How often should an air filter be replaced?
The manufacturer typically specifies in the specifications for a specific vehicle model how the engine air filter replacement frequency is related to the mileage. However, in our conditions, the time for replacing the air filter often comes sooner – it just so happens that in our country there are many country roads, where the abundance of dust quickly clogs the membrane.
Among the factors that significantly accelerate the wear of the engine air filter:
- active use of the car on country roads with large clouds of dust;
- driving in the rain or soon after it – wet dust sticks together and clogs the filter much faster;
- driving at high revs, as well as alternating starts and stops, typical for cars that often sit in traffic jams;
- ven age of the vehicle.
How to understand that it's time to replace the filter
During operation, the engine requires three consumables: fuel to move the car, oil to protect the parts from wear and tear due to friction against each other, and Oxygen, necessary for fuel combustion, comes from outside as a component of atmospheric air, which also contains other gases and small dust particles.
Dust particles can have an abrasive effect, accelerating wear on parts. They also clog the oil, increasing its viscosity, and form soot when burned with the fuel.