Depending on where you live and what the climate is like where you live, you may need to change your car’s air filter more often than you do right now. A dirty or clogged air filter can seriously harm your engine’s performance and lead to serious issues such as low oil pressure, rough idling (especially at low speeds), and a general lack of power. Keeping your car’s air filter in good working order can help prevent these kinds of problems and ensure that your engine is running smoothly at all times. However, not all filters are created equal and you should not hesitate to replace yours when it’s time. It is important to note that there are different types of air filters for different types of vehicles – for example, you can buy a different type of filter for your car’s engine, your car’s cabin, and your car’s exhaust pipe. If you want to know how often you should change your air filter for each type of vehicle, keep reading!
WHAT IS AN AIR FILTER AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
An air filter is essentially a mesh that traps dirt and other debris before entering your engine. Air filters come in various sizes, shapes, and materials and are usually placed in front of the engine’s cylinders (where the air and fuel mixture is burned) in order to trap dust, dirt, and other harmful particles that are typically smaller than a grain of sand. This is important because if dirt and other contaminants were allowed to enter the engine, they could cause serious problems such as a drop in engine efficiency, clogged fuel injectors, and ultimately a lack of power. To put it simply, dirty filters can make it difficult to start your car, cause poor performance, and result in a higher consumption of fuel.
DIRTY AIR FILTER: THE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR
If you notice any of the following symptoms in your car, you should have your air filter inspected immediately. If the problem occurs frequently, it may be time to change your filter.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER?
As we mentioned above, keeping your car’s air filter clean is extremely important for the health of your engine. Dirty filters can result in poor performance and a drop in fuel efficiency as well as a higher risk of damage. If you live in a fairly dry climate or in an area with little to no pollution, you can typically get away with changing your air filter every 10,000 to 20,000 miles. If you live in a place with high levels of pollution, you should change your filter every 6,000 - 8,000 miles. If you live in a very dusty or muddy area, you may want to change your filter once every 3,000 miles or even once every 7,000 miles.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER
- Step 1: Locate your filter.- If you do not know where your filter is, or if you are not sure if it is clean or dirty, you can use a cleaning solution to remove any dirt or contaminants before installing a new filter.- Step 2: Uninstall the old filter.- You can loosen the bolts or screws holding your filter in place by using a wrench or an adjustable wrench.- Step 3: Clean the filter.- Depending on the type of filter you have, you can either use a cleaning brush or a vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt or dust.- Step 4: Install the new filter.- Make sure the new filter is properly positioned and that it is secured properly with the correct amount of bolts or screws.- Step 5: Test your filter.- After installing your new filter, turn your engine on and let it idle for about 5 minutes. If your filter is clean, you should be able to hear a whistling sound coming from your exhaust pipe.