consider different factors. There are different engine types in cars, and they all require unique maintenance processes. For example, cars equipped with diesel engines have some differences in their maintenance pattern when compared with gasoline-engine cars. 

The same is accurate for the engine capacity, technology, and quality of engine oil. The size of oil filters is another factor to consider. The reason is that oil filters with filter elements having bigger surface areas last longer. 

Usually, your car owner’s manual book would be the best guide to tell you how often you should change your oil filter. Many oil and parts manufacturers would advise that you replace your oil filter every time you change oil, which usually occurs every three months or 3,000 miles (depending on which comes first). 

For the newer car models, the suggested time for a change is around 6,000 miles. Older vehicles would require an oil and oil filter change more frequently than newer cars. However, it is best to refer to your vehicle handbook as it would give the most accurate time frame based on your model and make. 

You should adhere to the following tips on how often to change your oil filter:

• Replace your oil filter with every car oil change. 
• If you drive in harsh conditions, change your oil filter frequently. 
• Your oil filter may need to be replaced if the Check Engine light appears on your dashboard. 

What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Oil Filter? 

For one reason, you may forget to change your old oil filter. This situation happens to many car owners, and it could happen to you too. Here are some things that happen when your oil filter is left unchanged:

• Oil will not be filtered. 
• Oil will turn into sludge. 
• The engine will be filled with sludge. 
• The engine will get damaged and need replacement. 

Oil Will Not Be Filtered 

Your oil filters are designed to filter out engine oil contaminants and prevent them from getting into the engine. When your engine oil filters get old and worn, they cannot carry out this process. And if you refuse to replace them, the filters will get blocked, losing their filtering properties. 

Oil Will Turn into Sludge 

If you refuse to change your oil, at some point, the old oil that is no longer getting filtered will break down and turn into engine sludge. And at this point, even if you replace your oil, ensure that you replace the oil filter too. Otherwise, the new oil will not get filtered because of the congested oil filter. 

The Engine Will Be Filled With Sludge 

If you continue to drive your car under these conditions, contaminants and dirt will continue to accumulate inside your engine, which is terrible news for the engine. The sludge will accumulate inside your engine. And eventually, its internals will be filled with sludge. When this happens, there will be less lubrication and more friction in the engine, leading to the wearing of the engine components. 

The Engine Will Get Damaged and  Need Replacement 

If at this point, you still haven’t got an oil and filter change, then you might have sealed the engine’s fate. Due to friction, there would be increased wear, tear, and heat which would cause the engine’s internals to lock up. At that time, you would need to spend more money replacing the engine. Therefore, it is usually better to change a minor oil filter than undergo the stress and expenses of changing your car’s engine. 

How to Change an Oil Filter

For every DIY lover, we’re glad to inform you that you can perform an oil filter change independently. However, the best solution is to take your car to a repair shop. Now let’s get you started on how to change an oil filter. 

Things You’ll Need

• Oil drain pan
• Socket wrench 
• Mallet
• Oil filter
• Work gloves
• Filter wrench
• Motor oil 

Steps to Follow 

• Loosen the oil fill cap to help the oil drain more quickly. 
• Put an oil drain pan beneath the oil drain plug. 
• Remove the oil plug to drain out all the oil, now replace the plug.
• Locate the oil filter attached to the engine block by a metal cylinder. 
• Move the oil drain pan below the oil filter.
• Unscrew the oil filter by hand or with a filter wrench. 
• Leave the old filter  in the oil pan and let it drain for about 24 hours. 
• Use motor oil to lubricate the gasket on the new oil filter. 
• Use your hand to screw the filter till it makes contact with the engine block. 
• Tighten the new filter. 
• Finally, refill the engine with fresh motor oil.