Looking for a quick crash course on oil filters?
Various vehicles use different types of oil filters to prevent the engine from getting contaminated by dirt and debris. Each filter functions in a unique way. However, they get blocked eventually — which is why you need to get your oil filter replaced regularly.
So, how do you know which type of filter is right for your car?
In this article, we’ll explain the common types of oil filters and how they work. We’ll also guide you through selecting the best one for your vehicle.
This Article Contains:
- What Does an Oil Filter Do?
- 2 Main Types of Oil Filters Found in Cars
- How to Choose the Right Oil Filter for Your Vehicle
- 4 FAQs on Engine Oil Filter
What Does an Oil Filter Do?
Engine oil filters (lube oil filters) trap impurities like dirt, metal particles, and sludge that can accumulate in the oil. They prevent these contaminants from circulating through the engine, reducing wear and tear on vital engine components such as the crankshaft, pistons, and other moving parts.
This helps prevent premature damage and reduces the likelihood of costly automotive repairs down the road. As a result, the engine runs more efficiently and lasts longer.
Since engines come in various designs, there are a variety of filters tailored to their unique performance needs.
2 Main Types Of Oil Filters Found in Cars
The different types of oil filters in the market can be broadly categorized under two types:
Let’s take a look at each.
A. Primary Oil Filter
A primary filter, also known as a full-flow oil filter, is the most common type of oil filter available. These filters are designed to clean all of the engine’s motor oil, removing contaminants every time the oil circulates through the system. Unlike specialized filters that filter only a portion of the motor oil, primary filters ensure comprehensive protection for the car engine, enhancing its performance and longevity.
It’s worth noting that a full-flow oil filter is ideal for colder temperatures.
Why?
Extreme cold conditions can make motor oil thick, and most filters restrict oil flow, making filtration difficult. This can severely damage the engine.
However, the primary oil filter offers greater engine protection by letting your motor oil pass more easily through the engine than other filters, even after thickening in cold temperatures.
Here are some primary filter types:
1. Cartridge Oil Filter
The cartridge oil filter is also sometimes known as an eco oil filter. That’s because this filter has no metal parts and can be easily recycled in many cases. Cartridge oil filters are also preferred for their ease of use. If the cartridge filter is positioned upright, your mechanic can inspect it without removing the engine oil.
However, cartridge oil filters are more expensive than other types of oil filters as they have a more complex design and contain many parts, making them costly to produce.
2. Spin-On Oil Filter
Another full-flow filter is the spin-on oil filter.
Unlike a cartridge filter, this primary filter type isn’t as eco-friendly. It uses a paper filter element and a steel canister that spins on the engine block. Spin-on oil filters are great for people who wish to DIY their filter changes because they are easy to replace and inexpensive. However, it’s important to consult with a mechanic to ensure this filter is compatible with your car’s engine.
Now that you know about the primary filter types, let’s move on to the secondary oil filters.
B. Secondary Oil Filter
Secondary oil filters support your car’s full-flow filter. This filter cleans a smaller portion of oil used by your car engine at a time — typically less than 10%. This helps remove finer contaminants that your primary filter may have missed.
A secondary oil filter adds an extra layer of engine protection and can easily prolong the life of your motor oil.
NOTE: A secondary filter works independently of the primary oil filter. If your car doesn’t have one, you can install it later.
Here are the most common secondary oil filter (or bypass filter) types:
1. Spinner Oil Filter
The spinner oil filter, also known as a centrifugal oil filter, is primarily used in high-performance engines. It provides filtration in tough conditions such as high engine speeds and hot temperatures. As the name suggests, this secondary oil filter uses centrifugal force to trap contaminants in your motor oil.
Here’s an interesting fact:
Some spinner oil filters can produce a force that’s 2,000 times greater than gravity’s force. That’s why this bypass oil filter can remove the smallest contaminants from your motor oil.
A centrifugal oil filter generally has a filter housing chamber and membrane (filter medium). When the filtration media gets clogged, your mechanic only needs to replace the filter media, and the housing chamber stays usable. Another critical component of a spinner filter is the base gasket. It’s designed to restrict motor oil from leaking.
Unfortunately, spinner oil filters aren’t the most durable, so when you go to an auto shop for an oil and filter change, let a mechanic check the base gasket, too.
2. Magnetic Oil Filter
Magnetic filters can clean the oil of metallic contaminants, but their grime or dirt-holding capacity isn’t great.
The good news is, unlike other lube oil filters, you don’t need to get magnetic filters replaced. Just get your magnetic oil filter serviced regularly by a professional mechanic to keep filtered oil flowing into your engine.
3. Thermal Chamber Oil Filter
Thermal chamber oil filters burn contaminants to get rid of them. This bypass oil filter raises the temperature to refine oil and makes it less viscous, allowing the oil to run smoothly through the vehicle even in cold weather.
Next, we’ll see how to select the correct filter for your engine.
How to Choose the Right Oil Filter for Your Vehicle
Different vehicles often require specific types and sizes of oil filters to ensure proper protection and prevent engine wear. For example, cars using cartridge filters can’t use spin-on oil filters, as each type is designed to fit and function differently.
To pick the best oil filter, refer to your car manual. It will outline the recommended filter type and size that is compatible with your internal combustion engine.
Once you identify the right filter, consider these factors when getting one:
- Brand: Opt for well-known brands. Choosing lesser-known or generic auto parts could negatively impact your engine’s health.
- Filter media: The media depends on the oil type. Conventional oil usually requires filters with either natural media like cellulose or synthetic filter media such as microglass. Synthetic oil systems usually need synthetic media.
- Vehicle usage: For heavy-duty vehicles consider high-performance filters like centrifugal filters. For cars that aren’t used often, a standard filter should be enough.
Now that you know all about the different types of oil filters, let’s answer some common questions about engine oil filters.
4 FAQs on Engine Oil Filter
Here are the answers to some common queries that’ll help you understand engine oil filters better:
1. What Makes Up an Engine Oil Filter?
An engine oil filter has these components:
- Filter head: It houses the filter and secures it on the engine block.
- Tapping plate: The oil filter element through which motor oil enters and leaves the filter.
- Filter material: A network of synthetic fibers that pick dust and gunk from contaminated oil. The filter material is creased into pleats to increase filtration efficiency.
- Anti-drainback valve: When your car isn’t running, this valve acts as a door that closes to stop motor oil leakage from the internal combustion engine into the oil filter.
- Relief valve (bypass valve): A bypass valve is an oil pressure relief valve designed to open when the oil thickens or the filter is clogged, especially during winter. This allows oil flow to bypass the oil filter via a center tube, protecting the engine from damage.
- End discs: Two end discs on each end of the car oil filter stop unfiltered oil from bleeding into the engine.
2. How Does an Oil Filter Work?
As you drive your vehicle, unburnt oil circulates through the engine and is pumped to the oil filter via the inlet.
Depending on the filter type, the filter media (or cartridge) traps both inorganic and organic contaminants and removes them from the oil. The clean oil then exits the filter, flows through the engine, and the cycle repeats.
3. What Are the Different Types of Filter Media?
Here are the most common filter media (filter medium) used in oil filters:
- Cellulose: This form of filter media is found in most disposable oil filters. Cellulose filter media can trap particles of 8-10 microns in size and filter up to 40% of your motor oil. Cellulose media filters can last around 3000 to 5000 miles.
- Synthetic: A synthetic oil filter media can filter 50% of the size 20-40 microns particles and 24% of particles of the size 8-10 microns. You’ll mostly find this filtration media in high-quality engine oil filters. Synthetic filter media are known for their durability and last around 15,000 to 20,000 miles.
- Microglass: If you have a premium oil filter, you most likely have microglass filter media. This filtration media is extremely fine, much more than cellulose fibers. This ensures it traps all other smaller particles, increasing filtration efficiency. Filters with microglass membranes can last around 10,000 miles before needing to be replaced.
4. How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Oil Filter?
The total cost, which includes both an oil change and filter replacement, generally ranges from $40 to $200, depending on the type of oil and filter used.
An oil filter replacement is typically done alongside an oil change to ensure your vehicle’s engine is lubricated with clean oil. Without fresh oil, the new filter can quickly become clogged with debris, allowing contaminants to flow into the engine and potentially cause damage.
Get an Oil Filter Replacement With AutoNation Mobile Service
Oil filters are essential components of your vehicle that you should care for. A mechanic should change them or the oil filter element (if separable) as recommended to protect engine components from contaminated oil.
To find out what kind of oil filtration system your vehicle has and to have your car oil filter changed, reach out to AutoNation Mobile Service.
We’re a mobile auto repair and maintenance service that offers competitive pricing and upfront cost estimates.
Contact us, and we’ll send our best mechanics straight to your driveway for a quick oil and filter replacement.