Used oil filter

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Most drivers don’t give much thought to their car or truck’s engine oil until it’s time to replace it.  When the oil change indicator comes on, we head to a mechanic so he or she can do the job for at a relatively cheap price.

The price you pay for an oil change includes labor, replacement oil and an oil filter. Most people may not fully understand how an automotive oil filter works, but they do know that it’s needed to prevent damage to a vehicle’s inner workings.

Oil filters are used to keep impurities out of the engine while it is running.  This takes place while the oil suspends the numerous engine parts that are used in the combustion of gas and air, and in the spark that is created by the spark plugs. This combustion causes the pistons to move, and waste is expelled through the exhaust pipe.  The entire process creates a level of impurities from the intake air and the fuel.  

In trucks, the dirty oil is run through specific oil filters that are manufactured for the truck, and larger waste is trapped.  This helps ensure that the waste doesn’t cause damage to the engine or its parts.

Most oil filters are inexpensive, and they seem even cheaper when you consider the cost of replacing or rebuilding your damaged engine.  Every oil change should also mean a new oil filter.  Consider it a must, because your automotive oil filter will become filled with the waste that builds up in the oil during the engine combustion process.

This is why regular oil servicing is so vital to ensuring the longevity of your engine. If the impurities are allowed to build up, they will take away from the performance of your car or truck and can cause damage to the rings, valves and cylinders.

During an oil change, the used oil is drained out of the car or truck and the engine is replenished with fresh oil.  This enables the auto oil filter to last longer, and it helps get rid of grit that builds up in the oil, even when the filter has done its job.  Auto oil filters are able to clear out the larger elements, but there is still a lot of grit that remains and causes unneeded friction within the engine. This can create a break in the gaskets that seal the two halves of the engine together.

Now you understand why you need to stay on top of auto maintenance, including regular oil changes.  The cost of fresh oil and a new oil filter is a small price to pay when compared to a whole new engine!

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Filed under: Truck Parts