The Best Oil Filter for Your Vehicle - NAPA Auto Parts Blog (2024)

Oil passes through the oil filter so that debris such as dust, sludge, bits of carbon, metal dust, and even tiny insects that may have found their way into your engine is removed before the oil enters the engine block to lubricate all its moving parts.

Automotive terminology can be confusing. Sometimes two terms refer to the same component, and sometimes two components have different names but appear to function the same way. Some examples:

• Transmission fluid and transmission oil are the same product.
• Anti-freeze and coolant, though different products, are often used interchangeably.
• All-wheel drive (AWD) and 4-wheel drive (4WD) may also be used interchangeably, but they operate differently: AWD is an automatic system, and 4WD is controlled by the driver.

However, the terms “engine oil filter” and “air filter” refer to different parts, and should not be used interchangeably.

Although both protect your engine, the oil filter cleans the oil that lubricates your engine, while the air filter cleans the air your engine sucks in for combustion to take place.

Do electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles require oil and air filters for their engines? Electric vehicles do not require those filters because they don’t have an internal combustion engine. Hybrid vehicles, however, do.

Because oil filters collect so much debris, they can eventually become clogged. The best oil filters have a high filtration rate while still allowing oil to flow for as long as possible.

Automotive manufacturers have built in a release valve that will allow the oil to flow if the filter becomes clogged. This way, your engine continues running. However, it also means that debris is now flowing into your engine. With time, it’ll begin to cause problems.

Replacing your oil filter is cheap and easy. Repairing your engine is not.

Let’s review the two types of filters so you know what to look for when you open the hood.

Engine oil filters generally come in two types. Your manufacturer will tell you what kind of filter you need in the owner’s manual.

Depth filters are made of various fibres and almost look like a roll of paper towel. They’re less common in modern vehicles, but if you drive an older model, you might have one.

Surface filters are the most common today. They’re pleated, which gives them a larger surface, and are made of paper fibres or plastic. They look like an accordion wrapped around a small telescope.

Oil filters are housed in a metal cylinder. Some filters use a permanent metal cylinder, where only the filter itself is removed. These are called canister or cartridge oil filters.

However, most filters today are fully disposable units, where the metal housing and filter are discarded at the same time. These are called spin-on oil filters.

The general recommendation is to change the engine oil filter every time you change your oil, about twice a year or every 5,000km to 15,000km. Definitely check your owner’s manual for guidance here. However, depending on your car’s make and model, your dashboard may even tell you when to change the oil.

If you have the right tools at home, you can change your own engine oil and filter. We have instructions on how to change your oil right here. But please remember: engine oil is a hazardous substance and must be properly recycled. Do not dump it down the drain or sewer. Not only is this extremely harmful to the environment, but you may face fines if caught.

Check out the NAPA Auto Parts website for a wide range of oil filters. Not all of them will fit your vehicle – that’s why we created an oil filter finder. Click here and then follow these steps to order the best engine oil filter for your vehicle:

1. Enter your vehicle’s year, make, and model and select the filter that exactly matches your vehicle.
2. Order your filter online and choose how you’d like to receive it: home delivery or in-store pick-up.

It’s that simple.

If you have any questions about choosing or replacing your oil filter, visit a NAPA Auto Parts store to speak with an expert.