Why Should You Change Your Air Filter?
There are a few benefits to changing your air filter regularly such as getting better gas mileage, reduced emissions, improved acceleration, and increased engine life.
It has been proven that replacing a dirty air filter increases fuel mileage on older carbureted cars by up to 14%. In addition, changing a clogged air filter could potentially increase acceleration by 11% on modern fuel-injected cars. Basically, a clean air filter improves air flow to the engine and increases the engine’s performance!
An air filter is designed to trap dirt and debris which damages internal engine parts such as the cylinders and pistons. Even particles as small as a grain of rice could potentially harm your engine leading to costly repairs. You do not want that to happen when it is so easy and cheap to do some routine maintenance on your own.
How Often Should You Change Your Air Filter?
How often you need to change your air filter will depend on the make and model of your vehicle. For example, it is recommended that air filters be changed every 40,000 miles for Chevrolet engines however, Ford recommends every 30,000 miles. It is best to check your owner’s manual maintenance schedule to make sure you are keeping on top of things.
Also remember that if you often drive on unpaved or dusty roads, you should be changing your air filter much earlier than what is mentioned above, probably somewhere between 15,000 to 20,000 miles. If you find black areas on the section through which outside air enters in then it’s time for a new air filter! Be aware though that a dirty air filter may appear clean but should still be replaced at regular intervals.
This article was originally published by Blog – ROAD TRIP USA. Read the original article here.
