Oil Filters
Cutting open a used oil filter is one of the most direct ways to see what your engine is shedding. The filter media traps metal particles, sludge, and debris that never make it back into the engine. By inspecting those particles, you can catch bearing wear, piston ring problems, and
Oil Filters
Change your oil filter every time you change your oil. That's the standard recommendation from virtually every major automaker and oil filter manufacturer. Whether your interval is 3,000 miles on conventional oil or 10,000 miles on full synthetic, the filter gets replaced at the same time
Oil Filters
A clogged or failing oil filter usually announces itself in several ways: low oil pressure warning light, engine knocking or ticking sounds, dirty or black oil on the dipstick, reduced engine performance, and visible oil leaks around the filter housing. Any one of these is a signal to stop driving
Oil Filters
A stuck oil filter almost always comes off with the right technique. The most reliable starting point is a strap wrench or filter pliers applied with steady counterclockwise pressure. If that fails, there are four more methods — including a few that require nothing but what you already have in the
Oil Filters
Most people change their oil filter at the same time as their engine oil. That is the right call. A filter loaded with old, contaminated oil defeats the purpose of a fresh fill. Before you start, check your owner's manual for the oil filter part number and the
Oil Filters
An oil filter wrench is a tool that grips the outside of a spin-on oil filter or the housing cap of a cartridge filter so you can break it loose by hand. Most filters go on hand-tight and then heat-cycle until they feel welded in place. The right wrench makes
Oil Filters
Most drivers never think about what type of oil filter their car uses. They just buy a filter that fits and change it on schedule. That works fine until you need to understand why your filter looks different from a friend's,or why some cars require a cap
Fuel Filters
On most modern fuel-injected vehicles, the fuel filter sits after the fuel pump. The pump pulls fuel from the tank and pushes it through the filter before it reaches the injectors. However, location varies by vehicle design, and older carbureted cars often placed the filter after the pump but before
Fuel Filters
The arrow on a fuel filter points in the direction fuel travels through it. Install the filter so the arrow points toward the engine and away from the fuel tank. Fuel flows from the tank, through the filter, and on to the engine. The arrow tells you which end is
Fuel Filters
A fuel filter's micron rating tells you the size of particles it stops. A 10 micron filter catches particles 10 micrometers and larger. A 30 micron filter only catches particles 30 micrometers and larger. The lower the number, the finer the filtration. But finer is not always better.
Fuel Filters