A car's engine oil is its lifeblood. Oil is responsible for lubricating the moving parts inside a car's engine. To ensure that the oil that passes through the engine is clean, an oil filter is used. As oil passes from the oil pan into the engine, it passes through an oil filter to remove any debris and sediment that may damage the engine. When changing the oil, it is important to also change the oil filter.
Get underneath the car's engine by sliding under, or using a car ramp to elevate the car.
Look for the car's oil pan, using a flashlight to see better. Oil pans are usually located near the bottom of the engine. They have wide flat bottoms and a nut at one end that is removed to drain the oil.
Look around the oil pan for the oil filter. Oil filters are cylindrical, about the size of a soup can, and often have colored rubber coatings around them. The oil filter is often directly above the oil pan, requiring just the right angle to see it. If you can't find it, follow any pipes or tubes that lead away from the oil pan. One of them should lead to the oil filter.
