Description:
The typical oil filter consists of a
high-strength steel housing containing various
types of filtering media. An anti-drainback valve prevents oil from running out of the filter when the engine is off. Today's oil filters have a convenient spin-on design that makes removal and installation easy.
Purpose: The oil filter sifts out
contaminants, allowing the oil to flow through the engine
unrestricted. Should the oil filter become restricted or clogged
with contaminants,
they will flow around the filter. This
bypassing is a safety mechanism, but you never want
to let oil and filter changes go so long that bypassing
takes place.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
For best
results, consult your owner's manual, but consider that your driving
probably constitutes a severe maintenance schedule. Usually, this means oil and
filter changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months. If
you change the filter yourself, dispose of it properly. Take used
filters to a facility that accepts them. Used filters can be
crushed, removing the used oil and the steel part of the
filter can be recycled. The oil from
one used, seemingly innocent filter leaking into a landfill can
taint 62,000 gallons of ground water.
