How Many Kilometers Should an Air Filter Be Replaced?
2 Answers
According to the car's maintenance manual, the air filter should generally be replaced every 20,000 to 60,000 kilometers. If the driving distance is relatively short, it is recommended to replace it every 12 months. The location of the car's air filter element varies depending on the intake form and the engine's structure. It is usually located in the air filter on the engine intake pipe. There are two types of air filters in cars: dry and wet. Dry filters are made of paper or organic materials, while wet filters are made of metal mesh. The function of the air filter: to filter out particulate impurities in the air, ensuring that clean air enters the cylinder in sufficient quantities, preventing floating dust in the air from being sucked into the engine, which accelerates the wear of the piston group and the cylinder. Air filter: It is a type of filter, also known as an air filter cartridge, air cleaner, or style. It is mainly used in engineering vehicles, cars, agricultural vehicles, laboratories, sterile operating rooms, and various precision operating rooms as an air filter. During operation, the engine needs to suck in a large amount of air. If the air is not filtered, the suspended dust in the air will be sucked into the cylinder, accelerating the wear of the piston group and the cylinder. Larger particles entering between the piston and the cylinder can cause severe cylinder scoring, which is particularly serious in dry and sandy working environments. The air cleaner is installed in front of the carburetor or intake pipe to filter out dust and sand particles in the air, ensuring that sufficient and clean air enters the cylinder. A dirty air filter: Using an excessively dirty air filter while driving will cause insufficient engine intake, leading to incomplete fuel combustion, resulting in unstable engine operation, reduced power, and increased fuel consumption. Therefore, the car must keep the air filter clean. The car air filter is a device that removes particulate impurities from the air, consisting of one or several air filter components. Its main function is to filter out harmful impurities in the air that is about to enter the cylinder, to reduce early wear of the cylinder, piston, piston ring, valve, and valve seat. Therefore, before the air enters the cylinder, it must first pass through the fine filtration of the air filter. Notes about the air filter: An air filter that has been in use for some time is more efficient than a new one. This is because the impurities already adsorbed by the air filter can help it capture more tiny dust. An air filter that looks dirty does not necessarily mean it can no longer function properly. The time or mileage the vehicle has traveled are just reference values. Whether it needs to be replaced depends on the actual situation, such as whether it can no longer allow sufficient air to pass through. The air filter must ensure that impurities in the air are filtered out while allowing sufficient air to enter the engine.
I've been driving for several years. Generally, the air filter should be replaced every 15,000 to 30,000 kilometers, but it depends on the environment. Since I often drive in congested urban areas with lots of dust, I replace mine every 10,000 kilometers. Replacing it early prevents the engine from inhaling dirt and reduces wear to protect the engine. If the filter gets clogged, the car's acceleration will slow down and fuel consumption will increase. Once, I delayed replacement until 18,000 kilometers, and the throttle response became sluggish, making the driving experience unpleasant. I recommend checking the filter condition during regular maintenance, especially in areas with heavy air pollution. Taking action early saves both hassle and money.
