How Often Should the Air Filter Be Replaced?
2 Answers
According to the car maintenance manual, it is generally recommended to replace the air filter every 20,000 to 60,000 kilometers. If the driving mileage is low, it is advisable to replace it every 12 months. The location of the car's air filter element varies depending on the intake method and the engine's structure. Cars have two types of air filters: dry and wet. Dry filters are made of paper or organic materials, while wet filters are made of metal wire mesh. Function of the air filter: It filters out particulate impurities in the air, ensuring that a sufficient amount of clean air enters the cylinders. It prevents airborne dust from being sucked into the engine, which can accelerate the wear of piston groups and cylinders. 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. During operation, the engine inhales a large amount of air. If the air is not filtered, the suspended dust in the air can be sucked into the cylinders, accelerating the wear of piston groups and cylinders. Larger particles entering between the piston and cylinder can cause severe cylinder scoring, especially in dry and sandy working environments. The air filter 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 filter: Using an excessively dirty air filter while driving can cause insufficient engine intake, leading to incomplete fuel combustion. This results in unstable engine operation, reduced power, and increased fuel consumption. Therefore, it is essential to 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-cleaning filter components. Its main function is to filter out harmful impurities from the air entering the cylinders to reduce early wear of the cylinders, pistons, piston rings, valves, and valve seats. Therefore, before air enters the cylinders, it must pass through the fine filtration of the air filter. A dirty air filter can cause poor engine performance, excessive fuel consumption, and engine damage. When inspecting the air filter, if it is found to have minimal dust and light blockage, it can be cleaned by blowing high-pressure air from the inside out and reused. Excessively dirty air filters should be replaced promptly.
I was chatting with some veteran drivers and learned that how often you change the air filter depends on your driving habits. Since I frequently drive on construction sites with lots of dirt roads and heavy dust, I need to replace the filter every 8,000 kilometers. If you mostly drive in the city, changing it once a year is sufficient. The engine needs clean air to 'breathe'—a dirty filter restricts airflow, leading to sluggish acceleration, increased fuel consumption, and even piston wear. I remember one year when I neglected to change it, the filter got clogged during a long trip, costing me over a thousand in repairs. Now, every time I change the oil, I take a quick look at the filter. I remove and inspect it myself—if it's black and so dirty that light can't pass through, it's time for a replacement. This simple habit saves hassle and money while preventing major issues. By the way, the cabin air filter works similarly—don’t overlook it for the sake of your health.
