What is the purpose of an oil filter?

[FelicityLynn]

The functions of an oil filter are as follows: 1. The oil filter can filter the engine oil. As the oil circulates within the engine, it inevitably accumulates some impurities and particles. The oil filter removes these impurities and particles from the oil. Without an oil filter, the particles in the oil would continuously circulate within the engine, accelerating engine wear. 2. The oil filter helps maintain the cleanliness of the oil, ensuring that the oil can provide adequate lubrication to the engine. 3. It affects the oil change interval. Prolonged use of old oil can increase engine wear. The oil filter should be replaced every time the engine oil is changed. Below is some relevant information about oil filters: 1. When purchasing an oil filter, always choose genuine products from reputable brands. 2. When installing the oil filter, tighten it to the specified torque to prevent oil leaks. 3. During regular vehicle maintenance, always use genuine parts and fluids to avoid significant harm to the car.

[OGia]

The oil filter acts like the kidneys of an engine, responsible for filtering out contaminants such as metal debris and combustion carbon deposits from the oil. You see, when the engine runs, friction between parts generates a large number of tiny metal particles. If these aren't filtered out, they become 'invisible killers' that damage the machine, causing scratches on cylinder walls and bearings. Last time I disassembled an old car that had run 80,000 kilometers without changing the filter, the oil pan was full of black sludge, and the crankshaft was nearly worn with grooves. The special filter paper inside the filter is crucial—it can trap impurities finer than a strand of hair, but it becomes saturated and clogged if used beyond the oil change interval. Remember to replace the filter every two oil changes; this is the key secret to keeping the engine vibrant.

[AryaFitz]

As someone who has been maintaining my car on my own for a long time, I can confidently say that the value of oil filters is often underestimated. It's not just a metal shell; the pleated filter paper structure inside is quite ingenious, designed to ensure smooth oil flow while trapping particles larger than 0.02 millimeters. The highest amount of metal shavings occurs after the first maintenance of a new car, and this is when the oil filter plays a crucial role. I've compared cars using standard filters versus high-end ones, and after over 30,000 kilometers, the wear on the valve rocker arms was at least three times worse in the former. Nowadays, some long-life filters incorporate a synthetic fiber layer, and when paired with full synthetic oil, they can extend the maintenance interval up to 15,000 kilometers. Regularly replacing the oil filter actually saves money in the long run—the savings on repair costs alone could cover a decade's worth of filter replacements.

[VonCecilia]

Last year when helping a friend fix his car, I discovered the low-quality oil filter he used directly triggered the oil pressure warning. The internal spring was rusted, the filter paper had a hole, and metal debris had all made its way into the camshaft. The core value of an oil filter lies in protecting precision components—those crankshaft bearing clearances in the engine are only as thick as a few sheets of paper, and any contaminants entering would spell disaster. The bypass valve design in OEM filters is crucial; when the filter paper clogs, the valve automatically opens to allow oil to bypass filtration. While the oil isn’t clean, at least lubrication isn’t interrupted. For daily use, I recommend choosing branded filters—don’t risk it to save a few bucks. Always replace the filter during an oil change; the old one holds half a liter of dirty oil.