How to Find the Right Oil Filter

You can purchase oil filters for your specific vehicle needs like high mileage and performance engines.

Oil circulation in a vehicle's engine causes the oil to pick up dirt and debris. The oil filter cleans the oil of the damaging particles and traps the dirt in the filter. Filters are classified by their dirt-holding efficiency and ability. To find and purchase the right oil filter for your vehicle, you will need to get the part number. You can find the oil filter number in one of several ways. The easiest way is to call an automotive parts store and have them look up the part number on their computer. All you need to do is give the associate the year, make and model of your vehicle.

Instructions

1. Read the part number off the bottom edge of the old filter. If you are replacing your own oil filter and have a second means of transportation, writing the part number from the old filter gives you an exact match to take with you to the parts store.

2. Use an online search service offered by some automotive parts suppliers' websites, such as FRAM. Select "Oil Filter" as the parts category. Use the drop-down menu to select the vehicle type, year, make and model. Based on your engine size and the type of filter you want, you can find the part number for your vehicle's oil filter.

3. Take the part number to an automotive parts store. Browse the oil filters until you find the brand, the filter type and the number you need printed on the front of the box.

4. Give the part number to a sales associate and tell him the brand and filter type that you need. He will pull the part for you if you have trouble finding it.

References

• FRAM: Oil Filters Overview

Resources

• FRAM: Application Lookup