Oil Change - Myths About Oil Filters

Deciding which filter you want is just one step in your next oil change. If you have owned a car long, chances are you have heard one of these common myths.

When you go in for your next oil change, one of the questions you will have to answer is whether or not you need a new filter, and which one you want to have installed. As you think about your answers to this question, here are some myths to keep in mind.

Magnets Help

One thing that people have been trying to do for a while is find a way to make filters work better. Magnets are one tactic they have used. You may have heard that placing a magnetic force will stabilize the oil molecules, or you may have heard that placing magnets in the filter will trap metal particles. This myth also says that sometimes oil consumption and emissions will decrease if you add magnets, and engine power could increase.

These myths are not true. Magnets will remove some tiny, tiny iron particles, but the truth is that these particles do little to impact the way your engine operates. Most of the metallic particles in your lubricant are not magnetic. They will flow right past the magnet without any effect at all. So, in effect, you will be wasting your time and money installing magnets in your filters.

Dual Stage Filters Are Best

Dual stage filters are those that filter the lubricant through two filter mediums. These do provide an excellent cleaning option, but you need to realize that the lubricant will not go through the secondary filter material all of the time. If your budget is tight, you can clean your lubricant very well without buying this dual stage filter. If you have the extra money to spring for one, then by all means do so to give yourself this added protection.

The Price Doesn't Matter

When you go in for your oil change, your mechanic may give you a choice about your filters. This is one instance where you may want to pay a little more for the filter, because the ones that cost close to $15 really do function better than the ones that are $2. While a cheap filter will work, it will not work as well.

The more you pay for your filter, the more function you will get out of it. However, the name brand can also cause the price to increase. You will need to find a balance between quality and excessive expenditures.

So which filter should you buy? Many mechanics will steer you away from generic brands, even though you will pay more for the brand. There are shortcuts manufacturers can take, like using loose filter material, which will impact the level of function you get out of the filter. Also, these lower quality filters may not have quality gaskets. Without a good gasket, your system can leak.

So do you need to spend $15? Not necessarily. You can buy the mid range, name brand filter and find that it lasts well from one oil change to the next. These run from $8 to $10 and should work very well for you.

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