What is the function of the oil filter housing?
3 Answers
The functions of the oil filter housing are: 1. To assist in the installation of the oil filter; 2. To dissipate heat from the oil. The role of the oil filter is to remove mechanical impurities and gum, ensuring the cleanliness of the lubricating oil and extending its service life. Its performance features include strong filtration capability, low flow resistance, and long service life. Oil filters are categorized into full-flow and bypass types. A full-flow oil filter can filter all the lubricating oil entering the main oil passage, while a bypass oil filter only filters part of the lubricating oil pumped by the oil pump. The steps for replacing and installing an oil filter are: 1. Drain or suction out the old oil; 2. Loosen the fixing screws and remove the old oil filter; 3. Apply a layer of oil on the sealing ring of the new oil filter; 4. Install the new oil filter and tighten the fixing screws.
I've tinkered with many engine components before and found that the oil filter housing acts like a 'dedicated butler' for the oil filter. This metal bracket securely threads onto the engine block, providing a firm mounting point for the cylindrical filter while ensuring precise alignment between the filter's inner chamber and the oil passages. More crucially, the housing contains a double-safety mechanism: when dirty oil pumped from the oil pump passes through the filter media, if the filter element becomes clogged causing oil pressure to spike, the spring-loaded bypass valve inside the base automatically opens, allowing oil to bypass the filter media and flow directly into the main oil gallery. This design ensures continuous engine lubrication even if the filter becomes completely blocked. By the way, that orange rubber seal in the base's groove is particularly important—my friend's car once leaked oil everywhere due to a deteriorated seal, which eventually ruined the crankshaft pulley from oil saturation.
The worst thing during car repairs is encountering a low-quality oil filter housing. Last time, I worked on a car with engine knocking noises. Upon disassembly, I found that the internal oil passage diameter of the aftermarket housing was 2mm smaller, causing poor oil flow and insufficient lubrication to the hydraulic lifters. High-quality housings are cast from aluminum alloy with mirror-smooth inner walls, reducing oil flow resistance by 15%. Thread machining precision is also crucial—misaligned threads when screwing in the filter can either lead to oil leaks from poor sealing or deform the filter housing. Some premium models even integrate temperature sensors in the base to monitor oil conditions in real-time. To me, this part is essentially a three-way connector—connecting the oil inlet pipe at the top, the filter at the bottom, and featuring a pressure valve on the side. But if poorly designed, it can instantly become an oil leak source.
