How Often Should Car Air Filters and Cabin Air Filters Be Replaced?
2 Answers
According to the car maintenance manual, they should generally be replaced every 20,000 to 60,000 kilometers. If the mileage is low, it is recommended to replace them every 12 months. The location of the car's air filter element varies depending on the intake method and engine structure. 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 cylinders in sufficient quantities, preventing airborne dust from being sucked into the engine and accelerating wear on the piston group and cylinders. Air filter: It is a type of filter, also known as an air filter cartridge, air cleaner, or air element. 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 sucks in a large amount of air. If the air is not filtered, the dust suspended in the air will be sucked into the cylinders, accelerating wear on the piston group and cylinders. Larger particles entering between the piston and 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 from the air, ensuring that sufficient and clean air enters the cylinders. Dirty air cleaner: Using a dirty air cleaner while driving can cause insufficient engine intake, incomplete fuel combustion, leading to unstable engine operation, reduced power, and increased fuel consumption. Therefore, the car's air cleaner must be kept clean. The car air cleaner 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 before it enters the cylinders, reducing early wear on the cylinders, pistons, piston rings, valves, and valve seats. Therefore, before air enters the cylinders, it must first pass through the fine filtration of the air cleaner. A dirty air cleaner can cause poor engine performance, excessive fuel consumption, and engine damage. When inspecting the air cleaner, if it is found to have little dust and minor blockage, it can be cleaned by blowing compressed air from the inside out and reused. A severely dirty air cleaner should be replaced promptly.
With over a decade of driving experience, I've learned that the air filter should ideally be replaced every 12,000 miles or once a year. Otherwise, the engine sucks in more dust, fuel consumption spikes noticeably, and you'll feel a lack of power on long drives while facing frequent repairs. As for the cabin air filter, in cities with poor air quality, I recommend annual replacement—especially during spring and fall when pollen allergies peak. DIY replacement costs just around 20 bucks, and online tutorials make it a breeze. Don't wait until weird odors blow out or fogging obstructs driving safety. Regular filter changes also extend engine life, saving you major repair costs.
