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United Tire and Service News
How Often Should The Engine Air Filter Be Changed?
10/9/2019 2:11:00 PM
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You probably know about the air filters in the cabin of your car, but did you know there is an air filter for your engine as well? Under your hood you’ll see a box near the engine with an air intake hose leading into it. Inside the compartment is a filter, similar to any other kind of air filter. To run properly, engines need a steady flow of air. The filter weeds out any particles, dust, debris, etc so it doesn’t get into the engine. Much like how the cabin air filter prevents you from inhaling anything you shouldn’t.
So, as the owner of your vehicle, how often should the
engine air filter
be changed, for your specific vehicle?
Recommendations vs. Reality
You should know that every car manufacturer is different when it comes to making recommendations about changing the engine air filter. The recommendations can be anywhere from every 15,000 miles to 40,000 miles.
In the manufacturers' defense, the recommendations do take into consideration the hot weather, off-road driving, unpaved or dusty roads, and what they call “severe” conditions, as contributing factors for changing an engine air filter more frequently. As a general rule, changing an air filter every 30,000 miles is usually appropriate, regardless of the make and model. However, the fact remains, it takes a visual inspection to know for absolute certainty when an engine air filter needs to be changed, especially with the air quality concerns throughout Philadelphia and the entire country.
What Happens If I Don’t Change My Engine’s Air Filter?
If you haven’t changed your engine air filter in a few years, it’s vitally important to have it inspected immediately. An engine air filter that becomes completely clogged can restrict the airflow, which typically will activate the
dashboard indicator light
on your vehicle dashboard. Although it’s convenient, that is not something you want to rely on. By the time the light comes on, the lack of airflow may have already caused mechanical issues.
Failing to bring the maintenance up-to-date can cause decreased engine performance and lowered acceleration by about 6 to 8 percent, as well as a marginal impact on fuel economy. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy concluded that fuel-injected engines have a lower chance of being significantly affected by a dirty air filter. However, if you're still driving a vehicle with a carbureted engine, the study might not be as good news to you.
Change That Engine Air Filter Often
Inspecting your engine air filter frequently is your greatest defense against low air quality and preventing a clogged or dirty filter. While having a dashboard common indicator light is helpful, the light is not designed to replace visual inspections. Although manufacturer recommendations are important to consider, the knowledge of a technician, who performs air filter replacements on a daily basis, should be relied upon to know how often should the engine air filter be changed. If it’s been long enough where you’re experiencing problems with your engine, it may be time to schedule
engine repair
.
If you would like to learn more about this topic, please reach out to United Tire & Service at any of our 13 independent locations. Our shops have served the Philadelphia community for several decades and it’s our pleasure to help in any way that we can. Our team is committed to being there for all of your repair needs and providing exceptional customer service with each repair order. Need to make an appointment? Use our
online service scheduler
, or give us a call!
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United Tire & Service
15 Evergreen Dr,
Concordville, PA 19331
Phone:
610-859-4416
Fax:
19331
39.88292,-75.52377
United Tire & Service
637 West Bridge St,
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone:
(610) 634-8399
Fax:
19460
40.12979,-75.52659
United Tire & Service
1140 Easton Rd,
Willow Grove, PA 19090
Phone:
(267) 662-2033
Fax:
19090
40.15891,-75.12309
United Tire & Service
87 E Lancaster Ave,
Paoli, PA 19301
Phone:
(610) 723-7664
Fax:
19301
40.04239,-75.47919
United Tire & Service
340 Street Rd,
Southampton, PA 18966
Phone:
(267) 223-7298
Fax:
18966
40.17837,-75.0511
United Tire & Service
224 E Street Rd,
Feasterville, PA 19053
Phone:
(267) 662-2239
Fax:
19053
40.14797,-74.99648
United Tire & Service
4094 Chestnut Street,
Emmaus, PA 18049
Phone:
(610) 967-5625
Fax:
18049
40.51937,-75.52203
United Tire & Service
614 Westtown Rd,
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone:
(610) 590-8479
Fax:
19382
39.95898,-75.58625
United Tire & Service
980 E Lancaster Ave,
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone:
(610) 590-9116
Fax:
19335
40.01662,-75.68335
United Tire & Service
100 Robbins Rd,
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone:
(610) 590-8493
Fax:
19335
39.99897,-75.70103
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