An oil filter is a type of filter that has been specifically designed to remove contaminants from transmission oil, engine oil, hydraulic oil and lubricating oil. Automotive oil filters are mostly used in conventional or off-road motor vehicle internal combustion engines. Another type of vehicle hydraulic system, similar to power steering and automatic transmission is also equipped with an oil filter.
own Best Synthetic Oil 2016 This is very important for every car owner because if the oil is left unfilled for a long time, it can lead to saturation with small and hard particles that can damage the car engine. This dirty and saturated oil can gradually damage pump components and also cause wear on the bearing surfaces of the engine.
As a general rule, you should at least change your vehicle’s oil filter whenever you decide to change your oil as a preventative method. The good news is that these are relatively inexpensive vehicle parts, which will have to be modified depending on the needs of your car and the specific model.
All you have to do is look in the vehicle’s maintenance manual or owner’s manual to find out when the time is right.
Although the concept of changing the oil filter sounds easy enough, it is still a good idea to know the operation of some of the important parts of your car’s engine system. Following are the names of some of the parts and how the oil filter affects them.
- Tapping plate aka Gasket: this is the part where oil enters and leaves the filter. It consists of a larger central hole surrounded by smaller holes, through which oil enters on the outer side of the tapping plate. The oil then exits through the center hole which is mounted on the car’s engine.
- Rear anti-drain valve: this is a valve that is shaped like a flap and is responsible for preventing oil from seeping back into the oil filter from the engine when the vehicle is not running. Like every other part, it is also an important element of an automotive.
- Filter media: filter media is the main part of the oil filter, which is composed of synthetic and microscopic cellulose fibers that act as a sieve to trap contaminants before they reach the engine. The filter media is folded or folded as it increases efficiency.
- Middle steel tube: After the oil has been thoroughly filtered of any impurities or grit, the oil then passes back into the engine through this mechanism, known as the center steel tube.
- Relief valve: This section allows small amounts of unfiltered oil to enter the engine to meet its lubrication requirements until the oil has generated enough heat to pass through the filter normally. The relief valve is a necessary component because the car refuses to start when the engine is cold because it still needs some oil. At low temperatures, oil is too thick to pass through the filter media, and this is where this part of the car comes into play.
- End discs: These components are usually made of metal or fiber and are usually located on either side of the filter media. This disc is responsible for preventing unfiltered oil from seeping into the central steel tube and eventually flowing into the engine. The end disc is held firmly in place by metal strips known as retainers.
From this list of oil filter parts, you can probably understand that explaining the function of an oil filter involves much more than separating impurities through the filtration medium. Your car’s oil filter has been designed to not only remove contaminants but also keep unfiltered and filtered oil in its own area.
The filter system is also responsible for providing the engine with small amounts of oil that may be present in less desirable forms when needed. All that said, it cannot be overemphasized how important it is to use only good quality oil for any vehicle as it will not only enhance your overall experience but also increase the life of the engine.
