Can You Change Oil Filter After Changing Oil

Tin I Use The Same Oil Filter Twice? (And Other Oil Filter Questions Answered)

How long practice oil filters last? What's inside a cannister filter? Should I pre-make full my filter with oil? Here, we...

In theory, your oil filter has a simple chore: capture wear-causing contaminants and concord them in the filter media and then they don't run amok within your engine.

But lots of factors can throw a wrench into this plan, which can raise filtration questions.

Here'due south what nosotros'll cover:

Tin can I use the aforementioned filter twice?

How long practice filters last?

I forgot to change my filter when I changed oil. Is information technology too tardily?

Should I pre-fill the filter earlier installing?

Should I employ a conventional or constructed filter?

What'south inside an oil filter?

Tin I utilise synthetic oil with a conventional filter? Or vice versa?

Tin can I use the aforementioned filter twice?

The filter is designed to capture contaminants and hold them within the filter media. Over time, the media fills with clay particles, agglomerated soot, metal particles and other junk. If the filter plugs, the pressure level differential will open the bypass valve, which allows oil to bypass the filter, preventing oil starvation. Sure, dirty oil is preferable to no oil, simply it'southward non a long-term plan you lot tin can trust.

A new filter is far less expensive than a new engine. Don't cheap-out – replace the filter with every oil change.

How long do filters last?

It depends on filter quality and your driving weather.

A depression-quality, cheap conventional filter doesn't offering the capacity of a filter using constructed media, significant it fills with contaminants faster and requires more frequent changes.

Plus, if you bulldoze in dusty, dirty conditions, your engine is exposed to increased levels of airborne dirt particles that tin enter the engine, peculiarly if you haven't changed the air filter in awhile or at that place'south a leak in the intake arrangement.

Some modern direct-fuel-injection vehicles feel elevated fuel dilution, which also takes a toll on the filtration system. In diesel engines, soot particles tin can agglomerate into larger contaminants and lodge in the filter. This all adds up to more contaminants and more stress on the filter.

Follow the filter manufacturer'due south service guidelines. If none are given, go with what'south recommended in your vehicle owner's manual.

I forgot to change my filter when I changed oil. Is it as well late?

No. Just change the filter as normal.

Later the new filter is installed, run the engine for a couple minutes, and so shut it off and allow several minutes for the oil to settle in the sump. Check the oil level and top-off as needed to make-upwardly for the oil removed with the one-time filter.

Should I pre-fill the filter before installing?

The Internet is full of pre-fillers and anti-pre-fillers, all of whom seem able to reference a high-mileage conversion van or pickup they've serviced for decades either pre-filling or never pre-filling the filter.

Some filter manufacturers say pre-filling the filter isn't necessary. But remember – they make filters, not engines. In that location'southward a reason engine manufacturers recommend 0W-XX or 5W-XX motor oils, and information technology'southward and then the oil flows readily at startup when information technology'southward cold and the engine doesn't go without vital lubrication while information technology builds oil pressure.

To help ensure the engine doesn't outset dry, we recommend you pre-fill the filter if you lot can.

Horizontally oriented filters can pose a problem, but even they can be pre-filled with some oil.

I typically cascade a fiddling oil into the filter and tip information technology sideways and check the oil inside. If at that place'south room for more than before information technology begins to spill out of the opening in the filter, I add a piffling more oil before installing the filter.

Should I use a conventional or synthetic filter?

Utilize a filter made with constructed media for best protection. Synthetic oil filters offering the following benefits:

Increased efficiency – Efficiency describes the filter'south ability to capture contaminants. You tin usually find a filter'south efficiency rating on the package or the manufacturer'south website. It's reported as a percentage followed by a micron rating (e.thousand. "99 per centum at 20 microns," which is the efficiency of AMSOIL Oil Filters). Information technology refers to the percentage of contaminants twenty microns and larger the filter traps in industry-standard (ASTM D4548-12) testing. The higher the per centum, the better.

Increased capacity – Capacity refers to the amount of contaminants a filter can concord while however remaining effective. While there'south no industry-standard capacity rating, similar to the efficiency rating noted higher up, full synthetic media offers greater capacity than conventional media. The smaller fibers in synthetic media permit more room for contaminants to lodge without restricting oil flow.

Improved immovability – Hot oil slowly degrades the resins that hold some filter media together. Farthermost temperatures too degrade the anti-drain valve and baseplate gasket. Use a filter with reinforcement on the media, such as a wire backing, to withstand increased heat and longer drain intervals. Wait for an anti-drain valve fabricated of silicone for maximum durability. This ensures the oil stays in the filter after the engine is shut off, preventing dry starts the next twenty-four hours.

What'southward inside an oil filter?

Most spin-on filters contain the following:

Filter media – the middle and soul of the filter. Information technology'south where contaminants go to die. One time they lodge within the filter media, they can't circulate throughout your engine and cause wear.

Anti-drain valve – prevents oil from draining out of the filter when you shut-off the engine, ensuring immediate oil pressure level at startup.

Gasket – technically it's on the outside of the filter, just the gasket that creates a seal against the engine cake is critical to preventing oil leaks.

Can I use synthetic oil with a conventional filter? Or vice versa?

Yep, it's perfectly safe to use either type of filter with either type of oil.

If you practise extended drain intervals using synthetic oil, nonetheless, a conventional oil filter may non offering the required service life, meaning y'all'll take to change it in the middle of the oil bleed interval, which is inconvenient.

That's why AMSOIL Oil Filters are constructed to last upwards to 25,000 miles between changes, congruent with the 25,000-mile drain interval of Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil. AMSOIL Oil Filters designated with product code EA15K offer 15,000-mile change intervals.

Updated: Originally published Oct. 16, 2017