How often should the air filter be changed?

What is an air filter? Simply put, an air filter is like a "mask" for a car. Its working principle is similar to that of the N95 masks we wear. It mainly filters dust, impurities, and pollutants that enter the engine combustion chamber to ensure that the engine inhales clean air. If it is not there, all those messy small particles from the outside world will enter the engine. It is equivalent to letting a person run crazily on a smoggy day, which will cause great damage to the engine.

However, this "little mask" also has a lifespan. After a period of use, it will be filled with dust and impurities. If it is not replaced for a long time, it will lead to a decline in filtering performance or even blockage, making the engine unable to breathe. Not only will fuel consumption increase, but it may also affect power output! Therefore, it is very important to regularly check and replace the air filter, but the question is - how often should it be replaced? Don't worry, we will analyze it slowly.

Can you trust what the 4S shop says?

Many car owners will hear similar advice when doing maintenance: "The air filter needs to be replaced every 5,000 kilometers or every maintenance." But in fact, this statement is not entirely accurate. Although the recommendations given by the manufacturer do vary depending on the model, the air filter replacement cycle for most ordinary family cars is generally around 10,000 to 15,000 kilometers. If you always drive on city roads and the environment is relatively clean, you can extend it to 15,000 kilometers before considering replacement. But if you often travel by car, or go to dusty places such as mountains or deserts, you may need to check or even replace it every 8,000 kilometers.

How to determine whether replacement is necessary?

In addition to calculating based on mileage, there are some simple methods to help you determine whether it is time to upgrade your car's "breathing system":

•Observation method: Take down the old air filter and look at it against the light. If the light transmittance is very poor, it looks dusty or even black, then it is time to change it.

•Smell: If you find that the exhaust gas is pungent when the vehicle starts or there is a strange smell during driving, it may also be related to the seriously clogged air filter.

•Feel the change in power: If you feel that the vehicle has poor acceleration and the fuel consumption has suddenly soared recently, this is also a signal, prompting you to check whether the "mask" is too dirty.

What are the risks of not replacing in time?

1. Increased fuel consumption When air circulation is blocked, combustion efficiency is reduced. In order to maintain power output, more fuel can only be consumed. This not only wastes money, but also makes environmental protection an empty talk!

2. Insufficient power the engine cannot absorb enough fresh oxygen, just like people lacking oxygen in the plateau, feeling weak and tired, which is especially obvious when accelerating to overtake.

3. Shortened engine life Long-term inhalation of a large amount of unfiltered impurities will aggravate the wear of parts and cause irreversible damage to the entire power system.

Tips: How to extend the service life?

In order to reduce the trouble caused by frequent replacement, we can also use some tips to extend the life of the air filter:

• Wash the car frequently: Keep the surface of the vehicle and the surrounding environment clean to reduce dust from entering the engine compartment.

• Pay attention to the parking position: Try to avoid parking in places where sand is flying or leaves are piled up.

• Regularly blow: Even if you don’t need to replace it for the time being, you can remove the old parts and use a high-pressure air gun to clean the dust on the surface, which can effectively improve the filtering effect.

Although these methods are simple, they have been proven to be very effective in practice~