Oil Filter Basics

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We have all heard of preventative maintenance when it comes to our vehicles. Spend a little bit of money regularly throughout the life of a vehicle to avoid big repair bills. 

And the number one preventative maintenance item on any motor is to change the oil and filter regularly.    

But things have evolved. Here is a longstanding saying…. “Change your oil every 3 months or 5000kms”. This might be true for older cars but many of today’s modern vehicles have been engineered for longer oil change intervals and you need to be aware of that.

This is where your owner manual comes in. Check to see what the manufacturers suggested oil change interval is. In some case, when synthetic oil is used, the interval can be as long as once a year and well over 15,000kms.    

When you change your oil it is important to match your filter to the oil change interval. For example, if you have an older car, which requires that the oil be changed at 5,000 -8,000 kms, you can go with a high quality standard-filter like this one from Fram.  

However most owner’s manuals will provide guidance on two types of driving: normal and severe. You may be surprised to find out that most Canadian should be following their severe service schedule. Driving in extreme weather, dirty country roads, and stop and go traffic are all considered severe driving..     

I mentioned, some car manufacturers have pushed their oil change intervals to new levels. This is thanks to advanced synthetic oil that can remain stable and withstand extreme conditions. This where an Ultra Synthetic oil filter like this one from Fram stands up to the added requirements.   

Unlike a regular oil filter, this FRAM Ultra Synthetic filter uses a dual layer of media that captures the dirt collected in the oil. In addition there is a metal screen that supports the media so that it doesn’t break down over time. If you try to run a regular filter with synthetic for a longer period of time, the filter might not be able to withstand the added requirements. This Fram filter, for example, provides protection for up to 24,000kms and traps the highest amount of dirt in it’s class.

As you can see, just as vehicle engineering has advanced, so too have the products developed to keep your vehicle running in top shape. Spend a little now on quality filters like these ones from FRAM and protect your vehicle and occupants for the long term.