What maintenance procedure is essential after changing engine oil?

Changing the oil in an engine is a critical maintenance task, and it is equally important to replace the oil filter during this process. The oil filter plays a vital role in keeping engine oil clean by trapping contaminants and particles that can accumulate over time. When new oil is added without changing the filter, the remaining dirty oil from the old filter can contaminate the fresh oil, potentially leading to engine wear and decreased performance.

Therefore, replacing the oil filter ensures the engine runs with clean oil, optimizing lubrication and protecting engine components. This maintenance step is essential to maintain the overall health and longevity of the engine.

Other options like replacing spark plugs, flushing the radiator, and checking tire pressure are important maintenance tasks but are not directly related to the process of changing the engine oil. Each of these tasks addresses different aspects of vehicle maintenance and does not have the same immediate relevance to ensuring proper oil circulation and engine protection as changing the oil filter does.