Air Filters / Air Cleaner | Car Parts For Beginners, Motor & Wheels (Peter Jones)

Motor & Wheels, with Peter Jones

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Transcription
Hello, I’m Peter Jones, the founder of MotorAndWheels. Welcome to our series on car parts where complete car beginners can master the basics in 10 minutes or less.
Alright, let's get started: This lesson will be all about your car’s air cleaner. We'll cover what it is, what it looks like, how often it needs to be replaced., and the costs involved.

First things first, the air cleaner or air filter in your car is essentially the guardian of your engine. Its main job is to filter out dust, debris, and other unwanted particles from the air that gets into your engine. By doing this, it helps improve the efficiency and performance of your car, contributing to better fuel economy and lower emissions.

Now, what exactly is an air cleaner? Well, sometimes the terms air cleaner and air filter are used interchangeably. Essentially, it includes the air filter and sometimes the casing that holds it. You can generally find it in the engine compartment of your car, housed in a box-like or cylindrical component, which might be black, gray, or silver. To find it, pop the hood and look around the center or one side of the engine compartment.

Now, you might wonder if all cars have an air cleaner. In modern cars, yes, it's a vital component. However, electric cars, which don't have internal combustion engines, don't need an air cleaner for the engine, though they might have cabin filters to purify the air inside the vehicle. Some very ancient cars might not have them, but these are usually confined to museums or antique car shows.

Okay, moving on to maintenance. You should inspect the air filter about every 6,000 miles or at each oil change. On average, it lasts around two years or between 20,000 to 25,000 miles, depending on how and where you drive.

As for the costs, a new air cleaner can set you back anywhere from $20 to $70, depending on your vehicle type. If you're looking to save some money, you might find used ones at scrap yards for about $10 to $40. And if you're thinking of getting it replaced at a shop, labor costs could range from $25 to $100. Remember, getting quotes from various local repair shops can help you find the best deal.

Now, what happens if the air cleaner isn't functioning properly? Well, it could lead to reduced fuel efficiency as the engine has to work harder. It might also cause less power output, especially during acceleration, and potentially lead to engine damage in the long run.

And here's some good news – replacing an air cleaner is something you can do on your own! To do this, you first need to locate the air filter box under the hood of your car. Once you find it, turn off your vehicle and make sure the engine is cool. Open the air filter box by releasing the latches or tabs and take a look at the existing filter. If it's releasing a significant amount of debris when you shake it, it's time for a new one.

Remove the old filter, insert the new one in the same orientation, and secure the box. It's as simple as that!
If you want to learn more about the oil filter, there’s a link in the show notes to an article where I dive a bit deeper. There are also pictures to help you understand it all better.

I hope this information helps you understand your car a little better and keeps it running smoothly. Until next time, take care and drive safely!

Check our website: MotorAndWheels.com.