How Often Should You Change Your Car’s Engine Air Filter?

Most car owners do not pay a lot of attention to their car’s engine filter even when a dirty engine filter negatively impacts the health of a car. Almost all modern cars have two air filters: carbon air filter and engine air filter. The primary function of an engine air filter is to protect the engine from external contaminants, such as dust and dirt. As the engine air filter is used aggressively, it becomes clogged over time.

How Often Should You Change Your Car’s Engine Air Filter?

The answer to this question depends on various factors, the prime one being the make of the vehicle. For instance, in the case of Chevrolet cars, one must change the engine air filter after 45,000 miles. However, in the case of Ford and Hyundai cars, one must change the engine air filter after 30,000 miles only. In fact, Hyundai asks car owners to change the engine air filter after 15,000 miles only if the car is constantly subjected to heavy traffic and bad roads. Most carmakers ask car owners to replace their engine air filter sooner than later if they regularly subject their car to harsh driving conditions.

How Do I Know If My Car’s Engine Air Filter Requires Replacement?

Figuring out if your car’s engine air filter requires replacement is quite easy. Thoroughly check the air filter — if you see that the area from where the outside air enters the filter has become black, you must immediately change your car’s engine air filter. The good news is engine filters are quite easy to find these days. If you do not know where to go to buy the filter, check the owner’s manual — you will find all the required details in there. If you don’t see any black marks around the opening but your car has already covered 30,000 miles or more, you should get a new air filter installed anyway. Changing an engine air filter isn’t tricky — in fact, you can do it all on your own.

More often than not, repair shop owners advise car owners to go for engine air filter replacement, just to make some extra money. Thus, car owners need to be able to check their engine air filter and whether it needs replacement. Those car owners who do not know how to check their engine air filter must know that most cars can easily go more than a full year without needing a filter replacement.

The Bottom Line

If you are worried that a clogged engine air filter will affect your car’s fuel economy, do not worry too much. A 2009 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy proved that clogged air filters do not affect a car’s fuel economy. However, the study also established that clogged filters negatively impact a car’s acceleration. Since acceleration is harder to measure than fuel economy, most car owners presume that not changing a clogged air filter does not necessarily affect a car. Do not fall prey to this notion, make sure to check your car’s engine air filter and keep it clean.

Time to Visit Your Fraser, MI Auto Repair Shop?

Feel free to stop in and visit Car Guys Auto Center today or give us a call at (586) 285-4444!  We would be happy to answer any auto-related questions you may have.  We are located at :

Car Guys Auto Center
32639 Groesbeck Hwy
Fraser, MI 48026