Your car's air filter helps your engine run smoothly, as it catches dirt and particulate matter that can effect your engine's performance. A clogged device does little good as it can sap engine power, causing it to run rough and less efficiently. Easily, your gas mileage can drop if your air filter is dirty.
You can change your air filter yourself, saving yourself the labor cost and inflated charge of having your mechanic or oil change specialist do it for you. Your biggest decision here is whether to use a traditional paper device or one of those cotton filters that will cost you about three times as much. The first choice is a disposable unit, the second is one that you can clean off and use again and again. Choose the latter if you expect to keep your car for many years.
1. Locate the switch to your hood. Lift the hood and secure it in the upright position.
2. Find your air filter. Typically, your air filter is encased in a round metal pan that is affixed to the top of your engine or in a square container on the side of the engine. It may be secured with a wing nut; loosen the nut, remove the lid and place both the wing and the nut in a safe place.
3. Remove the air filter. Your old filter should lift directly out of the assembly. Take note of the type of the type -- if it is cotton, you will clean it off and reuse it. All other filters need to be discarded and replaced with a similar filter.
4. Clean out the filter container. Likely, you will find a lot of dirt and debris in the filter container. Using a rag, clean around the container to remove same. Or use a vacuum cleaner.
5. Replace your filter. Put a new filter or a cleaned cotton filter in place. For cotton filters, follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Typically, these are cleaned and oiled, and ready for new use.
6. Close up the air filter compartment. With your new paper or cleaned cotton filter in place, close the filter compartment securely and then close your hood.
Car Facts
Paper filters can cost from $10 and cotton filters from $30, when purchased from an auto parts store. If you are not certain what type of filter to buy, consult your owner's manual.
You can change your air filter yourself, saving yourself the labor cost and inflated charge of having your mechanic or oil change specialist do it for you. Your biggest decision here is whether to use a traditional paper device or one of those cotton filters that will cost you about three times as much. The first choice is a disposable unit, the second is one that you can clean off and use again and again. Choose the latter if you expect to keep your car for many years.
1. Locate the switch to your hood. Lift the hood and secure it in the upright position.
2. Find your air filter. Typically, your air filter is encased in a round metal pan that is affixed to the top of your engine or in a square container on the side of the engine. It may be secured with a wing nut; loosen the nut, remove the lid and place both the wing and the nut in a safe place.
3. Remove the air filter. Your old filter should lift directly out of the assembly. Take note of the type of the type -- if it is cotton, you will clean it off and reuse it. All other filters need to be discarded and replaced with a similar filter.
4. Clean out the filter container. Likely, you will find a lot of dirt and debris in the filter container. Using a rag, clean around the container to remove same. Or use a vacuum cleaner.
5. Replace your filter. Put a new filter or a cleaned cotton filter in place. For cotton filters, follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Typically, these are cleaned and oiled, and ready for new use.
6. Close up the air filter compartment. With your new paper or cleaned cotton filter in place, close the filter compartment securely and then close your hood.
Car Facts
Paper filters can cost from $10 and cotton filters from $30, when purchased from an auto parts store. If you are not certain what type of filter to buy, consult your owner's manual.
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