Your car needs gasoline to get around, but it also needs air. The air filters in your car keep it free of insects and dust. From time to time it is convenient to clean and / or change it to maintain a good air flow so that the engine works optimally. Air filters are cheap and easy to replace. Read on to change yours.
Steps
Step 1. Get the right filter for your car
You should look for one exactly the same. Check your car's manual or go to the auto parts store if you need help finding the correct filter.
Step 2. Insure your vehicle
Park your car, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, and lock it up.
Step 3. Open the hood
Use the lever to open the hood, then open it and secure it with the safety rod.
Step 4. Locate the air filter
Usually this is located above the engine.
- In older cars, the filter is usually larger and covered in plastic or metal.
- Newer injection cars tend to have a square filter that can be found near the center, between the engine and the mask.
Step 5. Remove the air filter cover
Release the air duct lock. Remove the bolts holding the air filter. Some models have nuts and bolts and others have a clamp system that makes it easy to remove them. Put the screws and other parts together and in a safe place so that you can find them later. Remove the cover completely.
Step 6. Take out the air filter
You should now be able to see an air filter made of cotton, paper, or gauze. The filters have a rubber edge that helps seal them. Push up to remove it.
Step 7. Clean the air filter
Connect the air hose to the compressor and use the compressed air to remove the dust or simply vacuum the dust and other impurities.
Seal the engine air duct so nothing gets in there. It will only take you a minute and it will save you a lot of trouble
Step 8. Attach the filter
Replace the old filter with a new one (or a clean filter). Just insert it back.
Step 9. Put the cover in place
Very carefully, put it back with a little downward pressure.
Make sure you placed it as it was before removing it so as not to affect the performance of the engine. Install the screws, bolts or clamps and close the hood
Step 10. Check the filter regularly to maintain your car's air supply properly
Step 11. Change your filter every 50,000 km or more or less once a year
If you usually drive in dry and dusty environments, you will have to do it more often. Your car manual has specific recommendations on how and when to change it.
Advice
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Image Blowing the dust off the filter is a temporary solution. Always clean your filter that it is in good condition and is not broken, cracked, or stained with oil. Use a light to see if it has oil in it. Hold a lamp from behind and see if the light is blocked by the oil. If you can see the light, then there is no problem.
- Certain 4x4 models have an oil filter in addition to the air filter. Consult your car manual to see how you can clean this filter and if it is reusable. Ask your auto parts store for an oil filter cleaning kit to see if you can do it yourself.
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Image Maintenance manual. If you still don't know what your filter is, take out the one you have and take it to the store. There they can tell you if they have it or not. Check the maintenance manual for the number and model or also look it up on the Internet.
Warnings
- Before making any changes to the car, make sure it is turned off and secured.
- Some parts of the car can be very hot if you recently turned off the engine.
- If for any reason you need to work under your car, double insure it.
- Take care to use the air compressor in an open environment as the dust particles from it are quite small and could enter your respiratory system.