For diesel and gasoline engines to work, they need air from the outside. However, it needs to be filtered so that dirt doesn’t get into the oil and combustion chambers. This is why the air filter is in front of the intake tract.
The air filter is always an important part of a car, and if it is very dirty, the engine may not work as well as it should. People often call the air filter the engine’s lungs because it gives the engine air. The intake tract brings in air from the outside, and the filter keeps dirt particles from getting in. Then, the filtered air is burned in the cylinder along with atomized gasoline.
Switching out the air filter
A dirty air filter can make the engine work worse. Because of the dirt, the engine eventually gets less air, which makes it use more fuel. In the worst case, a dirty or broken air filter can even cause the engine to fail. To avoid high costs in the future, the level of contamination should be checked often. Problems with the air filter are usually easy to spot because the performance drops and the amount of air used goes up.
How often do you need to change the air filter, and how do you do it?
After a certain amount of time, an air filter needs to be replaced because it doesn’t last forever. Depending on the model of the car, the time between maintenance can be very different. The distance driven, the weather, the season, and the type of filter material used all play a role. In general, you should change your air filters every 30,000 to 40,000 kilometers.
People usually check the filter’s condition during routine inspections. Most air filters are cheap and can be thrown away after use. In most cases, a new filter costs only 10 to 20 euros on the open market. You don’t always have to go to a workshop to change the air filter yourself. The owner can often take it off and put it back on without knowing much about cars. You can also save money by replacing it yourself.
For a lot of cars, it’s easy to do. The filter box, which is usually on or near the engine, holds the finely structured paper filter. In general, the part is easy to get to, but the way it is mounted and where it is located may be different for different models.
You can take off the air filter by opening the cover with a few screws or a click lock. When you change the filter, make sure that no dirt gets into the open intake manifold. Because of this, the replacement should be done quickly and with care.
The air filter itself could cost anywhere from $40 to $130 at a workshop. Air filters that are made for specific purposes may cost more. Also, depending on how the air filter is installed, you may have to pay between $10 and $60 for labor to remove and install it. This repair is usually cheap because the replacement only takes about 10 minutes. WA Auto Parts can also help you find replacement filters and other parts.
A screwdriver and a rag are usually all you need to change the air filter yourself, especially if the area is dirty. First, open the hood and make sure it is secure. After that, take off the old filter mat by opening the fasteners on the air filter box. Use the rag to clean the housing, put in the new air filter mat, and then close the cover. The last step is to close the hood.
Changing the air filter: how much it costs to fix in the shop
Changing the air filter usually doesn’t take much work. You can usually get to the air filters without having to take anything else off the engine. It takes 10 to 30 minutes to change the filter, depending on the model. Since the wait time is short, you can wait in the workshop. After that, the owners of the cars can drive on without any problems.
The cost can range from about forty dollars, depending on the vehicle model and how much work it takes to install the air filter insert. Of course, this depends a lot on the car and the shop. A Golf V Variant costs about $50, while an Opel Astra H Caravan costs about 40 euros. A Ford First Lim. or an Audi A4 Avant also costs about $60. For example, the BMW Series 3 Touring costs about $120, while the Mercedes-Benz BM 207 E-Class Coupe costs about $80.