How to Replace the Air Filter?
3 Answers
How to replace the air filter: 1. Locate the air filter position. If unsure, refer to the vehicle's user manual. 2. Before opening the air filter plastic cover, determine whether it is secured by screws or clips. 3. Remove the plastic cover of the air filter, take out the filter, and note the orientation of the air filter's top side. Then, clean the inside and outside of the air filter housing with a clean cloth. 4. Install the new air filter in its original position, ensuring the correct orientation of its front and back sides.
Changing the air filter is really not difficult—I just did it for my car last week. Open the engine hood and locate the black plastic square box—that's the air filter housing. On most cars, it's on the side of the engine bay, while some are positioned near the windshield. First, remove the housing cover, usually secured by metal clips or Phillips screws. Be careful not to drop the screws into the engine bay when using a screwdriver! Before removing the old filter, it's best to take a photo to note its orientation, then install the new one accordingly. Cleaning out leaves and sand particles at the bottom of the housing is crucial—using a vacuum cleaner is ideal. Make sure to buy the correct filter model; you can match it online by entering your car model. The whole process takes just 20 minutes, and you'll feel the throttle response improve afterward. I recommend checking the filter's dirt level monthly.
Experience tells me that changing the air filter should be adapted to local conditions. Japanese cars often use a spring clip flip-top design, while European and American cars prefer screw fixation. Keep a cross screwdriver and needle-nose pliers in your toolbox—once, I had to use pliers to pry open a clip due to aging. When cleaning the filter box, avoid using a wet cloth, as residual moisture sucked into the engine can cause problems. While removing the old filter, feel the inner wall of the intake pipe; excessive oiliness may indicate a leak in the crankcase ventilation tube. DIY saves over a hundred in labor costs, but make sure the seal is tight after installation. Once, I didn’t press it firmly, causing the engine warning light to come on. Don’t skimp on a new filter—those with a filtration precision below 5 microns are far less effective.
