Can I Change Oil Filter Without Changing Oil? Is It Possible!

When you own a vehicle, you have responsibilities like checking the engine or other inside parts to ensure they are absolutely fine. Among all difficulties, if you don’t change the oil filter, the filter will progressively clog up from particles in the pipelines, such as dirt flecks, metal shavings, debris, or grime. However, today we came up with the query, “Can I Change Oil Filter Without Changing Oil?”

Actually, if the location of the oil has not been affected by a filter change, you can change the oil filter without changing the oil. But this is not the best option to take; rather, it’s indeed optional. Besides that, you will lose between a cup and a half quart of oil. And make sure you change it when you reach 3 thousand miles.

Anyway, we have more important information waiting below to let you know the good and bad sides of oil filter changes. We have steps for changing the oil filter as well, so take a look at the entire article.

Some Important Facts About Oil Filters

can you change oil filter without changing oil
  • A filter for oil is made to be used in hydraulic fluid, lubricating oil, transmission oil, or engines that need to have impurities removed.
  • Basically, a metal container with tiny holes at the terminal serves as the filter.
  • On top of that, a central threaded hole is intended to join with the engine block.
  • It is a mechanical item used to block particles, debris, and unburned fuel from cycling.
  • Car oil is forced through a filter by the vehicle’s engine, and after being cleaned, it’s pushed back into the vehicle’s engine.
  • We consider the car engine as the heart and oil as blood.
  • The vehicle will lose a lot of oil and eventually experience a drop in oil pressure if the oil filter pressure relief valve is damaged, or scraped. Consequently, changing the oil is necessary.

Related Oil Filter: Who Makes Kohler Oil Filters?

How Many Miles Can an Oil Filter Last?

The typical oil filter duration is around 5–8 thousand miles, while some filters can last up to 10,000 miles. Generally speaking, we prefer to replace the filter every 3,000 miles. It is better to keep the engine and filter-free of obstruction-causing material.

If you desire more and ask, “Can oil filter last 15000 Miles?” Yes, you can, but only if you use synthetic motor oil and an oil filter that ensures an oil change every 15,000 miles.

Related Oil Filter: Who Makes Kawasaki Oil Filters? 

Why Do We Have To Change Filter?

change oil filter without changing oil

Why change air filter? Let’s take a look at five vital points that we need to focus on.

  • Many pollutants are caught by your car’s filter, including dust, metal fragments, cloth fibers, mold or fungus spores, scraps and grime, animal dander, and all the other particles that eventually block the airflow area.
  • The drainage system as a whole might become affected as this blockage grows over time.
  • The dirt that clogged the filter would attach to the oil that was going through, reducing cooling, greasability, or overall efficiency.
  • Additionally, it’s important to change the filter because doing so can prolong the life of your vehicle, ensure that the air is clean, and save energy costs.
  • Oil filter replacement can also decrease engine wear and keep fresh oil from becoming contaminated.

Will You Damage Your Engine If You Don’t Change Your Oil Filter?

Yes, as unclean, old oil is harsh and heavy, which gathers up additional dirt. If you ignore changing the oil filter, engine parts begin to wear out. What are the effects of not changing oil? It will start to gel and solidify inside an engine, eventually becoming sludge.

The filter is made to start off working in a clean oil condition, but due to tinier particles, the oil becomes dirtier over the course of the first 75% of its usable life. You need to be aware that the new filter will be useless after just one or two driving cycles and will also enter bypass mode.

What Are The Signs To Replace Oil Filters?

We frequently detect signs that say it’s time to change the oil filter. Since there isn’t a warning light or other obvious indicator that will say the oil filter needs to be changed, check out the situations we are mentioning below.

  • Poor performance issues
  • Overheating or spitting of the engine
  • While driving, you notice burning smells
  • Unusual engine noises, such as audible metallic noises
  • When traveling, the exhaust is dark, soiled, or unclean
  • You might notice a low oil https://madisonrising.com/best-oil-drain-valve/level
  • Lowered lubrication pressure is also found due to a problematic oil filter.

Can I Change My Oil Filter Without Draining Oil?

Absolutely, you can update the filter without emptying the used oil. Your car’s oil is stored in the oil pan, which can only be drained by removing the oil plug. Between 70 and 80 percent of the oil in the car is found mostly in the pan. However, the sad reality is that draining and replacing old oil is a waste of time since, once the fresh oil flows through the dirty filter, what was once pure becomes contaminated.

For instance, you still drive a 1996 Toyota Tacoma with 180k miles. Your oil is changed by a mechanic using synthetic, which has a shelf life of six months or 5,000 miles, and an oil filter with a stated duration of one year or 15 000 miles.

How to Change the Oil Filter Without Draining Oil

how to change oil filter without draining oil

Do you want to change your oil filter effectively without draining the oil? The best thing to do is change the oil and filter together. But as the user is expecting to change the filter only, we have steps to update the filter. Let’s take a look at the steps below.

Necessary Equipment

Before changing the filter, you need some important equipment, like:

  • The ideal amount of engine oil
  • High-quality oil filter
  • Oil filter wrench
  • Socket wrench
  • Oil bucket or pan to catch the old oil
  • Funnel
  • Newspaper.

Steps to Change the Filter

  1. A filter change typically leaves the source of the oil unchanged. Any oil leakage detected says it’s only the oil that has been trapped inside your filter past your anti-drain back gasket.
  2. However, do not forget to replace your full synthetic oil or filter every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Unless 90% of your driving is on long highway trips, do not extend it beyond 10,000 miles.
  3. Your car’s oil is usually stored in the oil pan, which can only be drained by removing the oil plug.
  4. Only a minimal amount of oil is drained when you change your filter.
  5. Now, fill up your oil with a decent replacement and use the dipstick to check that the levels are ideal.
  6. Finally, start the vehicle to check for any leftover leakage. Hope there will be no issues left.
  7. If you have a Subaru filter, you can remove it with less hassle by simply unscrewing the filter just enough to allow any oil to flow out while making sure that it doesn’t overflow the pan that it sits in.

What happens if you change the filter but not the oil?

can you change the oil filter without changing the oil

The only oil that should leak out during the replacement is the minimal amount in the filter because there is no oil pressure while the engine is off. The small amount of oil in the filter and galleries above the filter is the only oil that is actually lost because it’s always on the upstream side of an oil filter.

In most cases, dirt and debris that are captured by the new filter as oil passes through the engine and into the oil filter ultimately block it. Due to the old oils, engines occasionally encounter difficulty. So, maintain the vehicle’s efficiency by changing the oil as well.

Is it OK to change the oil filter once per year?

No, it isn’t about a year; rather, it’s best if you change the oil filter each time you change the oil in your vehicle. Usually, it’s about 10,000–15,000 kilometers for a petrol or diesel vehicle. But generally speaking, most cars need their oil changed every 3 to 6 months.

How much does a filter replacement cost?

After reading the article, you might be wondering about the replacement cost air filter, right? You will likely need to spend between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 2,500, including labor costs. Depending on whether you go to a mechanic or do it yourself, the cost to replace an engine air filter ranges from $20 to $85 at the highest point.

FAQ

1. How long can you go without oil filter change?

On average, cars can go between 5,000 and 7,500 miles without changing the oil filter, and exceptionally, they can go up to 10,000 miles. However, the best option is to change the oil or filter every 3,000 miles.

2. Can I use the same oil filter twice?

You can use disposable oil filters, but they are not intended to last more than one oil change because they become clogged before the second change. Therefore, avoid applying the filter more than once.

3. Do you change an oil filter before or after an oil change?

It’s an excellent idea, even if you don’t have to replace the oil filter every time you change the oil. Remember, a car’s engine must first be entirely cleared of oil before changing the oil filter. Therefore, having a quality replacement filter is a must.

4. Is it necessary to change the oil and oil filter together?

It is preferable to change both the oil and oil filter at the same time since the oil filter keeps the oil in the engine free of big particles. If you only change the filter, your car can experience problems later on a trip.

Concluding Section

So, it’s time to wrap up the entire article since we have elaborately talked about “Can I Change Oil Filter Without Changing Oil or not?” So, yes, you can change the filter without draining the oil, but changing together would be much better as the old oil can clog the new filter later. Besides, whenever you reach 3000 miles, change your oil and filter.

Also, don’t forget to use the right equipment and follow the given steps to change the filter. If you loved this content, make sure you come to check out our other automobile troubleshooting and repairing content since our goal is to give you the required solution to your query.