When Was The Last Time You Changed Your Air Filter?
Tacoma Auto Body Repair » Car Repair Puyallup » When Was The Last Time You Changed Your Air Filter?How good are you about changing your automobile’s air filter? Most manufacturers recommend that you check the filter — which is designed to trap dirt and contaminants before they reach your engine — every time you get an oil change, and replace it whenever it’s dirty or has been driven 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. For people who regularly drive on dirt or sand roads, that could be every 5,000 miles, but not everyone does it in a regularly.
If it’s too dirty, the air filter won’t trap dirt particles, which can damage engine cylinders, walls, pistons and piston rings, severely impacting gas mileage and motor performance. An inefficient motor can cause air pollution. The situation has gotten so bad in some states, they now require vehicles to pass motor emissions tests to stay on the road. In many cases, drivers find out their vehicle’s failed because of a dirty air filter.
When checking or changing your air filter, here are some things you should keep in mind:
* To determine whether your air filter needs to be replaced, just lift it out (it isn’t fastened down) and hold it up to the sun or to a strong light. If you can’t see light streaming through it, try dropping it lightly, bottom side down, on a hard surface. This should knock some of the dust from the filter. If the filter is still too dirty to see through after you’ve dropped it a few times, you need a new one.
* When buying an air filter, look for well-known, quality-brand filters; you can often get them quite cheaply at discount stores. Unknown brands sell for very little, but they aren’t always of good quality, and if your air filter lets a lot of junk get into your carburetor, you may find that a cheap filter is very costly in the long run. If you need help determining which air filter is the one you need, go to your local auto parts store or to the parts department at your dealership. Give them your vehicle’s make, model, and year. Make sure that the filter you get matches your old filter in size and shape. If it doesn’t, you’ve been sold the wrong filter for your vehicle.
* If you decide to change the filter yourself, always do so with the motor off, and never start or run the engine with the air filter out of place. Most filters can be easily replaced by removing snap clips, a clamp or several screws. Make sure you use the filter specified for your automobile’s motor; do not try to make a filter fit. An improperly fitting filter can allow unfiltered air into the engine, causing engine damage.
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