Pontiac Optima Oil Filter Housing Gasket Replacement at your home or office.

What is the Oil Filter Housing Gasket all about?

Oil is vital for a running engine; it must have the right viscosity and be changed on a regular basis. As the oil passes through your engine, it picks up debris and particles. If left unchecked, the debris will cause serious damage to your engine. The solution is an oil filter – it does exactly what the name implies: it filters the oil and removes particulates before they have a chance to damage engine components.

Depending on the make and model you drive, you may have an internal or an external oil filter. External filters are the most common in the US, and are primarily used on American cars and Asian imports. However, many European imports use internal filters. External filters are mounted under the engine, located near the front of the bottom. Most internal filters are installed into a sealed housing at the top of the engine.

Both external and internal filters attach to the housing, which mounts to the engine and requires a gasket to keep engine oil from leaking out around it. Over time, this gasket will become brittle and crack, allowing oil to leak out.