NAPA Know How: How to Use an Oil Filter Wrench For An Easier Oil Change

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If it’s time for an engine oil change, you’ll need a few different tools and supplies. Gather new engine oil and a new oil filter, plus a wrench or socket for the oil drain plug, a drain pan and some rags for cleanup as well as safety gloves and glasses, too.

One other tool you’ll definitely need is an oil filter wrench, which comes in handy when a used oil filter doesn’t want to come off easily. Learn how to use an oil filter wrench so you can get the job done quickly and efficiently.

How to Use an Oil Filter Wrench

All oil filters and caps use right-hand threads — clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to loosen. Some tools only grip counterclockwise for loosening. Several oil filter wrench types are available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses:

  • End Cap: End cap filter wrenches fit a single filter size. You fit the cap to the filter and use a ratchet or wrench to loosen it.
  • Claw: Universal claw-type wrenches have two or three claws that grip the oil filter. The more you turn the ratchet or wrench to loosen the filter, the tighter the claws grip. Spring-loaded claw wrenches tend to stay attached to the filter, freeing up your hands in tight spaces.
  • Band: A band wrench is simple to use and fits a range of filter sizes. It works in one direction, with a swivel handle to fit tight spaces; others are used with a ratchet or wrench. Try flipping it over if it doesn’t grip.
  • Strap: Strap wrenches use a flexible strap to grip the filter. Some have a handle, while others need a ratchet or wrench. Some strap wrenches grip in either direction. To use, clean the strap and filter to prevent slipping. Once the filter is loose, remove the strap before fully loosening the filter and removing it by hand. This prevents oil from soaking into the strap.
  • Pliers: Oil filter pliers spread the force over three or four points to improve grip and limit slip but need more clearance to use. Be sure to get a firm grip with your pliers before attempting to loosen the filter.
  • Chain: Chain wrenches wrap around the oil filter with extreme grip and are very effective. Some chain wrenches work in either direction.
  • Wrench or Ratchet: Some spin-on oil filters and canister filters have a hex or square lug or a hole. Use a wrench, ratchet or socket to loosen the filter for these.

Here’s How NOT to Use an Oil Filter Wrench

For the most part, don’t use an oil filter wrench to install an oil filter, which needs very little torque. Spin-on oil filters are tightened one-half to three-quarters of a turn after gasket contact. For canister filters, use the tool only to tighten until it contacts the base, then apply the correct torque with a torque wrench. Canister filters are sealed by an O-ring and overtightening could break them. Oil filter torque is light, usually 10 to 20 foot-pounds.

Always check your maintenance or repair manual for vehicle specifics before changing your oil. After the oil change, clean up and recycle the used oil. Auto parts stores and many repair shops accept used oil for recycling.

Check out all the car filters available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on oil filter wrenches, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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NAPA Know How: What Is an Engine Air Filter Made of?

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Engine air filters come in lots of different shapes and sizes, but they all do one job: They keep the inside of your engine free from harmful debris. Over the years, the design of engine air filters has changed, from their size to their material, so no one filter works best for all makes and models. Here’s a rundown of an engine air filter’s components.

A Little History

The first cars didn’t have engine air filters — automotive pioneers quickly figured out that debris was getting inside the engines, hurting performance and shortening engine life. Early on, the first solution was a water bath that trapped particles, which led to a second attempt: an oil bath, thicker and stickier, to trap still more impurities. Lastly, their third solution included air filters made of paper or fiber — a variation of which we’ve continued to use for more than half a century.

From Round to Flat

If you look under the hood of older cars with carburetors, you’ll find the engine air filter inside a round container that looks like a holiday cookie tin. The idea was to surround the carburetor with a filter.

As we’ve moved on from carburetors to fuel injection, a large, round air filter would take up important space needed for hoses and wires, including the engine itself. If you have a fuel-injected vehicle, your air filter is probably flat, rectangular and not visible when you first open the hood. Although, there are some nice aftermarket air filters that still get the job done and look good doing it, too.

Common Air Filter Materials

The earliest, simplest engine air filters were made of paper, and some still are, but you can also get filters made of premium cotton, synthetic foam and cotton soaked in oils that trap even more contaminants. Paper filters are produced with different features: Some are treated, others are pleated or embossed, which their manufacturers claim makes them more efficient at trapping impurities before they reach the engine. Other filters use a metal mesh to help with that.

Filter frames also come in a variety of material types. They’re usually made with either plastic or rubber, which are both designed for an airtight fit, eliminating the need for separate gaskets or seals.

Whatever material you choose, the main thing to remember is that you need to change your engine air filter regularly. Just pull the old frame out, put the new one in and you’re good to go for another 10,000 to 15,000 miles. Because they’re so easy to replace, engine air filters are a great maintenance item for a beginner DIYer. Once you add it to your routine maintenance list, your car will run better for longer.

Check out all the engine air filters available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on air filters, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

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NAPA Know How: Hot Savings From NAPA – 20% Off Sitewide

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Whether you can do it yourself or need it done for you, our NAPA social channels are for you. Follow us to get the latest KNOW HOW tips, see exclusive content from our NAPA Racing teams, check out the latest deals, and join the conversation with thousands of vehicle enthusiasts just like you.

From September 19th to 28th you can save 20% off online orders with coupon code: SOCIAL20.

START WITH THESE TOP SELLING CATEGORIES

Store participation and discount may vary. Exclusions apply. Offer valid 9/19-9/28. May not be combined with other offers. For Reserve Online, please call store to verify before pickup; additional actions and shipping charges may be required. We may cancel, modify, or deactivate this offer at any time and it is subject to change. We reserve the right to limit quantities and correct errors without notice. Reserve online orders need to be picked up at a participating NAPA AUTO PARTS prior to close of business on 9/28 to receive discount.

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NAPA Know How: Hot Summer Savings From NAPA – 20% Off Sitewide

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Looking for a getaway weekend? Make sure your car is ready before you hit the road. Save 20% on NAPAOnline.com.

From July 14th to 21st you can save 20% off online orders with coupon code SAVE20.

Online orders only. Exclusions apply. Store participation may vary. Offer ends 7/21/19.

START WITH THESE TOP SELLING CATEGORIES

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NAPA Know How: Replacing an Oil Filter By Itself: Should I?

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Everyone knows frequent oil changes are a vital part of vehicle maintenance, but usually replacing an oil filter occurs at the same time as an oil change, assumed to be basically equal parts of the one procedure. And while this is generally the case, there may, on rare occasions, come a time when replacing an oil filter alone is desirable. But before deciding whether this is something you want to do, make sure you have a basic understanding of the roles both oil and filters play.

Smooth and Cool Runnings

Engine oil does more than lubricate and keep things moving. By flowing through and across hot surfaces, it disperses heat and helps cool the engine to keep heat-sensitive parts safe. Additionally, the additives in engine oil work as a detergent to clean internal components as oil flows over them. As the oil cycles through the system, it begins to carry tiny particles of metal and debris, which can potentially cause major damage in such close clearances. That’s where the engine’s oil filter comes in. The microscopic holes in the internal fibers allow proper flow volumes to pass while holding behind particulate matter. Eventually, this can become a liability if the filter becomes clogged and restricts oil flow, and this is why we change them.

Slick and Slide

The oil itself also breaks down over time and becomes less effective at its job, this is why both oil and filter are usually changed at once. However, there are rare circumstances where you might want to leave the oil and change only the filter. Presumably, this is because there is damage to the filter itself or you might have a situation where high-quality synthetic oil was used with a mid or low-quality filter and thus the life of the oil outlasts the usefulness of the filter. Generally speaking though, it is advised to do both at once — partly for simplicity’s sake and also because timely oil changes are just so darn important to keeping an engine running.

Filter Out

It is, in fact, possible to change the filter alone, with varying degrees of difficulty. The filter is usually installed above the level of the oil pan, so you don’t have to worry about all the oil pouring out, but do expect a little. If you let the car sit for a while before attempting the replacement, you can minimize this, but keep a drip pan and rags handy. You’ll also want to prime the filter — this means filling it with oil, letting it sit and soak in, topping it off, rubbing a little around the lip, and installing it. Some filters must be installed on their sides, so these you don’t want to fill all the way up or they will spill on installation. Always check the oil level after installing a new filter and top off as necessary.

Even though it is possible, changing an oil filter alone is a rarity and frankly, inadvisable. It is certainly not an alternative to a full oil change. Your engine is a precise machine that requires care and attention, and frequent oil and filter changes are the foundation of good maintenance.

Check out all the maintenance parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 16,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on why you should change your engine’s oil filter and oil at the same time, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

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NAPA Know How: What Causes Oil Filter Bloat?

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Occasionally, you may remove a spin-on oil filter to find that it has become bloated at or near the top of the can. Because no other damage is evident, other than the deformed shape of the filter, the belief is that the product is exhibiting a manufacturing defect. This is most often not the case. But what causes oil filter bloat?

When Things Go Right

Under normal operating conditions, oil is forced by the oil pump throughout the engine for the purpose of both lubricating and cooling various internal engine components.

High flow from the oil pump causes the Pressure Relief Valve to open, thereby regulating system pressure.

High flow from the oil pump causes the Pressure Relief Valve to open, thereby regulating system pressure.

Each vehicle has a predefined normal operating oil pressure which is set by the manufacturer and controlled by the use of a Pressure Relief Valve. The Pressure Relief Valve is most commonly located in the oil pump, where it opens and closes to regulate the flow of oil.

When Things Go Wrong

If this valve becomes defective or fails to function, the lubrication system will experience either low or high oil pressures.

Pressure Relief Valve is stuck in the open position allowing the oil to return to sump.

Pressure Relief Valve is stuck in the open position allowing the oil to return to sump.

When the valve becomes stuck in the open position, the vehicle may experience low oil pressure as oil flow is allowed to immediately return to the oil sump.

When the valve is stuck in the closed position, the lubrication system can be subjected to the maximum flow rate of the oil pump. This equates to an increase in oil pressure.

Pressure Relief Valve is stuck in the closed position allowing the pump’s complete oil volume to reach the filter.

Pressure Relief Valve is stuck in the closed position allowing the pump’s complete oil volume to reach the filter.

Since the oil filter is located after the pump, it is often first to be subjected to the uncontrolled surge in oil pressure. If this occurs, the filters will begin to deform or “bloat”. If not corrected, the filter’s baseplate may also bend allowing the gasket to become displaced. A displaced gasket will result in rapid oil loss which may result in engine failure.

Oil filter bloat is a warning indicator that the system’s Pressure Relief Valve has at some point failed. Like many early stage mechanical failures, a sticking valve may be sporadic or even the result of temporary climatic conditions such as very cold morning. In either case, the sticky valve must be remedied to avoid damage to the filter and potentially the vehicle’s engine.

NAPA Know How: Can a Fuel Filter Stop a Car From Starting?

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Just like a good tailgate party, your engine requires three basic things to get cooking, fuel, oxygen and heat. In your engine — hold the bratwurst — oxygen is delivered by the intake, heat by spark or compression, and fuel by the fuel pump. Before fuel gets to the cylinder, though, it passes through tubes and fuel filters, maybe one or two fuel pumps, and finally to the fuel injectors. If you’re having trouble starting your engine, a failure in any one of these areas could be the culprit, but can a fuel filter stop a car from starting?

Can a Fuel Filter Stop a Car From Starting? Absolutely!

Unlike your car’s electrical system, which is a parallel system, the fuel system is a serial system. In other words, if the CIG fuse blows, it doesn’t affect the windshield wipers. In the fuel system though, any problems will affect the entire system. In general, the fuel is picked up in the fuel tank and delivered to the fuel injectors, more or less following this path:

  1. Fuel Screen: Captures larger contaminants, over 25 to 400 µm, like rust, scale or dirt.
  2. Rotary Fuel Pump: Pressurizes the system, up to 15 psi, for carburetors, or 70 psi for fuel injection systems.
  3. Fuel Filter: Captures finer particles, from 1 to 75 µm, such as dust, pollen and silt. Diesel filters might separate water, as well.
  4. Fuel Pressure Regulator: Maintains constant fuel pressure, bleeding off excess to the tank.
  5. Mechanical Fuel Pump: On gasoline direct injection and diesel engines, bumps fuel pressure up to 4,500 to 25,000 psi.
  6. Fuel Injectors: Delivers precise fuel pulses to each cylinder, controlled by the engine control module.

Seeing as the fuel can only take one path from the fuel tank to the fuel injectors — some components might vary, depending on year, make and model — it’s easy to see how a fuel filter problem can stop your engine from starting.

How Can a Fuel Filter Stop a Car From Starting?

Fuel filter clogging is the most common fault, caused by excessive contaminants in the fuel. This is usually because whatever fuel source hasn’t been taking care of their own filtering equipment. In high-mileage vehicles, this can simply be the buildup over years and years of operation — over 100,000 miles, a 30-mpg vehicle’s fuel filter will process at least 3,333 gallons of fuel.

At first, a clogged fuel filter might manifest itself as a fuel trim problem, hesitation or poor performance, but eventually could cause cylinder misfires or starve the engine of fuel, preventing it from starting in the first place. While a clogged fuel filter might sideline your car for a day, there’s a bright side to your engine stalling out: Your clogged fuel filter was doing its job, preventing damage to other parts of the fuel system. Install a new fuel filter and you’ll be back on the road.

Check out all the fuel & emission system parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 16,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how a bad fuel filter can stop your engine from starting, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

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NAPA Know How: NAPA Know How Blog

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Oil can pass through filter media. Bypass valve closed.

What happen when a spin-on filter is removed from service and upon inspection it is noted that the filter has collapsed in on itself. Why? What has caused this condition? What causes oil filter collapse? 

It Isn’t What You Think

The first thought might be that the filter has some type of manufacturing defect that has caused this problem. This is usually not the case. Lubrication systems are equipped with a bypass valve that is present in either the system or within the system’s oil filter. This bypass valve is not to be confused with the pressure regulating valve that controls system oil pressure. The pressure regulating valve opens to redirect oil flow back to the sump when system pressure begins to exceed the manufacturer’s specified ranges.

Oil Must Flow

Oil cannot pass through filter media. By-pass valve opens.

Oil cannot pass through filter media. Bypass valve opens.

The bypass valve opens to allow oil to go around the filter when conditions make it difficult or impossible for it to pass through the filter media. Cold start-ups or a filter that has not been properly serviced are two common instances during which time it will become necessary for the oil to circumnavigate the filter. The opening of the bypass valve is necessary to prevent oil starvation.

An open bypass valve resulting from a cold start is usually a short term condition because the oil temperature quickly rises as the engine heats up.

Under Pressure

If the by-pass valve fails to open, differential pressure may increase to the point of filter collapse.

If the bypass valve fails to open, differential pressure may
increase to the point of filter collapse.

When the filter is improperly serviced, and becomes plugged, the filtering process can be negated until such time as a new filter is put into service. During this plugged condition, the bypass valve will continually open and close to allow oil to flow around the filter. If this occurs, the oil will not be properly cleaned by the filter. If the bypass valve fails to open, differential pressure may
increase to the point of filter collapse.

The oil filter collapse is a clear indicator that the lubrication system is not functioning properly and that maintenance may be required.

Check out all the maintenance parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 16,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on oil filter collapse, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

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NAPA Know How: How Often Should You Change Your Oil Filter?

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Here’s a question: How often should you change your oil filter? If you’ve ever wondered just what’s in that little round canister called an oil filter, have a look. Those manila-envelope colored pieces you see are the outer edges of material that traps contaminants — things that can clog and damage the working parts of your vehicle’s engine.

If you look in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, you’ll probably see a recommendation that you change your oil at certain intervals based on months and miles, and you may find that the manufacturer recommends you change the filter every other oil change. You might have a relative, neighbor or friend who tells you that they go even longer between oil filters — maybe a year or more. It saves money, they’ll tell you.

It’s a safe bet none of them are mechanics or engine parts manufacturers.

Engine oil does its job best when it’s as pure and clean as possible. Grit, grime, sludge or — this can happen — metallic particles from the inside of your engine — add friction to what is supposed to be lubrication. Friction causes heat, and heat causes premature wear and tear on your engine.

And then there’s the material the oil filter is meant to trap. Bigger pieces can ultimately clog intakes. Think about a blood clot in your body. You could have a stroke, right? Replace your heart with your engine and you’ve got the picture. The longer you go between filter changes, the more contaminants that are already trapped inside the oil filter, the less efficient that filter becomes. It’s like your home furnace filter. If you go too long between changes, your HVAC system begins to strain. The clogged filter is starving it of clean air. It’s the same with your vehicle’s engine and the oil filter.

So, How Often Should You Change Your Oil Filter?

The cheapest insurance for your car’s engine is frequent oil changes — with a new filter at every oil change. That prevents contamination of your new, clean oil from anything that might pass out of your old filter and ensures that new oil is as efficient as it can be in its job of lubricating engine parts, reducing wear and tear, and keeping operating temperatures in a healthy range.

If you’re wondering how often you should change your oil filter, keep things simple by changing your oil filter every time you change your engine oil. Following this schedule might cost you more money, but it will save your engine from possibly getting clogged with grime, sludge or large metallic pieces.

 

Clean Up With $15 Instant Savings On Your Filter!

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Your Filter’s Filthier Than You Think!

Now through April 30th, save $15 instantly on the installation of any NAPA Air Filter or NAPA Cabin Air Filter at Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan – your participating NAPA AutoCare Center in Southern Wisconsin! Just add your service to your next oil change. It’s that simple! Plus, that new air filter can improve your vehicle’s performance and protect the engine while a new cabin filter keeps dust, allergens and pollutants from collecting in your vehicle.

Head Over to Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan and Save $15 Instantly!

Offer Valid March 1st – April 30th, 2017

Let’s talk more about your engine air filter

That’s the filter that cleans the air before it’s burned in your engine. Many people in Delavan wonder how often they should change their engine air filter. The simple answer is ‘when it’s dirty’. That’s a function of how much air has passed through the filter, so your manufacturer will recommend a mileage interval for replacing the air filter. But you can imagine that how dirty the air is would affect how quickly the filter gets filled.

If you drive in Delavan where there’s lots of dust, pollution or pollen, your engine air filter will get dirty more quickly and need to be changed sooner. That’s why we check the air filter with every full-service oil change at Advanced Auto Clinic. We can visually tell if the filter needs to be changed.

engine-air-filter

Your filter can only hold so much dirt. Once the filter is full, dirt will pass through to the engine. This dirt gums up the combustion chamber and hurts fuel economy and may cause damage. It can also contaminate the Mass Air Flow Sensor which will affect drivability and can be fairly expensive to replace.

A dirty air filter would also restrict the amount of air that gets to the engine which hurts fuel economy. We can replace your engine air filter with one that matches the factory specifications or you can upgrade your filter for enhanced performance.

Let’s talk about cabin air filters

There seems to be some confusion about them in that we should be able to clear up. Much of the confusion starts because cabin air filters are relatively new. Not all vehicles in have them, so some people confuse their cabin air filter with the engine air filter.

Every vehicle in has an engine air filter that cleans the air going into the engine, but not all have a cabin air filter that cleans the air going into the passenger compartment. Easy to get mixed up.

The cabin air filter cleans out dust, pollen, spores and other pollutants. To give a point of comparison, a grain of sand is about 200 microns across. A cabin air filter can stop particles that are just 3 microns in size. It really does make the passenger cabin a much more pleasant environment.

When the cabin air filter gets dirty, you just need to replace it. Your owner’s manual may have a recommended interval for changing it. If not we can inspect it. You know, it’s ironic that many people who don’t realize they even have a cabin air filter first find out they do when it starts to get smelly.

Cabin-Air-Filters

Some cabin air filters are very easy to access when it’s time to replace them. Others, not so much. We may have to get behind the dashboard and it takes some time.

A clean cabin air filter keeps out smog, allergens and other harmful pollutants. If it’s time, get it changed right away.

DID YOU KNOW?

The air inside your vehicle may actually be more polluted than the air outside. Pollen, mold, dust, etc. can be trapped inside your vehicle. The cabin air filter stops these pollutants before they even get inside and filters out odors and smoke. People who suffer from seasonal allergies really appreciate a clean cabin air filter. At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan, WI we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at (262) 728-2944 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road!