There's no symptoms really that alerts you to change your engine oil filter.
However if you have an engine oil light then if the change engine oil light comes on then it's time to change both the engine oil and engine oil filter.
Engine oil and oil filters should be changed at the same time and every 3,000 to 6,000 miles so that is when you should change the oil filter and engine oil along with it.
Always change the oil filter when changing the engine oil because if you only change the engine oil and not the oil filter the contaminates will still be in the oil filter which will then just get back into the engine again.
Oil filters are not that expensive or hard to change out so always change them if you're changing the oil filter.
Just apply some engine oil to the oil filter seal and clean the area where the oil filter attaches to ensure a good seal.