Hey, it's Brandy and you ever wonder what one of the best things is to ever happen to your vehicle's engine? It's the little thing that usually looks like a can, the oil filter. Just like your kitchen sink strainer filters out errant food particles that could clog your drain, the oil filter cleans out small particles that could harm your engine.
Your engine operates in a dirty, hot environment and gathers a lot of tiny contaminants like dirt, dust, little metal shards and unlucky bugs that get sucked in. Get those things circulating in your engine and those little particles can cause friction, which starts wearing out those finely machined metal parts.
You know how important it is to change your oil regularly. It's vital that you change your oil filter at the same time to keep the oil as close to brand new as possible.
Most oil filters look like a metal can with some holes in the bottom. Inside, there are carefully chosen materials that can screen out the contaminants while at the same time allowing the lubricating oil to pass through. Early oil filters had steel wool, metal mesh or actual screens. Then they tried fabric filters using materials such as linen and cotton. Finally, a less expensive disposable filter using paper and cellulose did the trick.
Cellulose or other synthetic media are used in most oil filters today. Cellulose is inexpensive and effective. Fibers filter out particulates and let the oil flow. The other synthetic media can screen out even tinier particles without significantly restricting the oil from passing through. Engineers continue to work on even more advanced filter materials.
Choosing the right oil filter is something our pros at Allied Auto Works can help you with, since there are a lot of them out there. Factoring into that decision are your driving habits, how far you drive and the temperatures to which your engine will be subjected. While some filters cost more than others, they may be worth it to extend your engine's life.
But most important is remembering to have your oil changed at Allied Auto Works regularly, at the intervals recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. Just like you wouldn't want to have a plumber come over to fix a clogged kitchen drain, you certainly wouldn't want to have to pay for major engine repairs if they could be prevented by regular oil and filter changes.
Today I am going to leave you with a filter joke,
Just been in to Starbucks and the barista was wearing a face mask
I asked "Why are you wearing a surgical mask?"
She said "I'm not, it's a coughy filter."
Brandy
Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com