Thursday, 08 June 2017 11:39

What is Your Air Filter and What has it done for Your Car Lately?

Even a tiny dust particle can damage an engine’s delicate internal system. Automobile owners in Arizona face the hazard of driving in dusty areas so it’s crucial to take care of your vehicle’s air filters.

Changing your car’s air filter regularly can have a large impact on your vehicle’s performance and the engine’s longevity.

In the hustle and bustle of the day, it’s sometimes easy to forget to take proper care of your vehicle. It’s easy to overlook simple maintenance items because you can’t see the problem so it’s easy to forget about it until something happens.

General vehicle maintenance is necessary to keep your vehicle in top running condition. Neglecting your car can be costly. There are many little things that can be done by do-it-yourselfers or taken care of by your trusted Arizona vehicle repair shop to keep your vehicle road worthy. One of the items that needs attention on a regular basis is the checking and changing of your air filter.

Neglecting your air filter could lead to it becoming clogged and this could affect how your car performs. A clean air filter is crucial to the health and well-being of your vehicle’s engine. They are an inexpensive and relatively easy to replace. If you’re comfortable popping the hood on your car and have read through your owner’s manual you can likely change it yourself. It is also an item that your mechanic can easily check and change for you when you take your vehicle in for routine maintenance or an oil change.

If you decide to change your air filter yourself, make certain the car is parked in the shade and that the engine has been cooling for about an hour. Pull out your owner’s manual, pop the hood and look for the air filter. The filter is usually found in a casing made of black plastic in the center of the engine. In some vehicles, the filter casing might be off to the side instead. You will need a screwdriver to pop the filter casing open, so come prepared.

After you’ve opened the filter casing, take the old filter out. Give it the once over to see how dirty – or clean – it is. Replace the filter with a new one and put the casing cover back on. Check your owner’s manual but the typical maintenance schedule for an air filter is to change it every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Changing your air filter is a small maintenance item that can help extend the life of your vehicle and even save you money at the gas pump. When is the last time you, or your mechanic checked and changed your vehicle’s air filter?

Bumper Audio Clip of the Week

Bumper to Bumper helps a listener who is having an intermittent electrical issue with her vehicle.