Dirt bike maintenance is very crucial to ensure that your bike performs at a high level of consistency and prolongs the life of your engine. One of the most important parts of a dirt bike is the oil filter.
Changing the oil filter in your dirt bike is one of the most crucial aspects of maintaining it. This can mean the difference between shortening the life of your bike or significantly extending it.
This post will help you understand everything about the oil filter and why you need to change it on your dirt bike.
What is an oil filter?
An oil filter is a crucial part of your dirt bike’s first line of defense against engine wear. An oil filter is designed to eliminate contaminants from transmission oil, engine oil, hydraulic oil, or lubricating oil.
What does an oil filter do on a dirt bike?
The bike’s motor oil is meant to lubricate various engine parts, absorb contaminants, seal the piston rings, help cool the engine, and more. Without an oil filter, metal particles and other contaminants would compromise and overwhelm the oil’s effectiveness, which can cause extreme engine wear.
An oil filter will catch and prevent any contaminant from circulating through the bike’s engine.
Why should I change a dirt bike oil filter?
Over time, the oil filter becomes clogged since it traps carbon dust and tons of other contaminant particles. A clogged oil filter reduces efficiency, and the amount of clean oil passing through reduces, necessitating its replacement.
The oil filter is a sealed metal device, and it’s impossible to perform a visual inspection to determine if it needs a replacement. There’s no gauge, instrument, or warning sign to remind you that the oil filter needs to be replaced. Additionally, it is hard to notice the impact a dirty or clogged oil filter has on the engine.
The impact of dirty or clogged filter may include the following:
- Loss of oil pressure
- Premature engine wear and tear
- Lack of engine lubrication
- Internal engine damage
Although your bike engine may have these issues internally, you may fail to notice it until your engine is completely damaged.
So, how often should I change my dirt bike’s oil filter?
Your driving habits and mileage have an impact on how often you change the oil filter. However, changing the oil filter more often than recommended wouldn’t hurt. Since the bike’s oil filter continues to accumulate junk, you should replace the filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
If you’re into short trips or city rides, you need to change the old filter more than someone used to highway driving. The best time to replace your oil filter is before it becomes too dirty or clogged. Additionally, replacing the oil filter with a high-quality one will promise you a long-lasting engine and flawless performance.
Factors that affect how often you should change your dirt bike oil filter
How often you change the dirt bike oil filter depends on the manufacturer’s recommendation. It’s advisable to change the oil filter regularly. Other factors like how often you ride the bike, the conditions you ride your dirt bike in, and the type of oil you use can affect the frequency at which you change the oil filter.
Signs your dirt bike needs an oil filter change
Here are some signs that show it is time for an oil filter change:
Black or Gritty Oil
Oil has a honey brown color, which darkens after a few weeks of use; the darkening is normal. However, if you observe particles in the oil, this should be a warning sign.
These particles are usually contaminants, and once they increase, it could mean that your oil filter is faulty.
Excessive Engine Noise
When the lubricating effect of the engine oil degrades, it leads to friction in the engine, which creates more noise than usual. Fresh oil provides a protective layer in your engine. So if you don’t like the noise produced by your engine, you need to replace the oil filter.
You Don’t Remember the Last Time You Changed the Oil Filter
If you don’t remember the last time you changed the oil filter, this is a clear indication that it’s time for an oil filter change. Ensure you write the date of the filter change so that you’ll be able to check the last date.
FAQs
Can you reuse a dirt bike oil filter?
Most oil filters are not reusable. However, there are cleanable, reusable oil filters that can be cleaned, disassembled, and reused.
What happens if you don’t change the dirt bike filter?
If you don’t change the dirt bike filter, it will become clogged, reducing the oil passing through the filter into the engine. With dirty or insufficient oil, your engine will be damaged over time.
Conclusion
Your dirty bike engine requires a sufficient volume of clean oil to operate smoothly. If the oil filter is not changed regularly, your engine may suffer severe damage, which may cost you a fortune. Keep your oil filter clean to improve engine performance and efficiency.