Advice For Replacing Your Car’s Air Filter
You can’t see it, but the air that goes through your car can play a major role in the long-term integrity of its engine. Over time, the dust and debris in the air can reduce your engine’s performance while limiting its life. Fortunately, your car’s air filter can help preserve your engine by catching most of the debris. But, it’s not infallible.
If you have ever looked at your car’s air filter, you may have noticed how dirty it is. Chances are, you need to have it replaced. It’s life cycle is limited because after awhile, it becomes clogged. When that happens, your engine’s power will begin to deteriorate. Below, I’ll describe when you should replace the air filter in your car in order to preserve the life of your engine.
Your Mileage May Vary
Unlike an oil change that should be performed every 4,000 miles, there’s no mileage interval that tells you when it’s time to replace the air filter. Some drivers will need to replace it after driving 20,000 miles. Others may need to do so after 10,000 miles.
The reason is due to the type of air that the filter – and potentially, the engine – is exposed to. For example, if you drive your car mostly on freeways, the air won’t have that much debris in it. As a result, the air filter will likely last for 20,000 miles. But, consider what happens when you’re driving on a dusty, gravely road. The dust and dirt is kicked up into the air constantly. Over time, your filter becomes filthy due to the high level of debris. In that case, your filter may only last 5,000 miles.
When To Replace Your Air Filter
First, a little dirt actually helps your filter clean the air of debris. That’s mostly due to the dirt that’s already in the filter catching the tiny bits of debris that can otherwise slip through. But, that’s a short-lived stage. Once too much dirt accumulates, you’ll lose fuel efficiency and you’ll notice your engine performing sluggishly.
The best thing to do is check your air filter whenever you change your car’s oil. If you have a mechanic change the oil, ask him to check the filter. Hold it up to the light. If there’s a significant amount of debris, replace it. They’re inexpensive (usually $20 or less). And at that price, preserving your engine can be a fantastic investment.
