Why Oil Filters Matter
Your engine oil circulates through every critical internal component — bearings, camshafts, pistons, and valvetrain. As it does, it picks up metal particles, combustion byproducts, and contaminants. The oil filter's job is to trap these particles before they recirculate and cause abrasive damage to precision engine surfaces. A clogged or low-quality filter can allow contaminated oil into your engine — accelerating wear dramatically.
Types of Oil Filters
Spin-On Oil Filters
The most common type. A canister with a self-contained filter element that threads onto the engine's filter mount. Spin-on filters are easy to replace — loosen and remove the old canister, install the new one with fresh oil on the gasket, and tighten by hand plus 3/4 turn. Most domestic cars and trucks use spin-on filters.
Cartridge (Insert) Filters
Many modern European and some Japanese vehicles use a housing that stays on the engine while only the paper filter element (cartridge) is replaced. Cartridge filters reduce waste (no steel canister each change) and often have better filtration media. The trade-off: they require a filter housing wrench and a bit more work to access.
Magnetic Oil Filters
Some specialty and performance applications use magnetic filtration to trap ferrous metal particles. These are typically add-ons or supplements to conventional paper filters, not standalone replacements.
Oil Filter Specifications: What to Match
- Thread size — Must match the engine's filter mount thread (commonly 3/4"-16 or M20x1.5)
- Gasket diameter — Spin-on filter gasket must seal the mounting surface properly
- Bypass valve rating — Opens when filter is clogged to prevent oil starvation; the psi rating should match OEM specs
- Micron rating — Finer filtration (lower micron) captures smaller particles; higher-quality filters filter finer without restricting flow
- Anti-drainback valve — Prevents oil from draining out of the filter when the engine is off, ensuring immediate pressure on start-up
Top Oil Filter Brands
ACDelco Oil Filters
ACDelco's Professional oil filters are OEM-validated for GM vehicles and provide excellent filtration efficiency. Available for a wide range of domestic and import vehicles.
Motorcraft Oil Filters
Motorcraft is Ford's OEM brand. Motorcraft oil filters are the factory-correct choice for Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles and are designed to meet Ford's specific filtration and bypass valve requirements.
Champion Oil Filters
Champion produces quality oil filters alongside their spark plug lineup, offering broad vehicle coverage at a competitive price point.
When to Change Your Oil Filter
Always replace the oil filter at every oil change. Modern recommendations:
- Conventional oil: every 3,000–5,000 miles
- Synthetic blend: every 5,000–7,500 miles
- Full synthetic: every 7,500–10,000+ miles (per manufacturer specification)
Never reuse an old filter — even if you're just doing an oil top-up. The filter media becomes saturated and less effective over time.
Shop Oil Filters at Texan Supply Company
We stock oil filters from ACDelco, Motorcraft, Champion, and more. Browse our oil filter collection to find the right filter for your vehicle. Fast shipping on every order.