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When To Replace A Chevy Oil Filter

Oil filters should last until the next oil change. But some oil filters don't make it that far. If you have a hunch that your oil filter has gone bad, we’ll help you figure out whether you need to replace it yet.

Why Do Some Oil Filters Clog Early?

Clogged filter

In the off chance that your oil filter clogs well before the next oil change, it’s likely because:

  • You put a low-quality aftermarket filter in your engine
    1. Poor quality filter material
    2. Wrong size
    3. Inadequate quality of filter material
  • The oil became too dirty while running through the engine and mucked up the filter faster than normal.
    1. This indicates that there’s an issue with the engine
    2. Be aware that all the subsequent oil filters will get clogged up too soon as well until you fix the issue

Signs Of A Bad Oil Filter

It's unlikely that you will be able to see any problems with an oil filter while it is installed. Usually they clog, then the bypass valve lets oil bypass the filter and return to the engine. But this isn't visible. In some rare occasions people have seen:

  • A swollen oil canister, which indicates that oil pressure built up too high. This is caused by a bypass valve not opening at the correct pressure.
  • Cracks in the oil canister. This is due to either a poor quality canister, or excess oil pressure.

Two Ways To Check Your Oil Filter: One Much Better Than The Other

There are two ways to check your oil filter:

  1. Remove the oil filter and then visually inspect it
  2. Check the dipstick

The second option - checking the dipstick - is much easier and cleaner than the first option. If you remove the oil filter from your car, some oil will leak out. It's also difficult to determine whether the filter is clogged or not. On some filters, you may be able to tell if the bypass valve has been open, but this is also difficult.

Checking the dipstick is much more effective because:

  • It's easier and cleaner than checking the oil filter
  • You'll get an accurate idea of the state of the filter

What The Dipstick Will Tell You

Oil dipstick

The dipstick will give you a lot of information about two things:

  • Oil level
  • State of the oil

The level and the state of the oil will let you know if the oil filter is still doing its job. If the oil level is normal and the oil is still in good shape, then the filter still has some life left.

Is The Oil Level Too Low?

If the oil level is low, then it's possible that there's a leak somewhere. Look for leaks at the:

  • Front and rear main seals
  • Timing cover
  • Oil drain plug
  • Oil pan gasket
  • Valve cover gaskets
  • Oil filter mount

It's also possible that there aren't any leaks and the engine is just burning oil. It's actually pretty common in older engines.

Is The Oil Level Too High?

If the oil level is too high, that usually means that coolant has leaked into the oil. It's not a good thing. This causes the oil to get aerated (bubbly). With air bubbles in the oil, it can't lubricate the engine very well. Typically, this means that a head gasket needs to be replaced, or perhaps the oil cooler has failed.

Analyzing The Color Of The Oil

The color of the oil tells you a lot about the state of your oil filter, as well as what’s going on within your engine. In this older blog post we talk about engine oil colors. Here we provide a summary about the most common oil colors you’ll find:

Amber/Tea-Like Color

Amber/tea-like color is the best color motor oil could have. That means it's clean and the filter is doing its job quite well.

Dark Brown

Dark brown is another acceptable color, but it means that the oil needs to change soon. However, pay attention to consistency. Is it runny? The oil isn't loaded with dirt and contaminants. If it's thick, then it's too dirty and the filter isn't doing its job. In that case, you would need to change the oil and filter as soon as possible.

Black

If the oil is black, change it as soon as possible. The oil is filthy and not doing its job. The filter is also not doing its job. If the oil is black and sludgy, chances are high that the oil filter is very clogged and it's letting dirty oil through to the engine via the bypass valve.

Frothy/Milky/Caramel Color

Oil that's frothy, milky, or a caramel color is contaminated. It could mean many things, including:

  • Head gasket leak
  • Oil cooler leak

The oil filter can't filter out foreign liquid in the oil. That means you need to change the oil and the filter as soon as possible. Be sure to fix all leaks before replacing the filter and adding any new oil to the engine.

Any Color But Shiny Like Glitter

If you find bright shiny pieces like glitter in the oil (that can be any color), it means there are metal shavings in the engine. In that case, try not to drive your car anymore. It will lead to catastrophic engine failure. The oil filter can trap some of the metal shavings, but not all of them. The shavings will build up quickly in the filter. When the filter is too clogged, it'll bypass the leftover metal back to the engine.

Replacing Your Oil Filter

OEM gm oil filter

If you've determined that your oil filter is in bad shape, we have good news: you can score a genuine OEM oil filter at rock-bottom prices on our website. Look up your GM model in our catalog to find the right part number.