While oil filters look similar, you may need different ones for different oils and engines. To find the best oil filters for synthetic and regular oils, you will need to find out which are compatible with your vehicle and the type of oil you use. It can also help to understand what oil filters are, how they work, the different types of oil filters, and the differences are between synthetic and regular oil filters.
What are oil filters?
Oil filters prevent dirt, debris, carbon, sand, metal particles, bacteria, insects, and other contaminants from accumulating in the oil used in internal combustion engines. By capturing harmful waste, oil filters keep the oil clean before it goes into the movable parts of the engine. That prevents these engine parts from corroding or breaking down and enables them to perform smoothly for an extended period.
You can get oil filters in regular and synthetic versions and from a range of brands. The best oil filters for synthetic oils and regular oil filters can catch up to 99% of contaminants. However, before buying an oil filter, it is advisable to research its features, read your engine manual, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions about selecting and replacing oil filters.
How do oil filters work?
Most oil filters are shaped liked canisters and have perforated base plates and sealing gaskets that enable them to fit tightly on the engine block’s oil filter assembly. The oil pump in the engine works to direct the oil into the oil filter through the perforations in its base plate. It pressurizes the oil to press through the filter, and that process separates the oil from any contaminations it might contain. The clean oil then returns to the engine through the central hole in the oil filter.
Without the right oil filter, the hard contaminants in the oil would wear down and damage the surfaces of the different internal engine components like the valve train, connecting rods, and camshaft and cause the engine to break down.
What are the different types of oil filters?
The different types of oil filters available currently are standard, high-performance, race, and synthetic filters. They are of pleated paper-based or synthetic media, and their design can suit different engines, oils, flow restrictions, pressure conditions, and temperatures. The best oil filters for synthetic and regular oils are generally the most expensive ones. The maxim of you will get what you pay for holds true in the case of oil filters. However, you will also need to consider their compatibility with your engine.
What are the differences between synthetic and regular oil filters?
The main differences between synthetic oil filters and regular oil filters lie in their media, working capacity, and service life. Some of these differences are as follows:
• Synthetic oil filters use plastic, microglass, and other synthetic media, while regular oil filters use paper pleated or cellulose media.
• Some synthetic oil filters may be larger than regular oil filters and may therefore have greater filtering capacity.
• Many synthetic oil filters may have rubber blends for the gaskets and drain-back valves, which may not be the case with regular oil filters.
• Generally, synthetic oil filters are best for use with refined oil, while you can use regular oil filters with all types of oils.
• Synthetic oil filters may have a long-term service life of anywhere from 7000 to 25,000 miles, while regular oil filters have a comparatively shorter service life.
• It may be necessary to check and replace synthetic oil filters after every 5000-7000 miles, while it may be necessary to change regular oil filters sooner.
• Synthetic oil filters can capture contaminant particles in the 8-40 micron size ranges, while regular oil filters can clean particles of 5000 microns.
While these comparisons may indicate the superiority of synthetic oil filters over regular ones, you need to get the one that your original equipment manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. It is essential too to follow their instructions on how often you should check and replace the oil filter for your engine. By being consistent in the oil filter up keep, you can ensure that your engine will perform better and last longer.
