As a car owner, you know you need a regular oil change to maintain optimal engine performance. However, that also applies to your oil filter.
Wondering how often to change the oil filter?
Don’t worry!
We’ll explore how regularly you need to book this service, the signs that indicate you need it, and why it’s important.
Let’s go.
This Article Contains:
- How Often Should I Change My Oil Filter?
- How Do I Know When My Oil Filter Needs Replacement?
- Why Does My Oil Filter Need Regular Replacement?
- 4 FAQs about the Oil Filter
How Often Should I Change My Oil Filter?
The easiest way to determine how often to change your oil filter is to track your oil change frequency. Many car manufacturers include this data in their vehicle’s owner’s manual. You should usually get an oil filter change along with every oil change.
However, it’s best to consult a mechanic to know if you need an urgent oil filter change. That’s because several factors influence your oil filter replacement frequency, such as:
1. Vehicle’s Age
A newer car owner can follow the recommended oil change interval specified by their car manufacturer — around 5,000 to 7,500 miles. With synthetic motor oil, this can extend up to 15,000 miles.
The good news is that several newer vehicle models have a built-in maintenance schedule reminder. So, if calculating miles or remembering a schedule is difficult, you can rely on the oil life monitor. If your car has an oil life monitoring system, you’ll find it on your instrument panel settings or under the vehicle maintenance or service menu on your touchscreen display.
If you have an older vehicle, you may not have an oil life monitoring system. However, you can quickly check your oil level dipstick and verify if you have clean oil each month.
What’s that?
A dipstick is an instrument typically located near the front of the engine. You can use it to check whether motor oil is at the recommended oil level.
If the vehicle’s oil mark is below the minimum indicator, it’s time to refill the oil. However, if the oil’s color seems too dark, that indicates your car has dirty, old oil, and you should go for an oil change and oil filter change.
2. Driving Condition and Driving Habits
Your driving habits also influence the oil filter replacement and oil change frequency.
If you often drive on harsh roads and in extreme weather conditions or have an aggressive driving style, you may need to visit an auto repair shop several times a year. This includes an oil filter replacement much sooner than expected, meaning your oil change interval also decreases.
Why?
The vehicle and engine work harder in extreme conditions, requiring more frequent oil changes. Your car manufacturer may mention other severe driving conditions in your owner’s manual. This will help you determine if your driving environment or style is harmful to your car.
Here are some driving conditions that’ll increase oil filter and oil change frequency:
- Frequent short trips (less than 10 miles)
- Towing heavy loads, like a trailer, for long distances
- Stop-and-go driving in bad weather
- Driving regularly on rough, uneven, or dusty roads
- Track driving
Try avoiding these situations to extend the life of your engine oil filter and prevent unnecessary engine wear. Also, leave heavy loads to towing services to dodge frequent oil changes.
Note: If you have an older vehicle, you should be even more careful about the road’s driving conditions.
3. Oil Used (Synthetic Oil or Conventional Oil)
Another aspect that influences how often you should change your oil filter is the oil you use. You may be using regular oil (conventional oil), full synthetic oil, or a blend of the two oils.
Synthetic oil is better because it has a longer lifespan and offers better engine performance than conventional oil. If you have a new car, you may already be using synthetic oil. However, if you own an older vehicle that consumes regular oil, you can always switch to synthetic motor oil.
Now that you know how often to change oil filters, let’s review signs that indicate the service is due.
How Do I Know When My Oil Filter Needs Replacement?
Unfortunately, there’s no warning light for an oil filter replacement.
Moreover, the oil filter is a sealed metal unit that doesn’t let you visually inspect and find out when it’s time to replace it. (Not everyone has a dipstick handy or knows how to use it to check the oil level.)
However, there are certain symptoms you can keep an eye on to determine a clogged, old oil filter. These include:
- Lit service or check engine light
- Oil change indicator or oil pressure warning light comes on (newer cars)
- Engine sputtering
- Metallic sounds from your vehicle’s engine parts
- Lack of oil pressure
- Black and dirty exhaust
- Burning oil smell
If you spot one or more of these symptoms or the oil pressure drops, stop driving immediately and call a mechanic or roadside assistance.
Wondering why it’s important to get the service?
Read on to find out.
Why Does My Oil Filter Need Regular Replacement?
Your engine oil filter will gradually clog over time since it traps many contaminants, such as metal particles, grime, and carbon dust. Replacing the oil filter extends the engine life and keeps the motor oil clean.
Here’s what can happen if you don’t replace old oil filters:
- An old or clogged filter may let dirty oil and contaminants into the engine.
- Unfiltered oil can break down and turn into engine sludge, reducing oil flow, oil pressure, and lubrication in the engine. This can cause engine sputtering and increased friction between moving parts.
- Eventually, it can lead to extensive engine damage or complete engine failure, which requires costly repairs.
Still have doubts?
Let’s answer them!
4 FAQs about the Oil Filter
Here are answers to some car oil filter-related questions you may have:
1. What Does an Oil Filter Do?
An oil filter in a vehicle maintains motor oil flow and catches contaminants and metal particles to bar them from circulating through the car’s engine.
Without it, dirt and other debris like metal particles will unobstructedly progress into the engine assembly, causing clogs and severe engine damage. If the damage prevents engine parts from moving, your vehicle won’t move either.
Contaminants can also reduce your vehicle’s oil consumption efficiency.
Note: Newer vehicle oil filters have a bypass valve to safeguard against clogged oil filters. The bypass valve regulates the oil pressure inside the fuel filter. If your car’s oil filter becomes entirely clogged, the bypass valve will open, letting motor oil circulate into your engine.
2. How Much Does an Oil Filter Replacement Cost?
An oil filter replacement costs between $40 to $200 at an auto shop.
This replacement cost consists of three different charges:
- Engine oil change: The cost of adding fresh oil, such as synthetic motor oil or regular oil, can vary based on the car’s oil type.
- New oil filter: The cost of new inventory can depend on the type of oil filter and whether you use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or aftermarket parts. Typically, a conventional oil filter costs around $3 to $15 while a synthetic oil filter costs around $9 to $15.
- Labor costs: This can depend on the oil filter’s accessibility, your location, and the type of service center (mobile mechanic, dealership, quick lube shop, etc.)
Additional service costs may apply if your mechanic notices other issues, like you’re running low on coolant or need brake repair.
Note: Before getting an oil filter replacement, check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the recommended maintenance time. This will prevent you from paying for new inventory that wasn’t needed.
3. Are Synthetic Oil Filters Better than Standard Ones?
While synthetic oil filters offer better filtration efficiency and performance under demanding conditions, they’re suited for newer vehicles that use synthetic oil.
Conventional oil filters, on the other hand, are good enough for vehicles that use conventional oil and drive under regular urban conditions.
So, your choice of oil filters should depend on your oil selection and driving conditions.
4. Can I Change the Engine Oil Filter Myself?
Yes, it’s possible to do a DIY oil filter change. However, this job is typically done with an oil change service. So, if you’d rather avoid the mess and careful disposal of old oil, it’s best to leave it to a mechanic.
Here’s what a mechanic would do:
- Loosen the oil fill cap and remove the drain plug to help the old oil drain quickly into a drain pan. They might replace the drain plug if it’s worn.
- Once drained, they’d unscrew the oil filter by hand or using a filter wrench (it should be attached to the engine block by a metal cylinder.)
- They’ll place the old filter in the pan and leave it to drain for about 24 hours.
- Lubricate the gasket of the new oil filter with fresh oil.
- Screw in the new oil filter by hand and then tighten it with a wrench.
- Refill the engine with clean oil.
Resolve Oil Filter Issues with AutoNation Mobile Service
There are many factors to consider when figuring out “how often to change the oil filter”. However, it’s still important for a vehicle owner to change this component along with their regular oil change to prevent costly repairs.
Fortunately, you can get a filter and oil change service at your convenience with AutoNation Mobile Service.
We’re a mobile auto repair and maintenance solution that offers top-quality service, upfront estimates, and a 12-month, 12,000-mile repair warranty.
Contact us to have our expert mobile mechanics resolve any auto issues from your driveway, be it an oil filter change, transmission repair, or tire service.