Changing the oil filter - how and by whom is it done?

Briefly about oil

Motor oil is an essential element for the proper technical condition of any car. The lubrication and degree of cooling of the engine depends on the quality of the oil. This is a mixed base consisting of distilled crude oil and special additives.

The purpose of additives in oil is to create engine protection and extend its service life. Properly selected engine oil reduces the mechanical wear of the power unit, friction between its components and possible overheating. It also reduces the risk of corrosion and reduces vibrations that occur during engine operation.

During the operation of the motor, the quality of the engine oil is rapidly falling. It loses its properties faster if the engine is subjected to heavy loads.

Mechanic doing an oil change on a car

The engine load increases when driving for short distances (up to 10 km), driving on roads in poor condition, with continuous start and stop (this often happens in urban driving mode) and also with frequent trips. Another culprit in aging oil can be long-term stagnation of the car without driving.

Oil filter role

The task of the oil filter is to clean the oil of small contaminants invisible to the eye, which reduce the efficiency of the engine. It is located next to the engine or is located directly on it.

There are also cylindrical paper filters that are housed in a separate housing. The oil provides lubrication to the engine at different temperatures. That is why the role of the oil filter is so important.

How often do I need to change the oil filter?

The frequency of changing the oil filter varies depending on the car and on the individual driving skills of the motorist.

It is advisable to change the oil every 15-20 thousand km. With intensive use of the car, replacement must be done every 10-15 000 km. Additional recommendations for changing the oil can be read. here.

Useful Tips

In fact, oil change is one of the most important tasks for car maintenance, and do not underestimate it. Here are some reminders regarding this procedure:

• When we change the oil, we also change the oil filter. Be sure to always follow the instructions in the car manual.
• Buy only the brand of oil that the car manufacturer indicated in the recommendations, or depending on the type of oil used by the car.
• Do not forget to regularly monitor the oil sensor. 90 percent of engine failures are due to low oil levels.
• It is advisable to buy only high-quality spare parts from well-known manufacturers that are suitable for our car model.
• It is not recommended to use oil filters that are not suitable for the type of our engine. Diesel for a gasoline engine and vice versa should not be used.
• Driving at low speeds is not recommended. Low engine speeds result in poor lubrication.

Can I skip replacing the oil filter?

To protect the engine from damage, it is recommended that the oil filter be replaced regularly. Since motor repairs cost a lot of money, it is better not to risk it and adhere to the regulations established by the manufacturer of the power unit.

If you are not sure that you will manage to replace the oil filter, leave this task to professionals. Consider the sequence of work.

Changing the oil filter step by step

Before starting repairs, we must use the parking brake to prevent arbitrary movement of the machine. It is also necessary to make sure that we have all the necessary tools for the repair.

We need a wrench to open the drain screw, filter puller and protective gloves. If our car is new, it is useful to know that on some modern car models there are electronic sensors that need to be restarted.

How we will change the oil filter depends on the make and model of our car, as well as on the year of its release.

One way to change the oil is to drain it into a hole in the oil pan. Some vehicles are equipped with a special oil pan. There, the oil is stored in a separate tank. When the engine is running, oil is pumped out of this tank.

Changing the oil filter is a simple operation. The engine needs to be warmed up - so the oil will become more liquid, which will speed up the drain process. We need to find the drain plug on our car model, unscrew it and let the old oil drain. You should be careful not to get burned, because after a short operation of the motor, the lubricant becomes very hot. After draining the oil, change the oil filter to a new one.

The work is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Using an oil filter wrench, we develop an oil filter. Unscrew counterclockwise. There is always a little oil left in it, so be careful not to get dirty. Parts of the rubber seal of the filter may remain attached to the engine, so it is recommended to remove them, otherwise the new filter will not be installed correctly.
2. Remove the remaining oil from the filter into the drain pan. A hole is made in the filter with a screwdriver. The flask is turned upside down to drain the oil from its cavity. It may take 12 hours to drain the oil from the old filter.
3. We wet the seal of the new filter and carefully screw on the new oil filter and hold it by hand. You should not use the key, because then it will be difficult to unscrew it.
4. Clean the drain plug and tighten it with a wrench.
5. Pour new oil into the engine filler hole using a funnel. Close the hole with the lid.
6. We start the engine for about 30 - 60 seconds. During this time, check for leaks. The oil pressure indicator or indicator (if our car has one) should activate after 10-15 seconds.
7. Stop the engine and wait about 5-10 minutes. Use the dipstick to check if the oil has risen to the correct level.
8. We restart the car, drive a couple of kilometers and again look at the oil pressure indicator on the dashboard and check the level using the dipstick.

Questions and answers:

Can the oil filter be re-installed? Filters are often consumables that are replaced with new ones. However, in some cases, the filter can be washed, dried and reused.

How is the oil filter changed? First you need to drain the old oil. If the pallet is difficult to access due to engine protection, it must be removed. Then the old filter is unscrewed with a puller. The new one is twisted by hand.

Is it possible to change the oil filter on the machine without changing the oil? This should only be done as an exception in extreme cases. In addition to contamination, old oil loses its properties, so it needs to be changed periodically.