16.07.2019
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Issues discussed in the material:
- How often to change the oil filter in a car
- How often to change the fuel filter in a car
- How often to change the air and cabin filters in a car
- Is it possible not to change filters in a car?
The operation of a car involves various mechanisms that require filters to function correctly. They are necessary in fuel supply systems, air, climate control, and lubrication systems. How often to change filters in a car, because by retaining excess working mixtures and waste materials, they become dirty. Let's talk about this today.
How often to change the oil filter in a car
To understand how often to change the oil filter in a car, you need to pay attention to the following:
- Engine Features
. Everything matters: what fuel it runs on, what the compression is, engine operating temperature, pressure, friction force of parts - these indicators significantly affect oil contamination. Therefore, in different engines, oil filters are stressed according to their characteristics. Powerful engine? This means you need to change the oil filter often. - Filter element
. It uses a special porous material similar to paper. It is laid in an accordion to increase the filtration area. The better the filter element and the larger its area, the longer the filter will be able to perform its function. As soon as it is completely dirty, the bypass valve will start working, which means it’s time to change the filter. How often this should be done depends on the rate of contamination. - Terms of Use
. One of the most important criteria that determines how often the filter needs to be changed. The change time depends on the mileage of the car, but it is necessary to note the fact that with the same mileage for cars with different purposes, filter wear can vary significantly. Thus, the oil filter of a city car will be much more loaded than that of a car that travels mainly on highways, which means that it may need to be replaced often.
According to the rules, you need to change the filter as often as you change the oil in a car engine. Each brand of car has its own oil service life, but usually it is within 10,000-15,000 km.
But there are times when it is necessary to change the oil filter ahead of time:
- After a major overhaul of a car engine, when the cylinder head (cylinder head) or sump is opened, the filter is changed along with the oil, regardless of whether they have expired or not.
- When the engine lubrication system is washed with a special compound, a temporary filter is installed, preferably a cheap one, since it cannot be used after the procedure is completed. After washing, they install a good quality part for regular work until the next shift.
- Happy owners of cars with powerful engines practice changing the filter ahead of time in order to avoid breakdowns. After all, it’s better to play it safe and spend extra money on a new filter and oil than to pay a considerable amount for repairing an engine with the latest technology.
- If the car has been sitting for a long time. Even if fresh oil was poured into it before downtime, it has an expiration date and loses its lubricating properties, and also releases oxidation products that impregnate the filter materials. Therefore, if you decide to drive a car that has previously been parked for at least a couple of years, be sure to fill the engine with fresh oil and install a new filter.
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Replacement methods
Round air filter for carburetor engines
There are two main ways to replace the air filter. The first is to delegate this procedure to the masters at the service station. However, due to the obviousness, we will not consider it. Let’s just say that the cost of such a replacement is usually calculated based on standard hours (each technical center may have its own calculation method and different standards based on the specifics of the work and the brand of the machine) and the cost of the filter itself. Moreover, service centers often force car owners to buy filters only directly on the spot, and their price there may be higher than the market price. On average it is from 0.2 to 0.5 n/h, with a cost of 1800 rubles. for 1 standard hour of work, and in some cases the price of such a procedure is included in the cost of an oil change.
On average, as of spring 2022, the cost of replacing an air filter in the Russian Federation ranges from 500 rubles and above (depending on the car model, the complexity of the replacement, and so on).
The second way is to perform the procedure yourself. In terms of money, this is much more economical, since in this case you only pay directly for the filter itself. Where to buy an air filter cheaply is up to you to decide. The procedure is simple, but special tools are required to perform it.
When to change the air filter in a car
The principle of operation of an internal combustion engine is known to all motorists, but let us remind you that its essence lies in the interaction of the air supply with the fuel supply. And how well and in the correct volume fuel will flow into the combustion chamber depends on how much air enters the system. The filter in the air system cleans the air of impurities, and when it is dirty, it becomes an obstacle to the supply of the required volume.
The air filter is changed as often as a scheduled inspection; manufacturers advise doing this every 15,000-30,000 km. But you should still carefully monitor the degree of contamination of the element and change it in accordance with it, otherwise the engine may malfunction. Particular attention should be paid to the air filter if you had to visit dusty (rural or dirt) roads. In such conditions, its contamination occurs instantly.
Moreover, it is very easy to check the condition of the filter. It is located in a special box directly under the hood, which can be opened with a regular screwdriver. All you need to do is assess the condition of the filter. If it is clean, put it back and continue using it. If dirty, replace it. The air filter can be changed as often as you like.
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What the experts say
According to experienced car enthusiasts, changing the engine air filter should be combined with the procedure for changing engine oil. This is done after 10-15 thousand km of travel. Thus, the entire engine will be serviced to ensure its long and reliable operation.
To quickly complete the procedure, you need to read the user manual to understand the structure of the motor and obtain information about the design of the filter used. New air filters are purchased only taking into account the make of the car. If there are new modern devices in the auto shop, it is necessary to consult with specialists regarding the suitability of the cleaner for a particular car.
How often to change a car's cabin filter
A modern car is a rather complex mechanism consisting of the interaction of many systems. Some parts can last quite a long time, and there are some that require replacement quite often. Cleaning elements are those that must be changed more often than others in order to maintain the correct operation of the entire car. A filter for cleaning the air in the cabin is of no small importance.
It turns out that some car owners do not think about changing the cabin filter and use it for years. Craftsmen and manufacturers advise carefully monitoring its contamination and changing it approximately every 20,000-25,000 km. After all, the cleanliness of the air in the cabin depends on this. In addition, modern cars are also equipped with carbon filter elements, which not only clean the air of dust, but also eliminate unpleasant odors.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the environment. If it is exposed to gas pollution (metropolis) or too dusty (steppes), then you may have to change the cabin filter more often. Tips on this issue can also be found in the operating instructions for your car. It’s better, of course, to pay attention to the rate of contamination of the part and then rely on the experience gained, since each case is unique and depends directly on the operating conditions of the car.
Do not underestimate the importance of the cabin filter. Its unsuitability can lead to bad consequences. Firstly, the entire air system may deteriorate. Secondly, freezing of the evaporator radiator occurs. Thirdly, all this may create an unpleasant odor in the cabin, which will not be so easy to get rid of. In cars equipped with climate control, the entire operation of the system depends on the filter. If it fails to clean the air, there is a risk of serious damage.
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Replacement frequency
Before moving on to general discussions, it is necessary to point out that you will find the exact frequency of replacing the air filter in the manual or technical documentation for your car . In addition, there are a number of objective factors that influence the mentioned values. These include operating conditions, the use of different filters, as well as differences in engine type - they are different for gasoline and diesel engines.
For cars with an injector, for diesel engines, and especially for diesel engines with turbocharging, the mileage for an air filter to be replaced, after how long it needs to be done, is reduced by 20...30%, for diesel engines with a turbine even by 50%.
In most cases, on gasoline engines, the air filter is replaced after 15...20 thousand kilometers. On diesel engines, respectively, after 10...15 thousand . However, according to numerous reviews from domestic car owners, especially those living in large cities and industrial areas, the mileage indicated in the manual should be reduced by up to two times. Therefore, if your car shows these typical signs of a clogged filter, it makes sense to check its condition and replace it if necessary.
As for diesel engines, they do not have a throttle valve. Because of this, the air consumption in them is significantly higher. And if a diesel engine also has a turbine, then it more actively sucks in air from the atmosphere, which in itself accelerates filter clogging. Similar reasoning is valid for cars equipped with mechanical superchargers (for example, some models from Honda, Mini Cooper, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes Benz).
Many car enthusiasts combine replacing the air filter and changing the engine oil (that is, every 10...15 thousand kilometers).
How often should you change the fuel filter?
The fuel filter performs one of the most important functions in the operation of a car engine, namely, cleaning the fuel from debris, excess particles, debris, and dust so that they do not get into the cylinders and interfere with their operation. In modern internal combustion engines, fuel purification occurs in two stages: through a coarse filter and a fine filter.
The first is a nylon net stretched directly in front of the gas pump; it sifts out large debris - debris, shavings, sawdust from friction of parts, etc. The fine filter is somewhat more complex and comes in two types: remote and built-in.
The remote is located outside the fuel tank, usually under the hood or underbody of the vehicle. Only remote filters are installed in diesel engines, because they additionally include water sensors and a drain plug, and sometimes heating.
Built-in filters are part of the fuel pump and are more relevant on modern cars. Manufacturers are abandoning remote filters due to their outdated design, and only some brands, such as Volkswagen and AVTOVAZ, continue to use them.
Manufacturers regulate different service life of different types of filters. It is recommended to change the remote ones not so often - approximately every 30,000-40,000 km. Built-in ones are even rarer - about 100,000 km! It's better not to change at all. This is because replacing them will entail dismantling the fuel pump, which in turn can lead to disassembling the fuel tank, and this is hard and highly paid work. So it is advised to finish the built-in filters to the end; fortunately, they are made with high quality and for a long time.
The remote filter must be changed with care. Due to its location, there is a risk of clogging the fuel injector nozzles through the supply hoses.
Changing fuel filters too often without following the manufacturers' instructions is completely pointless. But, if dangerous signals appear in the operation of the engine - consumption has increased, traction has disappeared, the engine is acting up - the first thing you need to do is check them.
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