Don't Forget the Air Filter | Vehicle Md

It’s a Saturday morning after a long week of work. Dutifully you climb into your car (coffee mug in hand, of course) and drive down to your local oil change shop. Your four-wheeled friend is due for an oil change.

Carefully, you drive into the bay. As you sip your coffee from the comfort of your vehicle, you watch the technician point out the very dirty engine air filter he has uncovered in your car. As he taps it on the ground, dust flies everywhere. “Maybe it’s time to get that replaced,” you think.

Certain jobs come with being a vehicle owner. Detailing, keeping registration and inspection stickers up-to-date, and getting your car’s oil changed are important. Equally as important but often forgotten, is changing your vehicle’s engine air filter.

The engine air filter removes unwanted particles and contaminants from the air before they reache the engine. It traps dust, dirt, insects and other grime floating through the air as you drive down the road.

“The engine air filter in your car is responsible for filtering the air your car breathes,” said Ragan Holt, quick lube industry advisor. “It works like an air filter in your home that cleans the air you breathe.”

Engines take in a lot of air as they operate and that air has contaminants in it that can be harmful if they are not removed.

“For every gallon of fuel burned an engine takes in about 9,000 gallons of air, which contains abrasive dust that may end up in the oil and cause damage,” said Ron Morrow, general manager of Grease Monkey in Longmont, Colorado. “A clean air filter removes abrasive dust from the air before it enters the engine. These contaminants cause excessive wear to moving parts. By allowing the correct mixture of air and fuel, a clean air filter will provide maximum gas mileage and better performance.”

When dust and debris show up in an engine, they begin to wear on the metal surfaces of the engine. Having dirty air going through your vehicle’s mechanical system can cause the engine to wear out at a faster rate and not work efficiently.

“Restricted airflow can cause the car to work harder. It can reduce horsepower and fuel mileage, too,” Holt said. “Generally a new air filter will pay for itself just in the fuel that it saves over time.”

Typically, engine air filters should be changed every 7,500 miles, unless otherwise noted by the vehicle manufacturer. This number does vary a little depending on your driving habits and the driving conditions of the places you frequent most.

“How often you should change your air filter depends on the car, driver, weather and location,” said David Esslinger, manager at Esslinger Kwik Kar in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

Think about what you use your vehicle for and where you use it at.

“A farmer driving his pick-up truck on dirt roads may have to replace his engine air filter every 3,000 miles, whereas a city driver may be able to go much longer,” Holt said.

The dust you saw puff into the air when the technician examined your air filter is a sign that it is holding all the dirt it can and needs to be changed. If a filter fails the “light test,” that could also be a sign.

“Hold the filter up, and if you can’t see light through it, it’s time to change it,” Esslinger said.

Air filters have evolved as engines have become more complex. They are usually made of a synthetic paper and are folded into pleats. This design increases the surface area of the filter. As a result, the filter lasts longer and is more effective than just a single sheet of paper would be.

“Each car requires a different amount of air, and each air filter is built with a specific vehicle or group of vehicles in mind,” Holt said.

While the duties of car ownership may sometimes seem like a hassle, the time and money you put into keeping your car in tip-top shape will be well worth it. Preventative maintenance is key to keeping your car running longer and avoiding major repairs in the future. Start looking at preventive maintenance as a good chance to grab a cup of coffee and read the paper while the professionals take care of your vehicle.

Don"t Forget the Air Filter | Vehicle Md