How to Find an Oil Filter on an Engine

Motor and road vehicles run on an internal combustion engine which has many moving parts all moving at high speeds. The "life-blood" of this kind of engine is motor oil. It functions as a lubricant for the moving parts, cleans those parts, fights corrosion, and carries heat in the engine away from those moving parts, cooling it. Oil is important to the functioning of the car, so it is a good idea to change it every several thousand miles. Part of this process requires locating the oil filter. The oil filter aids in the removal of contaminants from all the various oils (engine, transmission, lubricating and hydraulic) in the engine. Before changing the oil, you have to know where the oil filter is.

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  The average oil filter is as large as a stout, short can of pop. tools image by CraterValley Photo from Fotolia.com

  To find the oil filter, you first must have an idea of what you're looking for. In the average motor vehicle, the oil filter can be easily held in the hand and resembles the shape and size of a can of soda pop, except fatter and shorter. In large vehicles, such as SUVs, the oil filter may be something closer to the size of an average thermos. Regardless of the size of the filters, they are primarily located in the front area of the engine compartment.

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  The next step is to get under your car to look for the filter. white cat hides under low sports car image by craetive from Fotolia.com

  Owning an SUV might be advantageous as far as at least one thing is concerned--getting under the vehicle. As is apparent, the raised engine of the SUV allows a person to get underneath the car and take care of one's business with a fair degree of freedom. It helps to have something soft to lie on. For those with smaller automobiles, you may have to drive up on ramps, the front tires only, in order to get under the car.

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  Sometimes the oil filter is located near the wheel; to get at it, you must take off the tire. changing the wheel image by Radu Razvan from Fotolia.com

  Look along the front and along the back of the engine for the filter using the light source to help. It will be in either of these two areas. If you are unable to find the filter, it may be because it is hidden behind some engine parts. This usually occurs around the front wheels. Use a jack to raise the vehicle and place it on a jack stand. Use the socket wrench to remove one of the front car wheels, and carefully put it aside. Look into the front of the wheel cavity with the light source and the filter should be visible. When finished, return the tire to the vehicle, tighten the lug nuts and raise the vehicle with the jack, remove the jack stand and lower it to the ground.