Located on the side of the engine block, oil filters are key components in safeguarding a vehicle's engine. How does this device (that dates back since the 1920's) work? As an oil pump circulates the oil through the engine, it circulates engine oil as it passes through the oil filter. Then the oil filter goes to work by protecting the engine by blocking large particles that might cause harm to the engine if left unchecked and allowed to circulate freely.

Automotive oil filters also protect the engine by preserving a tiny fraction of oil when the car engine is turned off. All of these are made possible through a device called the anti-drainback valve. An engine at a standstill enables oil to drain into the bottom of the engine, thus leaving the moving parts at the top of the engine without the proper lubrication it needs when the car has to be started again. Fortunately, proper lubrication is easily restored as the small amount of oil retained by the oil filter will quickly circulate into the top of the engine immediately after the car is started.

There are various kinds of car oil filters available. However, any standard oil filter will do as long as it is replaced within 3,000 miles (4,828 km). As the job of the oil filter is to block large particles and prevent them from damaging the engine, it is likely that after 3,000 miles the oil filter may be getting clogged. Lastly, as long as the oil filter is equipped with the aforementioned anti-drainback valve, your engine stands to get the proper care and protection it deserves.