A car needs air just as it needs fuel. An air filter is an important part of a car's intake system; it keeps the inside of the engine free of dust and insects. A car’s engine requires an accurate mixture of fuel and air for running, all of the air enters the system first through the air filter. As the name suggests, the air filter prevents dust from entering the engine air that could probably damage the engine.
It is necessary to replace or clean the air filter after a required interval for keeping the air flow freely and the car running at its best. Air filters are not very expensive and can be quickly replaced. One can also easily perform this routine maintenance by himself.
Get the right replacement filter
The new air filter should be the same as the one which has to be replaced. The owner's car manual or auto parts store can be consulted if any help is needed for finding the right one.
Secure the vehicle
Before replacing the air filter, the car has to park on a level ground and the parking brake should be pulled. The first gear should be applied and the ignition has to be turn off.
Open the bonnet
The bonnet would have to be released with the lever inside the car. It can be lifted and secured with the prop rod.
Locate the air filter unit
The air filter unit is usually located on top of the engine inside a casing.
- The air filter is typically situated under a bulky and round plastic cover or metal on older cars with carburetors.
- A rectangular or square sized air filter can be found slightly off the center between the front grill and the engine in new, fuel-injected cars.
Remove the air filter cover
For removing the air filter cover, the hose clamp sealing the air conduct has to be loosened. All the screws that hold the air filter cover have to be opened. There are wing nuts present in some models and other air filters are just clamped on with a quick release system. The screws and other parts have to be kept together in a safe place so one easily can find them later. The cover has to be pulled out of the air conduit and lifted up so that it comes off form the lower part of the placing. A mechanic can be consulted if one does not know how to lift the cover.
Take out the air filter
Once the air filter cover has been removed, a filter made of cotton, gauze or paper in a round or rectangular shape can now be easily seen. Filters have a rubber rim that seal off the interior of the unit. The filter can be simply lifted out from the housing.
Clean the air filter housing
For cleaning the air filter housing, the air hose has to be connected to the compressor and the dust can be blown out using the compressed air. A vacuum cleaner can also be used for this purpose.
A removable adhesive tape can be used to seal the air conduit. It would only take a minute and this will prevent any dirt from entering into the engine while cleaning.
Replace the filter
Now the final step: replacing the old filter with a new one. The brand new air filter can be simply inserted it into the housing with the rubber rim facing upwards. It also has to be made sure that the edges are sealed with the rubber rim.
Replacing the cover
After finally replacing the air filter, the cover has to be now carefully inserted back into the air conduit and then the entire piece can be pressed down onto the lower half of the air filter unit. It has ot be made sure that the cover is placed back on straight and secure. If not, the engine performance will be altered. All the screws or clamps have to be tightened and rechecked that they have been put back firmly together by rocking the unit gently with both hands. Now the bonnet should be securely shut.
The air filter has to be regularly checked to keep the car breathing at its maximum efficiency by keeping out the dust particles.
The filter has to be changed after every 15,000 km, or once a year If the car is running in a dusty area, than it should be checked after 10,000 km. The owner's manual or periodic maintenance guide can be consulted for recommendations.
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Also learn how to replace an oil filter and how to replace coolant.
