Oil Filters

FAQs Concerning Oil Filters

How do I choose the right oil filter?
While the engine will have only one type of oil filter, you may have a choice between brands or models that will also fit your vehicle. When choosing an oil filter, go for whichever matches your driving style. Eco models may be for efficiency in stop-and-go traffic while performance models will be for vehicles driven with enthusiasm. Though, any oil filter that fits will work.
Are there other filters in the car other than an oil filter?
Yes! The engine uses several, including the oil filter, the air filter and a fuel filter. Each of these serves an important function: cleaning contaminants out of the mixture, be it oil, air or fuel. To ensure you get the right one, add your vehicle online to use the oil filter lookup tool or head into your nearest Advance Auto Parts store to talk with a knowledgeable sales representative.
When should I change my oil filter?
You should change your oil filter with every oil change. Manufacturers provide these oil change intervals in the owner's manual, and oil manufacturers themselves might also give timelines for changing the oil. The will depend on what kind of oil you're putting through the engine, but the average is between 5,000 miles/6 months for conventional and 10,000 miles -12 months for synthetic. Changing the oil filter at each oil change is critical in preventing contaminants from geting into the new oil and ruining the engine.

Signs you Need a New Oil Filter

• It's time for regular scheduled oil change
• Your oil looks unclean
• Your engine sounds like grinding metal (professional diagnosis recommended)
• Engine performance suffers

Oil Filter Types

There are several types of oil filters that modern vehicles use. Check your owner's manual or the Advance Auto Parts website to see which oil filter your vehicle needs. Be sure to enter your vehicle information to see the correct fit.

• Mechanical Oil Filters retain contaminants and separate them from the oil. These oil filters need changing.
• A Centrifugal Oil Filter uses the force of spinning motion to separate the oil and the contaminants. These oil filters need changing too.
• Magnetic Oil Filters use an electromagnetic charge to separate the oil from the contaminants. These oil filters are cleaned, not changed.

How to Install an Oil Filter

1. Drain old oil and replace the drain plug gasket if necessary. Reinstall the drain plug and tighten to spec.
2. Remove old oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
3. Pour a small amount of new oil into the new filter.
4. WWipe a bit around the oil filter gasket.
5. Install new oil filter hand tight.
   Buy oil filters online or visit your local Advance Auto Parts store and have one of our knowledgeable Team Members help you.

Additional FAQs

Will the vehicle have to be jacked up to change the oil filter?
Shorter vehicles may need to be jacked up for a drain pan to fit underneath. Here's the Advance Auto Parts Guide for How to Safely Use Car Jack Stands.
If I need to change my engine oil each time I change my oil filter, how do I change my oil?
Read How to Change Your Engine Oil.