What types of oil filter are there?

There are two main types: Spin-on filters (£4-£15) are self-contained metal canisters that screw onto the engine, common on Ford and Vauxhall models. Cartridge/element filters (£5-£18) are replaceable paper elements inside a reusable housing, common on BMW, Audi, and VW.

How often should I change my oil filter?

Every time you change your oil — the filter should always be replaced with the oil, not on alternate changes. Most manufacturers specify 10,000-20,000 miles or 12-24 months, whichever comes first.

What are the best oil filter brands?

MANN-FILTER is the market leader and OEM supplier to most German manufacturers. MAHLE is another major OEM supplier. Bosch offers excellent all-round filters at competitive prices. FRAM and Champion are solid mid-range options.

Oil Filter Buying Guide: What You Need to Know

Last updated: February 2026 · 5 min read

Your oil filter does a simple but critical job — it removes metal particles, dirt, and combustion by-products from your engine oil, keeping it clean enough to protect your engine. A cheap or wrong filter can lead to premature engine wear, reduced performance, and expensive repairs. Here's what to look for.

Types of Oil Filter

There are two main types you'll encounter when buying a replacement for a UK car:

Spin-On Oil Filters

The traditional type — a self-contained metal canister that screws directly onto the engine. The filter element, anti-drain valve, and bypass valve are all built in. You replace the entire unit each time. These are easy to change and most common on older and simpler engines. You'll find them on many Ford, Vauxhall, and Japanese models.

Typical UK price: £4–£15

Cartridge (Element) Oil Filters

Increasingly common on modern European cars — a paper or synthetic filter element that sits inside a reusable plastic or metal housing on the engine. You replace just the element and its O-ring seal, not the housing. These are more environmentally friendly (less waste) and often give better filtration. Common on BMW, Audi, VW, and Mercedes. They can be slightly fiddlier to change as you need to remove the housing cap.

Typical UK price: £5–£18

How Often to Change Your Oil Filter

The answer is straightforward: every time you change your oil. The filter should always be replaced with the oil, not on alternate changes. A used filter is already partially clogged and will reduce the effectiveness of your fresh oil immediately. Some manufacturers specify oil change intervals of 10,000–20,000 miles or 12–24 months, depending on the engine and whether you use longlife oil. Check your owner's manual for the exact interval.

If you do a lot of short journeys, especially in cold weather where the engine doesn't fully warm up, consider changing your oil and filter more frequently than the manufacturer's schedule. Short journeys cause more condensation and fuel contamination in the oil, which accelerates filter clogging.

What Makes a Good Oil Filter

The key differences between oil filters come down to three things: the filter media (what the filter paper is made of and how fine it filters), the anti-drain back valve (prevents oil draining out of the filter when the engine is off, avoiding dry starts), and the bypass valve (allows oil to flow even if the filter clogs, preventing oil starvation).

Premium filters from brands like MANN-FILTER, Bosch, and MAHLE typically use multi-layer synthetic media that filters down to smaller particle sizes and lasts longer before clogging. Budget filters often use simpler cellulose media that provides adequate filtration initially but degrades faster. For most drivers doing standard service intervals, a mid-range filter from a reputable brand is the sweet spot.

Brand Guide

MANN-FILTER is the market leader and supplies original equipment to most German manufacturers — if your BMW, Audi, or VW came with a MANN filter from the factory, buying the same brand is a safe bet. MAHLE is another major OEM supplier, particularly strong for European cars. Bosch offers excellent all-round filters at competitive prices and is widely available. FRAM and Champion are solid mid-range options. At the budget end, BluePrint and various own-brand filters provide adequate filtration at the lowest cost, though filter media quality can be inconsistent.

Getting the Right Filter

Oil filters are specific to your engine — even within the same car model, different engines use different filters. A 1.0 EcoBoost Ford Focus uses a completely different filter to a 1.5 TDCi diesel Focus. This is why using your registration plate to look up the correct part is so much more reliable than searching by car model alone. The wrong filter might physically fit but have different flow rates, bypass pressure, or seal sizes that could cause oil leaks or poor filtration.

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