Can I Change the Engine Oil Without Replacing the Oil Filter?
3 Answers
It is not advisable to change the engine oil without replacing the oil filter. The primary function of the oil filter is to remove impurities from the engine oil. Over time, these impurities can cause blockages. Additionally, a certain amount of old oil remains inside the filter. If you only change the oil without replacing the filter, the new oil will mix with the old oil, reducing the lifespan of the new oil. The oil filter is located in the engine lubrication system, positioned between the oil pump (upstream) and the engine components that require lubrication (downstream). Its role is to filter out harmful impurities from the oil in the oil pan, delivering clean oil to components such as the crankshaft, connecting rod, camshaft, turbocharger, and piston rings, thereby extending their service life.
Changing your own engine oil is all about saving money and hassle, but never skip replacing the oil filter. I once tried not changing the filter, only to find the oil turned black quickly and the engine noise increased. Turns out, the old filter was full of contaminants from the previous oil, which contaminated the new oil—basically wasting your money. Replacing the oil filter is actually very simple: just use a special wrench to remove it, apply some new oil to the rubber seal of the new filter, and hand-tighten it. My maintenance manual clearly states that the filter must be replaced with every oil change, otherwise engine carbon buildup and wear will increase, leading to repair costs that could buy hundreds of filters later on.
I always treat oil changes and filter replacements as a package deal—skipping either step is a no-go. In car enthusiast circles, I've seen plenty of folks try to save money by changing only the oil while reusing the old filter. A few months later, when they opened up their engines, the sludge buildup was horrifying. An oil filter is just like a water purifier's filter—over time, it gets clogged with metal shavings and carbon deposits. Even if you pour in fresh, clean oil, it'll get contaminated again if it passes through an old filter. This is especially critical nowadays, as many cars use synthetic oils that can last thousands of kilometers. But if you don't change the filter, the new oil's lifespan gets cut in half. When you do the math, spending 30 bucks on a new filter actually saves you money in the long run—it's definitely not worth skimping on.
