Ensuring the car runs effectively

Some car owners change their car engine oil and overlook the need to change the oil filter as well. Oil filters are designed to filter out dirt and other debris, which may contaminate and make engine oil less efficient at its job of cooling the engine and keeping moving parts well-lubricated. For this reason, it is imperative to replace the oil filter on a regular basis to ensure constant supply of clean oil to engine components.

With that said, you might want to know what happens when you fail to change your oil filter regularly. Here's a look at some possible consequences of using dirty oil filters:  

Engine Contamination

Over time, when the oil filter gets clogged with foreign debris, the oil pump will create enough pressure to open up the bypass valve. This will allow dirt-laden oil to enter your engine compartment, and it goes without saying that the impurities in the oil are likely to be detrimental to the health of your engine. In fact, contaminated oil will block oil passages and leave the oil valves susceptible to damage. In addition, the oil may also will find its way between metal components of the engine, thus leading to faster wear and tear of components such as the pistons. The engine's overall working efficiency will be reduced. This may lead to costly engine repairs and replacements down the road. 

Oil Starvation

Oil is the most important working fluid of any car engine, and it goes without saying that oil starvation is bad for your engine. When sludge builds up on the oil filter, it interrupts the normal flow of oil in the engine. As a result, the oil filter may become completely plugged up, resulting in engine oil starvation. When your engine gets starved of oil, metal surfaces may rub against each other. This will cause damage to engine components and eventually lead to engine failure. For this reason, you should change your oil filter when changing engine oil to keep your engine running reliably for longer.

To avoid the costs and inconvenience of repairing or having to replace a failed engine, it is imperative to have both your engine oil and oil filter changed regularly, and whenever possible, at the same time. The best way to achieve this is to take your car for regular car servicing at a local mechanic shop. Oil filters are generally inexpensive to buy and easy to replace, so don't let them cause you so much trouble.