How To Clean A Car Air Filter

Man removing car air filter from engine

Even if maintaining your vehicle extends only to guiding information technology through the car wash one time in a while, you don't take to exist too adventurous to tackle a few things under the hood.

I of those things is cleaning the auto air filter. The humble air filter is an important function of your vehicle that stops clay, debris and other contaminants from getting into the engine and causing it harm.

When the filter gets clogged, the engine has to work harder and becomes less efficient, which can lead to loss of power and acceleration, poorer gas mileage and overall engine wearable. Likewise an underperforming car, these effects can add together to your running costs and even land you with a costly repair bill if your engine is desperately damaged.

So a clean auto air filter seems like a pretty good idea, and it shouldn't take long to achieve.

How to make clean a car air filter

Your car may have a dry or oil-coated filter, and the approach is a little dissimilar for each. This is how to clean a dry out filter:

Locate the filter and remove the cover – The air filter is typically rectangular in shape and located at the acme of the engine, to one side, within plastic housing. On older cars it may be round and sit down on top of the carburetor. The housing will be fastened with screws, wing nuts or just snap on and off.

Milkshake off loose dirt – Once you've removed the filter, milkshake it abroad from the engine to get rid of loose clay and debris such as leaves and insects.

Vacuum or wash the filter – Of these two options, vacuuming is quickest, while washing provides a better clean. To vacuum, use the hose zipper and carefully go over the filter on each side. Check for whatever parts you may take missed. To wash the filter, move it back and forth in a bucket of water and cleaning solution, then rinse clean. It's important to make certain the filter is completely dry before replacing it as a wet filter tin can damage the engine.

Clean the embrace – Give the filter housing a make clean, likewise, using the vacuum attachment, a clammy material or both. As with washing the filter, make sure it's thoroughly dry before information technology'southward replaced.

Replace and secure – Put dorsum the filter, supplant the embrace and fasten any screws or wing nuts to complete the task.

Oil-coated filters – If the filter is oiled, which is less common, follow the in a higher place steps autonomously from step 3. Instead, spray an oil-filter cleaning solution onto the filter and get out it to soak for 10 minutes. Side by side, gently rinse the solution off and leave the filter to dry. Depending on the filter type, it may then need to be coated with a specialty oil. Replace the filter once the oil is captivated.

What if the filter'due south hard to accomplish?

While air filters are often easily accessible, if you observe that yours is non, you lot may want to leave maintenance in the easily of a garage mechanic, who will be able to recommend if and when information technology needs to be replaced.

When should y'all replace your auto's air filter?

It'southward generally recommended that a car air filter is changed every 12,000 to fifteen,000 miles, or 12 months, only check the owner's manual to meet what'due south recommended for your own vehicle. It volition likewise depend on driving conditions and how much clay is being sucked into the filter.

If you notice any of the following changes in your motorcar'southward performance, it may also exist fourth dimension to replace the filter, according to YourMechanic.

Unexpected decrease in gas mileage
Loss of acceleration
Ignition bug (a dirty air filter can lead to fouled spark plugs)
Engine doesn't sound right
Crude idling
Engine check light comes on

Bulldoze on with no problems

With a make clean and articulate air filter in your car, you'll be helping your vehicle do just what it'due south built for – to get yous where you lot want to go, when you want to get in that location, with no hassles.

Written by: on March 29, 2019

Rob Looker

Rob Looker is a senior copywriter for RoadLoans, I write about cars, coin and their meeting place at the junction of directly automobile lending. I'1000 a huge fan of nice cars, and have enough of experience with the less than…

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