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Every car owner knows and understands the importance of changing your car’s oil. It is vital in order to keep everything moving smoothly inside your engine. There are other aspects associated with your oil and engine components that can become overlooked if you do not make a point to take care of them. Changing your filter is just as important as changing the oil itself is. The oil filter is very important to the way your engine runs. It has a useful function and must be kept clean to work accordingly.

Usually the oil filter is changed when the oil is changed. The process goes hand in hand. The oil filter can usually be found near the oil pan. If it is not all that obvious to you then look in the manual that comes with your car. It should be labeled. You may need a wrench to get it out. It requires that you turn it counter clockwise in order to get it out completely. It would be in your best interest to wear some protective gear for this such as gloves and safety glasses.

It is usually when the oil filter is taken out that you then drain out the old dirty oil and dispose of it properly. The oil filter seal that is located on the car itself often has to be cleaned otherwise it is very sticky and dirty. Sometimes the rubber gasket from the old filter gets left behind. You must be sure to take it off or it can lead to leaks when you put the new oil filter on. It is recommended that you always rub some fresh oil on the new gasket before you put it on and tighten it into place.

Though changing the oil filter is relatively easy in most vehicles, there are some that are more difficult. This is often due to strange or hard to get to placement of the oil filter. Some of them may be mounted in places that are hard to reach or are just extremely difficult to get to. This type of thing can vary by the make and model of your car.

In most cases an oil filter can be taken off with your hands. But due to oil spills and dirt, that can get very slippery and it is often much simpler to just use gloves so that it comes off easier without any mess or fuss. There are special tools designed for making this process easier. Look in your local auto parts and tools store for one.

It is always important to look over everything after it is done. You also need to clean the area after you are done so that you can check for leaks or any obvious damage. Replacing a filter is a pretty easy job. You can buy the replacement filters at any store that sells oil and oil change accessories. Make sure that it is the right oil filter for your vehicle. They are not all the same. Most stores have a guide to direct you in which to buy. Change your filter regularly to keep your oil running smoothly.