When to Change Your Vehicle Air Filter?
The air filter does an important job in your vehicle by keeping dust and dirt out of the engine. And it is responsible for providing clean air to the engine. Your engine performance will go down when the air filters are worn out and this can lead to the vehicle having less power.
It is important to check when your air filter car was last replaced. There is generally a recommendation for how long you can go with a new air filter and this value can go up to 15,000 miles. The minimum starts from 10,000 miles. Make sure to check your vehicle manual to see the recommended value. But this is only a recommendation and there are certain other factors that can contribute to this decision.
The driving conditions have a big impact on the air filter and how long it is going to last. For example, if you drive frequently in heavy traffic then this value can go down and you will need to replace the air filter more often. The way you drive can also contribute to this. For example, if you are a delivery driver that needs to stop and start every so often, there is a higher demand on the car and it can contribute to a dirty air filter easily.
Consider the type of weather or environment you are driving in
For example, if you are driving regularly in dusty locations, this will cause your air filter to work overtime and you will find that it lasts a lot less than the recommended value. You should have a good idea of where your vehicle air filter is located. This will be provided in the owners’ manual. Once you locate the air filter, you can inspect it visually. The filter should generally be off-white or white. But with time, this will gain a darker colour and you will be able to see the dirt accumulated. If you are noticing that your engine performance has dropped, this can be due to the air filter. A dirty air filter can have a big impact on your car’s acceleration. You will notice that there is a jerking movement any time you try to accelerate.
Your vehicle itself will tell you when to change the air filter
One of the ways you can find this out is when the check engine light comes on. A clogged air filter is one of the reasons that this indicator comes on. You can have your mechanic do an inspection to check what the issue is. As you are used to the operation of your car, you will notice when its sound starts to change. If there is spluttering or coughing, this can indicate your air filter needs to be changed. Sometimes there will be a lot of vibration when you turn over the engine. Also, if your car has a rough idle, it may be time to change the air filter. You will also notice black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe once the engine is fired up.