subject: Don't Sweat An Oil Spill When Using A Performance Oil Filter [print this page] Don't Sweat An Oil Spill When Using A Performance Oil Filter
If you're an uppity-up at BP, you're probably pretty busy cowering under your desk at the moment. And if you're notyou should be. Say what you will about auto manufacturers and the way they manage their money, but at the very least, they could show you how to plug a holeand possibly prevent the initial damage from occurring in the first place.
That's exactly what a performance oil filter does. Designed for every make, model and year currently on the road, oil filters keep your engine running smoothly to prevent engine failure and breakdown. Otherwise known as "full-flow" filtration, oil is routed through the filter before it makes its way to the crankshaft bearings, cam bearings and valve train. This filtering process is the most efficient way of removing contaminants, assuring only filtered oil finds its way into the engine.
Oil filters, like K&N filters, remove solid contaminants including dirt, carbon and metal particles from the oil before they can damage the bearing, journal and cylinder wall surfaces within the engine. And the cleaner the filter, the more effective it is at netting harmful debris. As the K&N filter begins to wear, it collects dirt and other gunk that obstructs the flow of oil, resulting in a loss of engine efficiency and performance. To keep your engine at its peak and avoid catastrophic damage, oil filters should be changed well before they reach this saturation point.
Unlike the oil filters of yesteryear, modern oil filters have been reduced in size from a quart-sized filter to a pint-sized filter. This reduction has resulted in less total filtering capacity which equates to changing your oil filter anywhere from every 3,000 - 6,000 miles. The best practice is to replace your oil filter every time the oil is changed. Doing so will ensure the highest possible engine integrity.
Regularly changing your air filter is just as important, because when air is restricted your engine can overheat. The life of an air filter is somewhat different than that of an oil filter in that a slightly dirty air filter actually cleans more efficiently than a brand new one. That's because the debris trapped within air filters actually screens out smaller particles. In general, a quality air filter will last between 20,000 - 30,000 miles for most city driving. However, if you drive in areas with poor air quality or take rural, dusty side roads, you'll have to change those air filters much more frequently.
