Can You Reuse the Oil Filter? Is It Possible?

You may have noticed that many blow out the air filters and reuse them. So, can you apply the same trick to oil filters?

The answer is definitely not. You can’t reuse oil filters. Reusing them can damage the engine permanently. However, there are some reusable oil filters available on the market that are made for reuse.

In this article, we have answered whether you can reuse oil filters or not including which oil filters can be reused when you can reuse oil filters, and what will happen if you reuse oil filters. So, let’s learn about them in more detail below.

Can An Oil Filter Be Reused?

Cleaning and reusing an oil filter are obviously not a good idea. Especially if you are using a disposable oil filter in your machine. These oil filters are made for one-time use only. So, reusing a disposable oil filter from previous oil can cause a lot of damage to the engine.

However, there are some types of reusable oil filters that can be found on the market which allows users to use them multiple times. Let’s learn about them below.

What Type of Oil Filter Can Be Reused?

You can reuse the reusable oil filters which are specially made for a lifetime use. These oil filters are much more expensive than disposable oil filters.

In these filters, manufacturers have used stainless steel mesh and magnet traps instead of paper to filter the particulates suspended in oil. These filters are built with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) dimensions and use high-quality components. You can use these oil filters over and over as long as you clean them regularly.

When Can You Reuse Disposable Oil Filter

If you have no option on your hand than reuse disposable oil filters on your vehicle, then you can reuse them under certain conditions. Here are they:

Note: We don’t recommend reusing disposable oil filters. Reuse it at your own risk!

If the oil filter is in good condition: If the condition of the oil filter is good and not damaged, then you can use it but you must need to clean it using carburetor cleaner before reusing.
You can use it for a short distance and time: If you reuse a disposable oil filter because there is no other option in your hand, then you must need to ensure not to use that filter for a long time. As long as you find a servicing point, you must change the oil filter.
If the oil viscosity is accurate: If you have changed the oil and do not have a new oil filter at the moment, then you need to ensure the viscosity of the new oil is as same as the old oil. If the oil is thick or thin than the previous one, then the filter will be unable to maintain the right flow of oil which is really harmful to the engine.

What Will Happen If You Reuse a Disposable Oil Filter?

An oil filter in good condition is mandatory to keep the engine clean and healthy. If you change the oil and then reuse the previous oil filter, then your engine may get damaged. For this, it is necessary to change the oil filter according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Here are the possible scenarios that may occur if you reuse a disposable oil filter:

All the “gunk” in the oil filter will be dissolved in the newly changed oil and recirculated it in the engine. As a result, the engine will be contaminated and get damaged.
The old oil filter can’t flow the thick oil as a new oil filter does. As a result, some parts of the engine won’t get enough lubrication and may cause overheating.
If the oil doesn’t flow properly to the engine, the small passageways of the engine can get clogged up.
Using an old oil filter can result in dropping the fuel economy engine.

This means you may have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to repair your engine while saving $20 to $125 for an oil filter.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)

How Many Times Can You Use an Oil Filter?

How many times you can use an oil filter depends on the type of oil filter you’re using in your machine. If the oil filter is disposable, then you can’t use it more than once. But if you are using a reusable oil filter, then you can use it more than twice.

How Long Can You Use the Same Oil Filter?

How long can you use the same oil filter depends on the type of your vehicle and the condition of it. Previously it was recommended to change the oil after 3,000 miles. But it was a myth and it is recommended to change the oil filter after 6,000 to 7500 miles for newer vehicles. If you are using synthetic oil, then it can be used for up to 10,000 miles.

Can You Change the Oil Without Changing the Oil Filter?

No, it is not recommended to change only the oil without changing the oil filter. It can damage the engine and may lead to several consequences. So, even if the oil filter looks good while changing the oil, you must replace it with a new one.

Conclusion

To conclude, a reusable oil filter can be cleaned and reused but a disposable oil filter can’t be cleaned. So, you can’t reuse the disposable oil filter. Otherwise, it will damage the engine and you may have to count hundreds of dollars for this. Disposable oil filters are inexpensive and purchasing a new oil filter is simply a far more cost-effective solution than risking significant engine damage. We hope now you’ve understood whether you can reuse oil filters or not after reading this article. If you have any confusion regarding this topic, don’t hesitate to ask in our comment section below. Thank you for reading.