How To Change Car Air Filter

Think back to the last time you had your oil inverse at a quick lube. The mechanic brings you lot out to the car to show you lot how filthy your air filter is and tells you lot information technology's time to replace it. You're a decorated homo with places to become and people to see, so you nod and give him the get alee. Yous go back to the lobby and read the six month old Field and Stream that was at that place at your last oil modify while the mechanic does his thing.

"Shouldn't be more than $10 extra," you lot retrieve to yourself.

"And your full today for the oil modify and new air filter is $45.77," chirps the cute young lady with bad highlights at the greenbacks register.

What the wha?

That'southward right. Your $20 oil change doubled its price in but a matter of seconds. I've seen mechanics accuse anywhere from $eighteen to $25 to change an air filter. About the same price as an oil change.

The air filter itself is only about $x for most vehicles. Where the shop gets y'all is where they ever get you- on labor. Yous'd think with what they accuse, replacing an air filter is some complicated task that necessitates special tools only available to licensed mechanics. You'd retrieve that, but you'd be wrong.

The reality is that changing your car'south air filter is quite possibly the simplest maintenance job you can perform. It seriously takes near a minute to complete and requires no special tools. Just some know-how.

If you're a human who has never done any auto maintenance and would like to get started, only yous're not quite ready to change your oil, outset off changing your own air filter. Information technology's a quick way to salvage some cash- money that you lot can utilize for more important things like paying down your debt or buying a squirrel lamp.

Ready? Allow'southward get started.

What Does an Air Filter Practise?

For your engine to run, it needs air. The air mixes with gas, the spark plug gives a spark, and-presto!-you've got internal combustion. For an engine to run efficiently, the air that it takes in needs to be equally clean as possible. Problem is that the air outside is total of junk that doesn't burn down cleanly or evenly at all. Dirt, pollen, salt, and bird feathers are just some the things your engine will suck in to create the controlled explosion that moves your motor. You lot don't want that stuff in your engine.

That'southward where the trusty air filter enters the picture.

Air filters are connected to the engine'due south intake manifold. Most filters are rectangular (older cars that accept carburetors utilise a donut-shaped air filter) and are made of a porous, paper-like material, folded like an accordion. Here, take a look at one:

Car air filter.

Epitome from Shutterstock

The filter prevents dirt and other particulates from getting into your engine while allowing the clean air through. Simple, withal effective.

Why Practise You Need to Change Your Air Filter Regularly?

Increased fuel efficiency. After logging thousands of miles on your motorcar, that filter tin can get actually dingy and clogged. A dirty air filter doesn't allow air to get through to the engine. Remember, your engine needs air to run efficiently. A reduced corporeality of air ways your engine needs to use more fuel to go the same blindside to run your engine. Save yourself some money at the pump. Modify your air filter regularly.

Prolonged engine life. Engines are big and powerful, only they tin can be surprisingly sensitive to the smallest grain of sand. Over fourth dimension, dirt and other particles can cause serious impairment to your engine'southward internal parts. Meliorate to spend $10 at present on a new air filter than thousands of dollars subsequently on a new engine.

Reduced Emissions. Reduced air period tin can also mess with your car's emission control systems causing you to spew more bad stuff into the temper. Men need polar bears to wrestle. Save one by irresolute your air filter.

How Often Should Y'all Change Your Air Filter?

It'southward recommended that you change your air filter once every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes showtime. If you alive in a specially dusty place, practice information technology more frequently. It's always a adept idea to at least check your air filter at every oil change. If you lot have your car into a quick lube and the mechanic says yous need a new one, simply tell him you're going to wait on it and then get change it yourself. Cheque your owner's manual for specifics on when to change your air filter for your brand and model.

How to Change Your Air Filter

ane. Buy your air filter. Most air filters are pretty cheap. Between $10-$xiii. Swing by an machine parts store afterward piece of work or selection an air filter up while you're grocery shopping at a Super Walmart. Figuring out what air filter to get for your car is easy. Starting time, you can bank check your possessor's transmission, merely let's confront information technology, you'll probably forget to do that. Lucky for you lot, places that sell air filters have this tattered telephone book-looking thing hanging off a shelf. It'due south literally the phone book for auto parts. You but expect upward the year, make, and model of your car, and information technology tells you what parts y'all need for it. If your automobile parts store is really fancy, they'll have a crappy Speak & Spell-like computer that you tin can use. Merely it'south ordinarily busted, so you'll probably just end upwardly using the book.

2. Open your hood and locate the air filter box. Information technology'due south the black plastic box sitting on top of or to the side of your engine. The filter box usually has a giant hose sticking out of its side.

Man changing air filter box under car hood. Image from Shutterstock

3. Open the air filter box and remove the muddy air filter. Opening an air filter box is a cinch. Just unclasp the big metal clips that concord the elevation downwardly and open the box. Remove the dirty filter.

Man remove dirty air filter under car hood. Image from Shutterstock

4. Check the old air filter. Give your old filter a await over to see if information technology's by its prime. Look inside the folds. Run across a lot of dirt and gunk? Fourth dimension to replace information technology.

5. Put in the new air filter. Place your filter in the filter box. Make certain it sits snuggly in the box. Shut the top of the box and snap the clips.

That's it. Your engine will no longer be gasping for air similar a guppy that jumped its bowl.

Total fourth dimension: most a minute.

Money savings: $10-$15

Any other tips? Did I miss annihilation? Drop usa a line in the comments below.

Tags: Cars