In car maintenance, we often focus on the engine oil, but easily overlook another key component that is closely related to it – the oil filter. If oil is the “blood” of the engine, then the oil filter is the “kidney” of the engine. Its function is to filter impurities in the oil, keep it clean, and ensure the healthy operation of the engine.

Why is it equally important as engine oil?

During the operation of the engine, the friction of metal components produces tiny metal debris, while combustion also produces carbon deposits and gum. These impurities will mix into the engine oil and circulate to various corners of the engine as the oil circulates. If these ‘junk in the blood’ are not filtered out, they will:

Accelerated wear: Grind precise internal engine components such as crankshafts, camshafts, and cylinder walls like sandpaper.

Blocked oil passage: Severe accumulation of impurities may block the critical passage for transporting oil, resulting in local lubrication failure of the engine and causing fatal damage such as cylinder pulling and tile burning.

Causing oil performance failure: Even if the oil itself has not reached the replacement cycle, heavily contaminated oil has lost its ability to lubricate, cool, and clean.

Working principle and replacement cycle

There are special filter papers inside the oil filter, and the oil passes through these filter papers under pressure, trapping impurities. As the usage time increases, the filter paper will gradually become clogged and the filtration efficiency will decrease. In order to ensure the filtering effect, the oil filter must be replaced synchronously with the oil. In routine maintenance, it is an unshakable ‘golden rule’ to always replace the oil filter with a new one.

How to choose?

The quality of oil filters on the market varies greatly. Poor quality filters have poor filter paper filtering ability, rubber rings that are not resistant to high temperatures are prone to oil leakage, and even have unstable internal structures, which may directly damage the engine.

Original filter: The most compatible with your car and the safest choice.

Famous brand filters, such as MAN, Mahler, Bosch, etc., provide original factory matching for many car companies with guaranteed quality, making them a cost-effective choice.