Don’t Go for Cheap Ones! Oil Filters Are Not To Be Bought Casually

Many people replace the oil filter when they change their car engine oil. But did you know? This small metal can seems insignificant, yet its internal structure is actually quite complex. As car owners, we don’t need to delve into the details of its components, but we should at least be aware that oil filters are crucial to the service life of your engine.

How Terrible Are Cheap Oil Filter Cartridges?

To sum it up in one sentence: Cheap stuff is never good!Oil filters priced under 10 yuan are basically low-quality products. They either fail to filter out impurities or are just for show. Over time, they will only accelerate engine wear. You might think you’re saving a few dozen yuan, but in the end, you could end up paying tens of thousands for engine repairs.

What Exactly Does an Oil Filter Do?

When the engine is running, it produces contaminants like metal shavings and carbon deposits, which circulate with the engine oil. The job of an oil filter is to trap these impurities and keep the engine oil clean.

If the oil filter is ineffective, dirty oil will flow back into the engine. It’s like the engine is “drinking muddy water”, and the wear rate will double instantly.

So, high-quality engine oil must be paired with a good oil filter—otherwise, you’re just wasting your money!

Five Tips to Tell a Good Oil Filter from a Bad One

1. Weigh It

Good oil filters are generally heavier, thanks to solid material quality. Inferior ones feel light and flimsy the moment you pick them up.

2. Check the Filter Paper

High-quality filters: The filter paper is tightly folded, thick, and opaque.

Low-quality filters: The folds are sparse, and light can shine right through.

3. Inspect the Anti-drain Back Valve

A good valve is soft and elastic, ensuring engine oil circulates immediately during a cold start. A poor-quality one is stiff and prone to aging.

4. Examine the Sealing Gasket

A quality gasket is thick and tough, effectively preventing oil leaks. A shoddy one is thin and hard, leading to oil seepage or leakage over time.

5. Check the Brand and Purchase 

ChannelIt’s advisable to choose well-known brands and buy from authorized channels, with verifiable anti-counterfeiting codes. Street stall products and workshop-made filters are nothing but time bombs for your engine.

Conclusion

Although an oil filter is just a small part, it has a direct impact on your engine’s lifespan.

Saving a few dozen yuan by buying a cheap one could cost you tens of thousands in repair bills later.

So, never settle for less when replacing your oil filter. Master these five tips, and you can basically avoid falling into traps.