{"organism":"Page","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","children":[{"organism":"Metadata","model":{"title":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter","text":"After picking up your car from service, you may notice that your vehicle’s oil filter was replaced. What does that mean, and why is it important?","links":[{"name":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/oil-filter-article.html"}],"image":{"src":"/content/dam/shell/assets/business/pennzoil/products/2025/new/us/CS20063-PZ-GF7-BackToBasics-988x624.jpg"}},"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/metadata"},{"organism":"ContentOwner","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/contentowner"},{"organism":"Container.Header","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/_jcr_content/root/header/inherited.model.json","id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/header/inherited","model":{}},{"organism":"Breadcrumb","model":{"links":[{"name":"United States","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/"},{"name":"Education","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education.html"},{"name":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/oil-filter-article.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/header/breadcrumb"}],"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/header","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Main","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","children":[{"organism":"PageHeader","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter","image":{"src":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/_jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header.shellimg.jpeg/1752548360924/cs20063-pz-gf7-backtobasics-header.jpeg","alt":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter?","width":1279,"height":321}},"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/text","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter picking up your car from service, you may notice that your vehicle’s oil filter was replaced. What does that mean, and why is it important?\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","colspan":4,"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/_jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset.shellimg.jpeg/1741742967386/smallshutterstock-701400520.jpeg","caption":"The Inside of an Oil Filter","alt":"Back to Basics: What is a Oil Filter?","width":522,"height":627}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_1852081363","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhy do you need an oil filter?\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn order to keep an engine running effectively, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/know-your-oil/what-is-motor-oil.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Emotor oil\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E is constantly being circulated through the vehicle’s engine. As motor oil moves through various parts of the engine, the motor oil picks up dirt, grit, and even metal shavings. As contaminants get trapped or kept in suspension, the oil may thicken, forcing the engine to work harder to maintain quality performance. Over time this can impact fuel economy and puts unnecessary wear and tear on your engine. Although certain motor oils such as \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/products/full-synthetic-motor-oils/pennzoil-ultra-platinum.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPennzoil Ultra Platinum\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E are proven to keep \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/power-pennzoil-synthetics/cleanerpistons.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epistons\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E and other engine components 50% cleaner than the industry standard\u003Csup\u003E1\u003C/sup\u003E, your engine still needs an extra level of defense against contaminant build up within the motor oil. This is when an oil filter gets to work.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_1852081363_copy","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow Does an Oil Filter Work?\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMotor oil resides in the oil pan while at rest or have a very short rest window in the pan while in operation. Before it circulates back through the engine, an oil pump pulls the motor oil up, and sends it through the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/products/automotive-filters.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eoil filter\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E. As the motor oil flows through the filter, it travels through pleated folds, or media, and impurities such as dirt, sludge and large particles are filtered out before it is sent back into the engine for use.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELike motor oil, oil filter also has a limited filter life. Over time, the filter will get to a point that it will not be able to trap anymore impurities and pressure will build up because it is clogged full of contaminants. This increase in pressure will open the bypass valve within the filter to allow oil to continue to flow and circulate in the engine; unfiltered and to prevent oil starvation to the engine. To keep your engine performing at its best, it is recommended to change your oil regularly and replace your oil filter at the same time.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/products/automotive-filters/platinum-he-oil-filters.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPennzoil Platinum HE oil filters\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E are engineered with an exclusive synthetic-blended 2-ply gradient density filter media designed to remove up to 99%\u003Csup\u003E2\u003C/sup\u003E of motor oil impurities while trapping on average over 10 grams of contaminants based on industry tests\u003Csup\u003E3\u003C/sup\u003E. This provides an average 15% greater cleaning ability, and over 3 times the dirt-holding capacity of economy oil filters. Once the motor oil passes through the media, it drains through the central hole and back into the engine.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","colspan":4,"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset_cop_849584855","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/_jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset_cop_849584855.shellimg.jpeg/1741743298001/pennzoil-platinum-he-filter-and-box-us.jpeg","caption":"Pennzoil Platinum HE Oil Filter","alt":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter?","width":2000,"height":1949}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_1852081363_copy_1752820393","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat Oil Filter Is Best for Me?\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESmall variations in design mean that each vehicle, and therefore oil filter, is unique. Whether you are \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/know-your-oil/changing-your-own-oil.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Echanging your own oil\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E, or you’re bringing your vehicle to a mechanic, be sure to use \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/filter-selector.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eour oil filter finder\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E to determine the best fit for your vehicle.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Csup\u003E1\u003C/sup\u003E \u003Csub\u003EBased on ILSAC GF-5, Sequence IIIG piston deposit test using SAE 5W-30, and Ford, Chrysler and GM specifications. Does not apply to Pennzoil Platinum\u003C/sub\u003E\u003Csup\u003E®\u003C/sup\u003E \u003Csub\u003EEuro products.\u003C/sub\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003Csup\u003E2\u003C/sup\u003E \u003Csub\u003EBased on ISO 4849-12 test procedures.\u003C/sub\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003Csup\u003E3\u003C/sup\u003E \u003Csub\u003EBased on ISO 4849-12 test procedures.\u003C/sub\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_2042698120_copy","model":{"title":"Additional Resources"}},{"organism":"CallToAction","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section/call_to_action_copy","model":{"links":[{"name":"Find An Oil Change Retail Location","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/oil-change-retail-locations.html"},{"name":"Where To Buy Pennzoil","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/oil-change-retail-locations.html"}]}}],"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main/section","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/main","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Footer","children":[{"organism":"Breadcrumb.Large","model":{"links":[{"name":"United States","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/"},{"name":"Education","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education.html"},{"name":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/oil-filter-article.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/footer/breadcrumb"},{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/_jcr_content/root/footer/inherited.model.json","id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/footer/inherited","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content/root/footer","model":{}}],"id":"/conf/shell/settings/wcm/templates/base/structure/jcr_content/root","model":{}}],"model":{"title":"Back to Basics: What is an Oil Filter","text":"After picking up your car from service, you may notice that your vehicle’s oil filter was replaced. 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Accordingly, neither Shell plc nor any member of the Shell Group endorses, adopts, certifies or otherwise validates the information and material contained on the linked web site. This includes its sponsor and any policies, activities or services offered on the site, by any advertiser on the site or linked to the site.\r\nThank you for visiting the Pennzoil website."},{"name":"themeMode"},{"name":"lastModified","value":"2025-07-15T02:59:20.933Z"},{"name":"themeName","value":"pennzoil"},{"name":"themePath","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-pennzoil"},{"name":"themeCss","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-pennzoil.ACSHASHc367c03a07637c52d1e5995f344e2c8e.css"},{"name":"alternate","children":[{"name":"en-CA","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/en_ca/education/oil-filter-article.html"},{"name":"fr-CA","value":"https://www.pennzoil.com/fr_ca/information/oil-filter-article.html"}]}],"image":{"src":"/content/dam/shell/assets/business/pennzoil/products/2025/new/us/CS20063-PZ-GF7-BackToBasics-988x624.jpg"}},"id":"/content/shell/business/pennzoil/en_us/education/oil-filter-article/jcr_content"}