How often should the Corolla air filter be replaced?

[Albuquerque]

According to the vehicle's maintenance manual, the Corolla's air filter should generally be replaced every 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers or every other maintenance interval. However, it is recommended to clean the air filter every 5,000 kilometers to reduce the buildup of throttle sludge. 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's 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 wire mesh. The function of the air filter is to filter out particulate impurities in the air, ensuring that a sufficient amount of clean air enters the cylinders and preventing floating dust from being sucked into the engine, which could accelerate the wear of the piston group 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 as an air filter. During operation, the engine sucks in a large amount of air. If the air is not filtered, the suspended dust in the air can be drawn into the cylinders, accelerating the wear of 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. A dirty air filter: Using an excessively dirty air filter while driving can cause insufficient engine intake, incomplete fuel combustion, leading to unstable engine operation, reduced power, and increased fuel consumption. Therefore, it is essential to keep the air filter clean. The car's 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 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 cleaner. 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 little dust and is lightly clogged, it can be cleaned by blowing compressed air from the inside out and continue to be used. Excessively dirty air filters should be replaced promptly.

[Vickie]

I've been driving a Corolla for three years and have plenty of experience changing the air filter. Generally, it's best to replace it every 15,000 kilometers or once a year. But it depends on your driving environment. For example, I often drive in rural areas where there's a lot of dust, so I need to replace it earlier, around 10,000 kilometers. If you mostly drive in the city, extending the interval slightly isn't a big issue. A dirty filter affects the engine's air intake, making acceleration feel sluggish and potentially increasing fuel consumption. Once, I delayed replacing it, and the filter got so clogged that the engine warning light came on. It cost me over 300 yuan to fix, which was more expensive than just spending a few dozen yuan on a new filter earlier. Doing it yourself is super easy—just pop the hood and it's done in a minute or two, no need for a mechanic. Make it a habit to check during every maintenance session to ensure smooth driving and extend the car's lifespan. Don't overlook this small thing—it saves both hassle and money.