Changing Your Car’s Air Filter By Levi Quinn At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Changing the air filter in your car is not all that difficult of a task. It is something that should be done regularly though in order to keep your vehicle in the best running shape possible. There are many maintenance aspects involved with proper care of any car. This is perhaps one of the easiest that you do not require a professional mechanic to take care of. It can be done in the comfort of your own garage or driveway in a short amount of time.

One of the main reasons that most people choose to change their own car air filter is to save money. It is the type of job that only costs a third of what most mechanics would charge you to have them do it. So it just makes sense that you might want to do it yourself and save the money. Always make sure that your car has been turned off for awhile so that the engine is cool. Don’t get started if the car has recently been running until it has cooled off.

You will need a few basic tools to change your air filter. Usually two screwdrivers are all that is required. One of them should be a Philips screwdriver and the other a standard type. A butter knife may also work if you really do not have any screwdrivers lying around. Of course, most screwdrivers are relatively cheap and can be found at your local department store.

The air filter in your car is usually found in a black plastic casing close to the top of the motor. In some cars it will be off to the side. Look in your car user manual for a photo or description if you are not sure what you are looking for.

You might recognize the air filter casing because it is held together with a few large metal clips on either side of it. These clips have to come off so that you can get at the air filter. This is what you will use the butter knife or screwdriver for. Slide it between the casings and pry it open.

You should notice that the filter is bright yellow or orange. Take a good look at it to inspect the cleanliness of the filter. You should be able to see how dirty it is. Keep in mind that it is an air filter so don’t let it get too dirty before you decide that it’s time for a change.

When you change the filter, toss the old one out and buy a new one from the store. Make sure that it is the right filter for your type of car because they are not all the same. Most auto stores have a book that lists which parts must go with which car. You can simply look up the information before making your selection.

You can drive very short distances without an air filter but you don’t want to do this for long. Your car needs that air filter to function in top form. Take care of your car today so it can take care of you when it matters most.

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