To avoid ending up with a clogged oil filter, have your oil changed every 3,000 miles. You may be able to extend the oil changes to every 7,500 or 10,000 miles if you use synthetic motor oil. It’s important to have the oil changed when it needs it because a clogged oil filter and dirty motor oil can seriously damage your engine. York Tire & Auto Service explains more below.
Problems With the Engine
A clogged oil filter will circulate dirty motor oil through the engine and cause problems with the engine’s performance. As the motor oil deposits grime onto the moving parts, they will struggle to operate. You will see a noticeable reduction in your engine’s ability to accelerate and produce power. Once too much grime has been deposited onto the moving parts, your engine may be damaged irreparably.
Problems With Gas Mileage
A clogged oil filter can also indirectly cause a frustrating reduction in your vehicle’s gas mileage. Any time the engine is not running efficiently causes it to use more gasoline in order to produce power. Consequently, your vehicle will be unable to get the fuel economy it normally gets.
Noticeable Metallic Noises
Aside from circulating dirty motor oil, a clogged oil filter can prevent motor oil circulation once the oil can no longer pass through it. When this happens, you will notice metallic noises coming from the engine. If you continue to drive your automobile, you may seize up the engine within 30 minutes. Unfortunately, this can damage your engine beyond repair.
Reduction in Oil Pressure
There will also be a reduction in the oil pressure if the oil filter is clogged. Normally, when this happens, you will receive an oil warning light on the dashboard. It really is not a good idea to continue to drive your automobile if you have an oil warning light illuminated. Again, if there are problems with the oil circulating through the engine, you could damage the engine if you keep driving your vehicle.
Increased Hydrocarbons
Finally, a clogged oil filter increases the number of hydrocarbons that are found in your vehicle’s exhaust. If you are headed to an emissions test station for an emissions test, your vehicle will likely fail the test because there are increased hydrocarbons in the exhaust.
Call York Tire & Auto Service in Red Lion, PA, today if you are having any of the problems listed in this blog post. We will inspect the oil filter and replace it if it needs changing. We will also put fresh motor oil in the engine.
