There are many car maintenance tasks that you can do yourself without much effort. One important one is cleaning and maintaining your car’s air filter. This filter is important because it allows air to mix with your fuel to cause combustion and power your engine. If the filter is dirty and not properly maintained, it can have a major impact on your car’s performance. Instead of paying a professional to clean it or replacing it entirely, you can clean it yourself and replace it if it is still in good condition. Here is a detailed guide on how to clean an engine air filter.
Tools Required
Instructions for cleaning an engine air filter
Step 1: Make sure the engine is turned off and has time to cool down
Turn the vehicle off and let it sit for about 15 minutes. You want the engine to cool down before you work under the hood.
Step 2: Remove the old air filter
Start by pulling the hood release lever and holding the hood open. Pull the levers attached to the air filter housing and lift the mechanism up and place it in a safe place. Then grab the air filter and inspect its condition.
Step 3: Spray and clean the air filter
Take an all-purpose cleaner and spray the filter thoroughly. Let the filter soak for about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse the filter with water
Spray the filter with water to flush out the cleaning solution. It is best to use a garden hose for this, but if you do not have one, use a bucket of water.
Step 5: Give it time to dry
Take the filter and shake it well to remove excess water. Then let the filter air dry.
Step 6: Lubricate and replace
If you have an oiled filter, lubricate the filter with oil and place it back into the filter housing. If you have a dry filter, you do not need to lubricate it and can simply place it back into the housing.
Step 7: Reassemble the rest of the engine air filter assembly
Once the air filter is replaced, put the rest of the mechanism back in place. Make sure it clicks into place and then close the hood. Now you have a clean filter and are ready to hit the road.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning an Engine Air Filter
What is an engine air filter?
An engine air filter is a part of your car that allows air to reach the engine to create combustion to power the engine. The filter does this by trapping harmful particles such as dirt, dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants. Keeping your air filter clean and well maintained will greatly improve the performance of your engine and extend the life of your engine.
How do you know when a motorcycle air filter needs to be replaced?
There are a few signs your car will give that your air filter may need to be cleaned or replaced completely. Signs include a lack of acceleration, black smoke from the exhaust, a dramatic drop in fuel economy, rough idling, an unusual smell, or a check engine light are common factors. If you follow the instructions in the guide above and still notice problems, you may need to have your filter replaced.
Oiled vs. Dry Air Filters
Oiled air filters offer better filtration, but are much more expensive and difficult to clean than dry air filters. Oiled filters are best for performance and off-road vehicles, while dry air filters are best for everyday use.