Types of oil filters for cars and how do they works
Although there are various types of oil filters on the market, oil filters for cars are generally divided into two types: Spin-on oil filter and Cartridge oil filter. Cartridge oil filters tend to be more widely used in car engines produced by many countries in Europe, such as Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Audi, etc.
While Spin-on oil filters are more widely used in car engines from Japan and Korea, such as Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, Kia, etc. But anyway, some cars model uses different oil filter types even they produced by European or Asian countries.
Both oil filter types have the same function as a filter for used engine oil from the oil pan to recirculate into the engine lubrication system. Here, they are common oil filter types used in many modern cars and how they work.
1. Spin-on oil filters
This spin-on model oil filter is the most common types of oil filters for cars used in today's cars. This oil filter has a paper element inside, which is wrapped in a tube-shaped can model.
The filter element is made with the casing, so we cannot disassemble it like a cartridge model. When you want to replace the spin-on oil filter model, it must be replaced as a whole along with the casing.
It made filter changes more convenient and potentially less messy and quickly became the dominant type of oil filter installed by the world's automakers.
2. Cartridge oil filter
Cartridge oil filter type is the early types of oil filters used. This cartridge type oil filter is formed from a paper element with a circular design, so it looks like a tube. This cartridge type oil filter is placed inside a permanent housing mounted directly on the engine or remotely with supply and return pipes connecting it.
To replace this type of oil filter, we need to open the housing cover first. Remove the old oil filter element, and then insert the new oil filter element into the housing. After that, proceed with closing the housing cover again and tighten it according to the recommended tightening torque.
Read also:- How to change oil filter spin-on type without draining oil
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How does an oil filter work?
Most car's engine oil lubrication systems place an oil filter after the oil pump. Look at the images below for a simple car's engine oil lubrication system.
From the image above, engine oil in the oil pan will be sucked up by the oil pump through the oil screen to the oil filter. Then, the engine oil will flow through the small holes found around the filter tube.
After engine oil has entered the oil filter, the engine oil is filtered by a paper element inside the oil filter. So, the cleaner oil is collected in the middle of the oil filter. Along with the existing oil pressure, the engine oil is distributed to all parts of the engine's lubricating system.
Filter elements in the oil filter greatly affect the filtering results. The better the filter elements quality, the filtering results will also be cleaner, so it is safe for the engine. Suppose the filter element cannot filter properly and to prevent engine oil from clogging. In that case, a bypass valve is provided in the oil filter.
The bypass valve in the oil filter will open if the oil pressure in the oil filter is very high (which tend to clog). It makes the engine will always get an oil supply even in dirty oil conditions. It is why we have to change the oil filter regularly.