Most car owners know they need to change the oil and filter on
their vehicles every 3,000 miles or at the manufacturer’s
recommended intervals. ‘Clean’ oil is the life-blood of any engine,
and changing it and the filter frequently enough helps keep your
vehicle’s engine running smoothly, mile after mile.

Simply put, the oil lubricates the high-speed moving parts of
the engine and keeps them working together without friction. The
filter, on the other hand, plays the equally important role of
sifting out the harmful dirt particles or contaminants such as
metallic shavings, condensation and antifreeze that threaten to
enter the oil system and clog the engine, causing premature wear
and, in extreme cases, failure.

Statistics gathered at the National Car Care Month inspection
campaign in April 2005 by the Car Care Council, a group dedicated
to creating awareness of vehicle maintenance among consumers, show
that 30 percent of the vehicles failed because they had low,
overfull, or dirty engine oil.

GRIM CONSEQUENCES

“Getting car owners to follow even a simple maintenance routine
such as an oil filter change is a challenge,” says Bobby Likis,
owner of Car Clinic Service in Pensacola, Florida. “It seems as
vehicles are becoming more technologically advanced, their owners
assume that their new ride will last forever – with little or no
care. Not so.”

Likis recalled a customer who brought his three-year-old car
into the shop with its original factory fill of oil. “Unbelievable
but absolutely true . this car, which had 50,000 miles on it, had
never had an oil change,” Likis said, in amazement. “When we
drained the oil, and it resembled a gooey serum, we knew the engine
was in trouble, but when we had to use a screwdriver to chisel the
almost three-inch-thick plaque inside the oil-filler port which
blocked new oil from entering the engine, we saw neglect taken to a
whole new level.”

QUALITY FILTER VITAL

When changing the oil, insist on installing a quality filter
that will do an excellent job of keeping out the contaminants and
ensuring that ‘clean’ oil flows unrestricted through the system.
Like all other components in your vehicle, filters, too, come in
varying qualities and prices. Premium-grade filters from a top
automotive parts supplier such as Bosch are especially designed to
keep engine oil clean for a longer period of time. Premium-quality
filters provide superior engine protection, enhance performance and
need fewer oil changes.

“While most traditional filters will not be able to tolerate the
higher temperatures and extended oil change intervals of newer
vehicles, premium oil filters are specifically manufactured with
cutting-edge technology. Bosch’s Filtech Media Technology, for
instance, removes 98 percent of engine oil impurities and helps
provide better filtration for the life of the product,” says Rob
Backode, product manager for Filtration Products for Bosch. “And
with people driving increasing number of miles each year, long-life
filters are the best replacement option for any vehicle.”

Filtech filter media, Backode explains, is comprised of a
special blend of synthetic and natural materials, is up to 42
percent larger, and has a 30 percent thicker filtration area than
other filters. This offers added protection while preventing oil
restriction. “And the larger surface area helps the filter provide
maximum protection for a longer period of time,” Backode adds.

Some filters use standard cellulose technology that allows small
particles to enter the engine and shorten life. Bosch’s exclusive
Filtech Media filtration technology, on the other hand, combines
natural standard cellulose with synthetic microfibers that
strengthen the filtration and protect the engine from harmful
contaminants, prolonging engine life. Bosch premium oil filters
feature exclusive Filtech filter media; a special valve that
prevents dirty oil from flowing back into the engine; stronger
steel baseplates and housings; and a bypass valve, which when
required by the vehicle manufacturer keeps the oil flowing even if
the filter gets plugged.

“Each mechanical system works in concert with the other, like
cells, muscles and tissues in the human body,” says Likis, whose
shop is an authorized Bosch Car Service facility, an elite group of
highly skilled service shops that use quality parts such as those
from Bosch. “Oil is like an engine’s life-blood – it protects,
lubricates and cools the mechanical component (the engine) through
which it flows. Protect your vehicle by ensuring a smooth-running
engine. Use the correct grade oil and premium quality filters at
the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended interval to keep the
contaminants out and prevent your engine from damage and possible
failure.”

For more information on Bosch products and services, visit
www.boschusa.com.