Tips

Signs My Oil Filter Is Clogged and Needs to Be Replaced

Your oil filter is automatically changed when you get the oil changed. If you are faithful about getting your oil changes, you don’t need to worry about the oil filter. If you aren’t, however, Advanced Automotive advises that the oil filter can get clogged by the dirt and debris that the oil picks up as it circulates through the engine. Here are signs that your oil filter is clogged and needs to be replaced.

Your Engine’s Performance Will Suffer

Motor oil lubricates moving engine parts, cleans them, and draws heat away from the engine. The oil filter cleans the oil after it has circulated through the engine. If the oil filter is clogged, the motor oil is dirty, and, as a consequence, your engine’s performance will suffer. Not only do you run the risk of your vehicle overheating, but you will also experience acceleration lag and engine stuttering.

Let’s Talk About the Engine Stuttering Further

Stuttering or sputtering, if you prefer, occurs because the motor oil is being held up by the clogged oil filter. This can open you up to a very dangerous situation and that your engine is running with little to no oil. You may not realize this, but an engine that doesn’t have any oil in it will die in fewer than 30 minutes. In other words, your clogged oil filter can eventually kill your engine.

You’ll Be Able to Hear the Damage Being Done

As we mentioned above, part of the motor oil’s responsibility is to lubricate the moving engine parts. If there is enough oil for proper lubrication, you will hear the parts grinding against each other. It’s crucial that you stop driving your automobile if you hear these grinding sounds. Continuing to drive your vehicle will cause the parts to disintegrate into what motor oil is left and you will, again, kill your engine.

Your Oil Pressure Will Drop if the Filter Is Clogged

If you keep an eye on your oil pressure gauge, you may notice that the pressure will drop if the oil filter is clogged. This is because the clogged filter is preventing the oil from circulating through the engine. It is impeding the oil pressure. Have any serious drops an oil pressure looked into immediately to protect your engine from further damage.

Your Vehicle Will Release Dirty Exhaust Out of the Tailpipe

Finally, a clogged oil filter will cause an increase in engine exhaust. If you notice excess black exhaust smoke pouring out of your tailpipe that smells like burning oil, you have a clogged oil filter that needs to be changed as soon as humanly possible.

We can do that here at Advanced Automotive in Stanwood, WA. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Photo by fcafotodigital from Getty Images Signature via Canva Pro
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