Why are some oil filters on the top of the engine?

It’s called gravity, and oil runs downhill, not up. It doesn’t go into some hidden chamber in the engine, because if it did, you could’t drain all the oil out of your car at oil change time. That’s why when you take that top engine element out, the only oil that’s on it, is the residual oil that’s in the element.

Does the height of the oil filter matter?

A larger, smaller, or otherwise differant oil filter will offer no real benefits or gains. It will not prolong oil changes, it will not make the car go faster or use less fuel. But it will open the prospect of a failure into your cars lubrication system, how ever unlikely.

Why are there so many oil filters?

Basically: Packaging. It’s much easier and cheaper to design several filters to fit different applications than it is to design a seperate engine and or oiling system for each installation. It’s a bit confusing at the auto parts store, but it’s way cheaper than the alternatives.

Does a high performance oil filter make a difference?

The better job a filter does of keeping those particles out of your engine, the better performance you will get. The lower the micron efficiency number, the higher the price. The best high efficiency filters are efficient to about 10 microns and also filter out most smaller particles.

What happens if oil filter is too small?

Using smaller oil filter could cause filter internal pressure relieve valve damage, filter clogged and then drop in the pressure in the oil system that could lead to engine wear and failure.

Why are oil filters small?

Obviously, a small micron-size oil filter is associated with lower wear rates and prolonged engine life (more on this later). The filter must also be able to remove particles fast enough to keep up with the rate new particles arrive into the oil (ingression rate).

Are synthetic oil filters worth it?

Putting filters aside for a second, upgrading to synthetic oil doesn’t necessarily mean you can go much longer between oil changes, Mott says. “Synthetic oil, its benefit is not that you can go longer between oil changes,” Mott says. “It’s good because it maintains its viscosity in extreme cold or extreme heat.”

What happens if you put the wrong oil filter on your car?

Using the wrong oil filter can negatively impact oil pressure. The wrong filter, a filter that isn’t working properly, or a filter that gets clogged can cause oil pressure to drop. If the relief valve is damaged, or the wrong filter is used, too much or too little oil can pass into the engine.

Do magnets work on oil filters?

The only way for an oil filter to catch all the metal particles is to have magnets. As the motor oil runs through the filter, the magnets pull all the metal particles out of the oil. This is a great solution because it prevents the shavings from running through the motor again.

Do you need to change the oil filter every time?

Many manufacturers recommend that the oil filter be replaced every second time you get your oil changed. So, if you’re on a 3,000-mile cycle you’d change your filter every 6,000; if you’re on a 6,000-mile cycle (as with most modern vehicles) you’d change out every 12,000.