How to clean car engine air filter at home to help the car operate stably
(Baonghean.vn) - A dirty car engine air filter is the cause of reduced air flow into the combustion chamber, causing more fuel consumption. If the air filter is not cleaned, it can easily cause many engine errors, which can lead to difficulty starting due to the accumulation of soot in the combustion chamber.
To avoid engine damage and failure, here is a simple way to clean your car's engine air filter at home when it doesn't need to be replaced.
- Locate the engine air filter:First, open the hood of the car and locate the engine air filter. It is usually located in the middle of the engine compartment. Depending on the type of car, this part will look different, usually a square or round plastic.
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- Remove air filter:Depending on the structure of the air filter box, you can use a 10 or 12 wrench to remove the nuts or remove the mounting tabs. After removing all the screws or mounting tabs, carefully lift the cover to take the air filter out.
- Clean the air filter:Clean the air filter from dirt by using a steam nozzle, spraying from the inside out to remove all dirt from the filter. Note that you should not wash or let the filter come into contact with water or grease. Do not use sharp objects to pry or clean dirt on the filter because this can easily puncture the filter fabric and make it ineffective.
A vacuum cleaner can also be used to clean all the dirt from the fabric.
- Reinstall the air filter:Use a rag to wipe off any dirt in the air filter box before installing the cleaned filter in the same direction as when it was removed and re-attaching the air filter box cover. Make sure that the edges of the air filter are aligned with the rubber seals.
Check that the air filter system is working properly by revving the engine.
What are the consequences of a dirty engine air filter?
- Reduced engine power:When the air filter is dirty, the air circulation into the engine is reduced, causing the amount of fuel mixture (air and fuel) burned to decrease, making the power generated weaker.
- The car runs out of gas quickly and overheats.: Due to the reduced power, the driver must increase the throttle to create strong power and maintain speed and stability. This causes more fuel to be injected into the cylinder, so the vehicle consumes more fuel and overheats faster.
- Creates carbon and makes the spark plug head dirty, easily causing engine knocking,causing the spark energy to decrease, leading to the combustion efficiency of the mixture also weakening. In some cases, the spark plug head is thickly covered with dirt, causing the engine to not ignite, leading to the phenomenon of jerking and shaking the vehicle.
* Note:Normally, the appropriate time to clean the air filter periodically is after every 50,000 km. However, if you use the car regularly in areas with a lot of dust and pollution, this number needs to be lower to ensure the engine always has enough clean air, operates durably, and has less minor breakdowns.
