How often should a car's engine air filter be changed?

Along with the fuel filter, the air filter is considered the lungs of the engine. This part is made to filter dust and various impurities, preventing them from entering the engine's combustion chamber. Therefore, if the engine air filter is not checked and replaced periodically, it will affect the engine's performance and can cause many different problems.

In fact, with the habit of leaving the inspection and maintenance of cars to service workshops, there have been many cases of long-term use of cars that forget the maintenance schedule, and the engine air filter is not replaced accordingly. Even with cars that have expired warranty, many car owners also neglect maintenance issues, causing some details and parts such as the air filter to become dirty, degraded and no longer effective. These cases will affect the performance of the car engine.

What happens if the car engine air filter is not replaced periodically?

If during the process of using the car, the car owner does not change the air filter, it will cause the engine to operate inefficiently and cause many problems.

First, the engine has to work harder to ensure fuel combustion. The vehicle's fuel consumption will also increase accordingly. In addition, an overly dirty air filter will reduce the flow of air into the combustion chamber, affecting the combustion process and causing the engine to operate more slowly, even vibrating when running at full load. Over time, it will cause engine parts such as valves, spark plugs or the entire engine to fail.

In addition, when the engine air filter is dirty, the air flow into the engine will be contaminated with dirt, causing wear on metal surfaces and moving parts. Gradually, dirt will reduce the quality of lubricating oil, reducing the ability to lubricate and cool the internal parts of the engine, increasing the rate of wear and causing premature failure.

When should you change your car engine air filter?

Normally, service centers recommend changing the engine air filter every 20,000 km of operation. But if the filter is still clean, the maximum replacement interval can be extended to 40,000 km. In most cases, the replacement interval will vary depending on the conditions of use. If you drive in a city with a lot of dust or use the car frequently, you need to change the air filter earlier. In addition, you should regularly check the condition of the air filter, if it is not the recommended time but the air filter is too dirty, it should also be replaced.

Similar to the air conditioning system air filter, the engine air filter can also be purchased and replaced easily. It does not affect the electrical system and does not require special tools. Car users only need to know the location of the air filter in the engine compartment, choose a quality air filter, and the right size to replace it. If not confident, car owners can take their cars to service workshops or garages for inspection and replacement.