Engine Oil Filter: What Does It Do, and How Often Should I Change It?

It may seem like a small part, but don’t overlook your engine oil filter—it’s essential to keeping your Subaru SUV running its best. This filter captures contaminants like dirt and dust that make it into the engine, preventing them from turning your oil into sludge. However, if you don’t have our team at Freehold Subaru swap it out regularly, that dirt stays in the system, so regular replacement is a key part of car maintenance.

What Does an Engine Oil Filter Do?

In addition to helping to manage heat distribution and lubricating moving metal parts, engine oil captures any foreign materials that make it into the engine. These particles then get strained through the oil filter, which captures them and keeps them from damaging moving parts. As the filter fills up, your engine has to work harder and harder to push oil through it, which limits performance and can cause its own issues.

Can I Change an Oil Filter at Home?

Changing an oil filter at home can be a difficult, messy process. You’ll need tools on hand like oil filter pliers as well as a plan for what to do with the old oil, which will be messy and can stain a garage. Unless you already know where your local oil recycling center is, it’s safer to have our team change the filter for you as part of a complete tune-up.

How Often Do I Need a New Oil Filter?

It used to be the rule of thumb to swap out your oil filter every other oil change, but with new cars, it’s better to replace both the oil and the filter every time. Modern synthetic oil can usually work for longer between stops, and because modern oil filters are especially good at catching contaminants, they often get clogged faster. In general, you should have them both replaced every 6 months or 60,000 miles.

Get Engine Oil Filter Service in Freehold, NJ

If you’ve put off getting an oil filter change, now’s the perfect time to restore your Subaru engine. Visit our Subaru dealership in Freehold, NJ, and get a bumper-to-bumper tune-up from our expert team. Drive home with a refreshed, satisfying ride today!