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A clogged air filter can reduce your kilometers per gallon and slow your car down because your engine can’t breathe! Don’t let that happen. Learn how to troubleshoot here.
View all of us Autoblog Wrenched video for more tips on diagnosing, repairing and modifying cars from expert detailer Larry Kosilla. While you’re at it, check out Larry’s other auto maintenance and cleaning video series Automatic log details!
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[00:00:00] – [Larry] A clogged air filter can reduce mileage per gallon and cause your vehicle to idling and sluggish because the engine isn’t breathing properly. Installing a new filter is easy and will give your vehicle the performance you’ve been lacking. Here’s what you need to get the job done: a replacement air filter, a vacuum cleaner, and a flat-head screwdriver. I’m Larry Kosilla, detail expert and coach for the past 15 years, but when it comes to what’s hidden, I’m a student. Follow me, as the experts teach me how to diagnose, repair and modify cars on Automatic log‘S Exhausted from strength.
[00:00:30] Change the filter more often if you often drive in dusty environments. While OEM quality filters are the perfect replacement, you can also consider performance filters and longer life options. Performance filters use synthetic materials that allow better air flow than standard paper filters, thus improving the power and performance of your engine. Filters come in all shapes and sizes, some being horizontal, vertical, and even conical.
[00:01:00] Likewise, washable filters can be reused and outlast paper filters between servicings. Spencer, changing the air filter seems pretty straightforward, but can’t I just take it out and shake it or do I really need to change it? – The paper element, after a lot of moisture and rain and everything else, gets clogged, has a lot of debris in it, and the paper starts to degrade, so you really don’t want to reuse it. What you want to do is replace it about once a year or every 15,000 miles. You can replace one with a brand new one that you can find locally, or they make washable filters
[00:01:30] it’s from the gig industry, but stuff you can reuse. I think they are good for 100,000 miles and there is a process on how to do that. – [Larry] Visit your local auto parts store and look up your make, model and year and find your replacement filter. Open the hood and locate your airbox. On modern cars, the fuel injection, the filter is in a plastic box. It’s usually easy to find, as it will be connected to a hose that runs into the top of your engine. Most boxes have plastic clips or metal tabs
[00:02:00] Hold the filter in place. You may need to use a screwdriver to open these clips. Although each car and engine may have a different shape, color or size filter, the fundamentals are the same. Be careful when removing the cover as the tabs tend to bend, break, or fall to the bottom of the engine bay. Once the clamps are removed, push the plastic air box back to relieve pressure on the filter knob. Slide the old filter out and set it aside.
[00:02:30] Before replacing the filter, clean the bottom of the air box with a vacuum cleaner, not with compressed air, as you don’t want to blow dust around without the filter installed. If you’re not using a washable filter, now’s the time to install a replacement, attach the clips, reinstall the boot and guess what? You are done. However, if you have a washable filter, spray filter cleaner on both sides and soak the filter for 10 minutes to wash away dirt, but don’t let it dry.
[00:03:00] Next, rinse the filter with cool, low-pressure water from the clean side, facing out to push the dirt out. Continue until all traces of detergent are gone. After cleaning, shake off excess water and let the filter dry completely. Never blow washable filters out with compressed air, as you will damage the paper inside. If it’s a sunny day, leave the filter outside to speed up the drying process. Do not apply oil until the filter is completely dry.
[00:03:30] Apply oil to the tops of the filter crown on each fold, keeping the nozzle about three inches away. Touch up any dry areas until you have a uniform coating, then let the oil soak in for about 20 minutes. Too much oil, or not allowing enough time for the filter to dry completely, can actually cause the air flow sensor to fail, so follow the instructions carefully. The air filter is like the lungs of your car. If it gets clogged, your car will wheeze
[00:04:00] and ran into problems doing it. Change your filter regularly, to keep your car running smoothly. For more on how to do it repairs video, go to Autoblog.com/Wrenched. I’m Larry Kosilla from ammonyc.com. As always, thanks for watching!
