Timely replacement of the air filter is an indispensable condition for proper operation of the car.
- Replacing the air filter. Video:
A worn filter can cause the following serious problems:
- reduction of compression in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine due to dust entering the combustion zone and the formation of scuffing;
- premature valve wear;
- contamination and failure of the mass air flow sensor;
- jamming of the throttle valve;
- reduction of internal combustion engine torque;
- problems with starting, especially in the cold season.
During the operation of the car, it is important to promptly and competently replace the device and know the main signs of its contamination.
How often should you change your air filter?
According to the maintenance regulations for most modern cars, the air filter needs to be changed when the car's mileage reaches from 35 to 50 thousand km. These numbers are significantly overestimated because a number of factors are not taken into account, such as:
- environmental situation in the region
- operating conditions of the vehicle.
It is also worth noting that foreign car manufacturers, when drawing up these regulations, focus on European ecology, while on Russian roads the level of air pollution is much higher.
Therefore, the air filter replacement interval can be significantly shortened. This is especially true during the warm season.
The average frequency of replacing the air filter is once every 10 thousand km. vehicle mileage.
Signs of a clogged air filter
If the filter is heavily clogged with dust, the following changes occur in the operation of the car:
- loss of engine power;
- increase in car fuel consumption (from 10%);
- increased levels of carbon dioxide in exhaust gases.
At the first appearance of these symptoms, it is recommended to replace the filter as soon as possible. But it would be most advisable to prevent the above symptoms from appearing. To do this, it is recommended to regularly monitor the condition of the filter element.
Is it possible to clean the air filter?
When the filter's capacity is reduced, it becomes subject to higher physical stress, which may result in its deformation. Road dust will begin to penetrate the engine, shortening its life.
The filter element has its own service life. It is impossible to knock it out or clean it. Although a washed filter may appear clean visually, tiny particles of dust, invisible to the eye, are retained within the filter material.
Therefore, regular replacement of the air filter is recommended.
To replace the device, you can contact an authorized dealer or perform this procedure yourself. The cost of a new filter element is relatively low, so regular updating is affordable for everyone.
Should I buy a new one or make my own?
Making a new filter is a rather labor-intensive process. You need to buy a filter for a kitchen hood in the store, and then cut a fragment out of it. It should perfectly match the size of the old one. Then this fragment is pasted into the frame from the old one. Sealant or hot melt adhesive is used. The resulting filter can only handle dust.
To make a more effective carbon filter, you will need a regular padding polyester filter and a universal carbon filter. Don't forget about activated carbon. The tablets are placed between two pieces of filter material.
On the Internet you can find many options for making filters with your own hands, but you need to spend a sufficient amount of time on this. And it’s not a fact that you will get a quality product. A ready-made filter is not that expensive; it’s easier to buy it in a store.
How to replace the air filter yourself?
Before you begin installing the air filter, you must consult your vehicle's owner's manual, as you will need to purchase a filter similar to the one installed on your car's engine. If you do not have these instructions, you can find information on the Internet or seek help from a specialist.
As a rule, changing the air filter yourself is not difficult. This procedure is extremely simple and takes about two minutes.
Where is the air filter located?
The installation location of this filter depends on the car brand and engine type.
- On carburetor-type engines in cars such as ZIL, as well as older domestic models, it is installed inside the air intake.
- On injection-type engines in such cars (most models of Hyundai, Lada Priora, Mazda, BMW, Renault, KIA and others), the air filter is installed inside a plastic housing, from which a corrugated hose extends.
What happens if you drive with a dirty filter or without it at all?
The entry of large amounts of harmful substances into the car interior results in the driver and passengers breathing polluted air. The situation gets worse if you are driving not on a country road with little traffic, but in a large city with a lot of cars on the road, traffic jams, when air enters the cabin literally from the exhaust pipe of a neighboring car. In this case, even one short trip can cause significant harm to health.
This may be manifested by the following symptoms:
- headache,
- pain in the eyes,
- sneezing, etc.
Experts have developed standards that spell out the permissible limits of harmful substances. Exceeding it is prohibited. The most dangerous substance is carbon monoxide. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It occurs as a result of incomplete combustion of the fuel mixture in the engine. As a result, the driver and passengers may experience the above-mentioned symptoms. In the most severe cases, death is possible. That is why one of the most important tasks is the fight against carbon monoxide.
Cabin filters containing carbon components eliminate nitrogen oxides, which negatively affect the respiratory system. Over time, such filters lose their cleaning properties. Timely replacement is necessary for effective operation.
Another dangerous colorless gas that enters the cabin when the filter is not working properly is formaldehyde. With an increased dosage there is a risk of poisoning. Hydrogen sulfide, benzopyrene, soot, methane and formaldehyde can also enter the cabin through a dirty filter.
A clogged filter can cause damage to the climate control and air system, freezing of the radiator, which may require repair of the air conditioner and stove (due to the proliferation of bacteria and harmful microorganisms).
How to change the air filter: step-by-step instructions
- First you need to apply the handbrake and turn off the engine. If you have a manual transmission, engage first gear. If your car is equipped with an automatic transmission, put the car in “park” mode.
- Then you should open the hood and secure its lid using the lever.
- On some car models, a brake vacuum hose is connected to the filter housing. It should be carefully disconnected.
- Next, you need to remove the air filter cover, usually located on the top of the engine. The cover is most often secured with four or five screws. Therefore, you will need a regular Phillips screwdriver or a socket wrench. Some car models use clips or wing nuts instead of screws.
- Next, you need to remove the old filter element.
- Before installing a new air filter, you must use a damp cloth to remove any dust and dirt that has accumulated there from the housing.
- Next, you should install a new air filter in the housing, as shown in the figure. It is necessary to position it with the wide part up and press it tightly so that there is no gap between the housing and the filter element.
- Then you need to carefully press the filter with the top cover and secure it with screws, nuts or clips.
Recommendations
- It is worth remembering that if the car has been driven recently, some components located under the hood may be hot.
- Whenever you replace the air filter, you should inspect the corrugated hose that connects the throttle body to the filter housing for cracks, tears, and gaps. If there is a crack in the hose, dust enters the car engine.
- After several trips, it is recommended to check the filter element for contamination levels. If dust accumulates on the rubber rim, the filter element was not installed tightly enough.
- On diesel engines, the filter housing is equipped with a special clogging sensor, making it easier to monitor dust levels. After each filter element replacement, the sensor knob must be turned in the direction of the arrow. It is recommended to replace it when the needle reaches half of the scale.
Basic mistakes when replacing
It would seem that installing a new filter is one of the simplest car maintenance procedures. Unfortunately, many even here manage to make a number of mistakes. Let's take a look at the most popular ones below.
The first common mistake is not to try to restore the old filter. The owners begin to wash the filter honeycombs, trying to clean them as much as possible from accumulated dirt. This is strictly prohibited. The reason lies in the behavior of the production materials. For effective cleaning, honeycombs are made of paper. It's easy to guess what will happen to it when water hits the surface. By installing such a filter back, the engine will begin to perform significantly worse. A so-called “lean” occurs when too much air enters the combustion chamber. And it definitely won’t be clean.
The second mistake is ignoring traces of oil. There should be no liquid inside the work area; motor - even more so. The presence of oily traces indicates a problem with the engine lubrication system. If you install a new filter in its original place, it will not last long. After a breakdown, the car must be sent to a service station for repairs. Technicians must check the condition of the engine and what exactly needs to be changed in it in order to avoid further oil entering the filter area.
The third common mistake is using non-original, and what’s worse, uncertified products. The first option is allowed if the filter is produced by a company that does not work directly with the manufacturer. That is, whose products are not used as standard at the factory. If there is a certificate, it means that the car brand has approved the model for use, but the owner assumes all risks regarding its performance. You should not pay the slightest attention to products without a certificate. The reason is obvious - they will not be able to work as well as licensed products. The use of non-original, uncertified filters will result in rapid engine failure. Moreover, this can happen at any mileage, be it 500 or 25,000 kilometers.
Air filters "DIFA" - high quality at competitive prices
When you replace the air filter, you should pay attention to the manufacturer of this device. By purchasing high-quality filter elements, you protect your car engine from premature wear.
DIFA-AVK LLC has been supplying filters for cars and trucks for more than five years and is the official distributor of the famous Belarusian company. These filter devices are very popular in Russia and the CIS countries. Thanks to the use of modern technologies, DIFA air filters are capable of eliminating up to 99% of contaminants, providing reliable engine protection. These devices are certified ISO/TS16949.
We offer a large selection of filters for any brand of car at competitive prices. It is also possible to manufacture custom-made air filters.
Air filters for passenger cars
There are two types of air filters used in passenger cars:
Round or oval. Installed on carburetor engines. To strengthen the filter partition, they are equipped with a metal mesh with an anti-corrosion coating.
Panel. The most common type. As a rule, these air filters are installed on injection engines. They do not have metal elements in their design, which ensures additional reliability of engine operation, reduces the emission of harmful substances into the environment, and also simplifies the disposal of the filter element.
Catalog of filters for domestic passenger cars
Our website presents over ten different types of air filters for Russian-made cars at prices ranging from 50 to 325 rubles.
Catalog of filters for imported passenger cars
Our catalog contains more than sixty types of air filters for foreign passenger cars at prices ranging from 68 to 405 rubles.
Features and nuances
Engine air filters have different designs and standards. They vary in shape, size and material from which they are made.
Basically, all air filters are divided according to the principle of operation, based on the method of collecting particles and the number of cleaning stages.
For the most part, they fall into two categories:
- "dry";
- "wet".
The air filter membrane can be made of synthetic fibers, paper or foam rubber. Foam rubber and fiber filters are called “wet” because they are impregnated with a special composition that improves their filtration properties. Such filters can be cleaned if they are very dirty by simply leaving them in soapy water for a while. Before installation, they are dried and re-impregnated with a protective composition.
Paper filters are not reused. Their resource is very limited and, after wear, they need to be replaced.
