by Your car runs on air as much as it runs on fuel. Your fuel cannot burn and provide the explosive force to power the engine without air. But, the engine needs purified air, free of dirt and bugs, to run efficiently. Should the air become dirty, caking the engine in dirt and grime, it will slow down the performance of the vehicle and, eventually, shorten the life of the car. Dirt and particles can excessively wear down the parts on your car, like the bearings, pistons, and cylinders. In order to avoid this, regular air filter changes need to take place to keep the airflow clean.
Changing a Car’s Air Filter In Four Easy Steps
Here is a step-by-step guide to changing a filter by yourself.
Step One
Park the car, switch it off, and pop the bonnet open. You can locate the air filter by looking for the big black box (shown in the picture below). It is usually in the center, or to the right of your engine. Before you buy the air filter, make sure you check your book to ensure you are buying the right one. Someone at the store should be able to assist you, but it does help going in with a basic understanding of the specs of the air filters.
Step Two
Unclip the top of the box. This is usually a really simple process as the box is just clamped down. Or, in some cases, it has wing nuts that you will have to unscrew. You will now see the filter, which looks like the picture below. Once you open it, you can see what condition your air filter is in. If it is clogged up, it is time to replace it.
Step Three
Remove the old filter from the casing. It is always a good idea to clean the casing before you put in the new one, in order for it to be in its prime. Should there be some excessive dirt, it will be sucked into the new filter and will shorten the life immediately. You can use a vacuum to suck out all of the excessive dirt in the casing and hose.
Step Four
Simply pop the new air filter back into the casing and put the lid back on. Clamp down the casing, or put the wing nuts back into place. You do not need to start your car, you can simply close the hood and carry on with your day. The full process only takes about ten minutes and will cost you a significantly less than if you had to take it to a mechanic. You can change your filter once a year, or every 30,000kms, whichever comes first.
