If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I really need to change the oil filter every time?” The short answer is YES!
What Does the Oil Filter Actually Do?
Your engine oil’s job is to keep your engine parts lubricated and running smoothly, but as oil circulates through the engine, it picks up dirt, metal particles, and other contaminants. That’s where the oil filter comes in. Its job is to trap all that debris and keep it from circulating through your engine.
Over time, the oil filter gets clogged with all the stuff it’s caught. When that happens, the filter becomes less effective or even restricted, meaning dirty oil starts to flow through your engine unchecked. in some extreme cases your oil filter can become so restricted that it bypasses and your oil is not being filtered. That can lead to increased wear, reduced performance, and even engine damage.
Always Change the Filter With the Oil
Changing your oil but not the oil filter is like washing your clothes but putting them back in a dirty laundry basket, it defeats the purpose. Clean oil running through a dirty filter won’t stay clean for long, and that can reduce the benefits of your oil change. That’s why at Tim’s Quality Car Care, we always change the oil filter with every oil change, no exceptions.
Our Recommended Oil Change Schedule
Here in New Orleans, the heat, humidity, stop-and-go traffic, and frequent short trips all add up to what most manufacturers consider “severe operating conditions.” That means sticking to a smart oil change schedule is even more important.
Here’s what we recommend at Tim’s:
Synthetic Oil: Every 5,000 miles or 5 months
Regular or Synthetic Blend Oil: Every 3,000 miles or 3 months
These intervals help keep your engine running clean, cool, and well-lubricated, especially when dealing with our steamy New Orleans summers and unpredictable weather.
Think you may need an oil filter? Let us check out your car for you!
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Read Our Blog: Are all oil changes the same?
