As a responsible car owner, you surely do the things you need to in order to keep your car running well. These probably include getting tune-ups and regular oil changes and rotating your tires. However, there is another part of your car that you may not be giving enough attention to: your air filter.
What Does an Air Filter Do?
An air filter is important because it is designed to trap dirt and dust and keep it from getting into the engine. If these harmful particles do not get collected by the filter, they could end up causing severe problems.
When Do you Need an Air Filter Replacement?
How often you need to replace your air filter depends on a couple of different things. The more driving you do, the more work your air filter does, gathering all of the dirt you encounter. This is especially true if you live in an area that is often dry or dusty or do a lot of driving on unpaved roads. You should examine your filter to see if it may need to be replaced, but you have to know what to look for. Even if it looks dirty, you may not need a new one quite yet.
Put Your Air Filter Replacement on a Schedule
To take the guesswork out of your air filter, the easiest thing to do is have it replaced on a regular basis. You can do this in a number of ways. For example, you can replace your air filter every time you get an oil change. The two services go hand-in-hand, so this makes sense. If you do not do a lot of driving or mostly drive in city conditions where the roads are generally cleaner, you can consider getting a new air filter put in every year. Finally, you may want to think about getting an air filter replacement after you have driven a certain amount of miles. Determining what that number is can be difficult, but a mechanic or someone who works on cars can help you figure it out.
Which Air Filters are Best?
A lot of people like using high performance air filters in their vehicles because they offer more horsepower to the engine. However, these types of filters provide less protection against dirt and debris. This is why regular air filters are generally recommended. But again, only a car expert can give you the best advice.
The next time you bring your car in for an oil change or other basic maintenance, make sure to have your air filter looked at. It is quite possible that it is long overdue to be replaced and is not allowing your car to run at optimal levels. If you think you need an air filter replacement, just come on down to Xpress Lube. We will take a look at it and if it is old and worn out, we will make sure you have the best new one that is perfect for your car.
