Everything About DIY Oil Filter Replacement

The engine oil filter is designed to remove dirt and abrasive particles from engine oil that can cause increased wear of rubbing parts. The quality of cleaning determines the interval for changing the lubricant and the service life of the power unit. The oil filter is usually changed at the same time as the oil is changed, but this is far from a mandatory requirement. In some cases, when there are some oil leakage issues, you need to open the whole engine apart to fix the problem. While opening the engine a mechanic will replace the head studs if needed. You should always check that your mechanic uses high-quality head studs, like LB7 Head studs.

To replace this part, you do not always need to contact a car service; many drivers successfully cope with this task on their own. How is an independent oil filter replacement performed, how often, what tools will be required for this?

Product requirements

For effective operation, the oil filter must have:

• Sufficient dirt holding capacity. The ability to retain and accumulate a significant amount of contamination depends on the size of the filter element and determines its service life;
• The necessary fineness of screening out contaminants. This parameter is determined by the pore size of the filter element;
• Low hydraulic resistance. This is necessary for easier supply of thickened oil to rubbing parts during cold engine start;
• A sufficiently strong body and a reliable seal to protect against mechanical stress and in the event of an increase in pressure in the lubrication system.

The oil filter traps impurities, which, depending on the origin, can be:

• Organic, which are formed as a result of incomplete combustion of fuel and “waste” of oil;
• Inorganic. Dust, small metal chips, which inevitably form during running-in and during engine operation.

Design features

The oil filter consists of:

• From the body in which the rest of the components are located. By the type of construction, the case can be non-collapsible (the most common model) and collapsible (less convenient to maintain);
• Filter element, usually made of corrugated paper impregnated with resins, which is characterized by high strength, porosity, water and oil resistance. Due to the special stacking of paper, the maximum possible filtering surface area is achieved;

Valves:

• Bypass – to supply oil to the system when it cannot pass through the filter element due to its excessive contamination or for other reasons;
• Anti-drainage – to stop draining oil into the crankcase after stopping the engine;
• Anti-drain, which is needed to protect against the spill of lubricant when replacing the filter
• A seal in the form of a rubber gasket.
• Some of the valves may not be designed.

The order of work

To replace the oil filter you will need:

1. Special wrench or puller for removing the filter.

2. Wrench for the drain plug on the crankcase.

3. Container for collecting waste material.

4. Gloves, rags.

This is how car owners can replace the oil filter by themselves without going to a car service center, saving tons of money. We hope this article was helpful.