Car filter maintenance is essential for keeping your car in perfectly good order and each needs to be changed following the manufacturer’s manual guidelines. Even after following those regular checks and rules, the way you drive and use your vehicle might mean you need to change some filters more often than anticipated.
If you drive in tough conditions, then your filters may need more regular upkeep.
Every car has four main filters: the cabin filter, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter. The function of all these filters is to enable flows and catch impurities. Read on to find out what the filters in the car do:
If you take your car for a drive in dusty terrain, such as a city or desert, then it's wise to get your cabin air filters checked and changed more regularly. At a minimum, you should look at changing your air filter once a year if you live in a dusty area.
Your owner’s manual will tell you where your cabin air filter is located. Checking it easy and all you have to do is have a look at it to check if it has dirt or debris on it. If it is covered in it, then it is time to swap it out for a new cabin air filter.
Your engine needs air to run perfectly and it works best with clean air. The function of an engine air filter is to remove dust particles that would otherwise be taken into your engine. If your engine air filter is dirty, then it can cause all sorts of problems for your car and may lead to larger faults.
It can actually reduce the power of your car, then leads to poor performance and lower fuel economy. Over time, a dirty air filter lets dirt into your engine, which can cause expensive damage that you will have been better off having it looked at much sooner.
Always check with your owner’s manual to see what is suggested for your vehicle and follow the maintenance schedule indicated. If you drive in heavy traffic, the desert or off-road terrain, then you’ll want to change this filter more often rather than risk having it get clogged with dirt and damage more parts of your car.
It’s not only the air being taken into your engine that needs to be clean and free of dirt and dust. The fuel taken into your engine also needs to be clean. The fuel filter catches any impurities in your fuel, which otherwise could alter the car's performance.
This filter lasts longer than the cabin air filter, but once again you should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for how often it needs to be changed.
Clean engine oil keeps your engine lubricated. Keeping the oil clean is the job of the oil filter. When oil gets dirty it gets sludgy and this can cause a multitude of engine problems.
This is an easy one to remember. Simply have the oil filter changed whenever you get an oil change. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended intervals for oil changes and you’ll keep your oil clean.
Filter maintenance is a vital part of routine car maintenance. Make sure you check your filters at the recommended intervals to keep your engine running smoothly. When was the last time you checked your filters?
Contact your nearest Approved Garage if you wish to get filter maintenance on your car.
Roydsdale House, Roydsdale Way,
Bradford, BD4 6SE
Tel:+44(0)1274 654605
Fax:+44(0)1274 654610
www.groupauto.co.uk
