How often should the car air filter be replaced?
2 Answers
According to the car's maintenance manual, the air filter should generally be replaced every 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers or every other maintenance interval. If the driving environment is poor, it is recommended to clean the air filter every 5,000 kilometers to reduce the formation of throttle sludge. The location of the car's air filter element depends on the intake form and the engine 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. The dry type is made of paper or organic materials, while the wet type is made of metal wire mesh. The function of the air filter: to filter out particulate impurities in the air, ensure that sufficient clean air enters the cylinder, and prevent floating dust in the air from being sucked into the engine, which accelerates the wear of the piston group and 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 cylinder. 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 in the air, ensuring that sufficient and clean air enters the cylinder. A 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 must keep the air cleaner 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 that is about to enter the cylinder to reduce early wear of the cylinder, piston, piston rings, valves, and valve seats. Therefore, before the air enters the cylinder, it must first pass through the fine filtration of the air cleaner. Notes about the air filter: An air cleaner that has been working for a period of time is more efficient than a new one. This is because the impurities already adsorbed by the air cleaner can help it capture more tiny dust. A seemingly dirty air cleaner does not mean it can no longer function properly. The driving time or mileage of the vehicle is only a reference value. 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 cleaner must ensure that impurities in the air are filtered out while allowing sufficient air to enter the engine.
After driving for so many years, I believe the replacement cycle of the air filter depends on the specific driving environment and personal habits. Generally, replacing it every 15,000 kilometers or once a year is a safe reference. For city driving with less dust, it can be extended to 20,000 kilometers. However, if you frequently drive in construction sites or dusty rural areas, you might need to replace it every 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers. Otherwise, a clogged filter will allow more dust to enter, causing poor engine airflow, increased fuel consumption, and reduced power. Checking it during regular maintenance is simple: open the engine hood, take out the air filter, and check if the filter paper is dark or opaque—if so, it's time to replace it. Don’t skimp on this small expense—a filter costs just a few dozen yuan, and replacing it yourself takes only about ten minutes. Neglecting it could lead to long-term dust buildup, damaging internal engine components like pistons and cylinders, which could cost thousands to repair. Regular replacement also keeps the engine running quietly, reduces abnormal noises, and extends engine life. Recently, a friend of mine delayed replacing his filter, resulting in sluggish acceleration and higher fuel consumption—a costly lesson. I recommend combining this with annual inspections for comprehensive maintenance.
