Have you ever seen pictures of what tobacco smoking does to the lungs? Mechanics can show you pictures of dirty car filters that are just as scary.
Behind-the-wheel driving lessons teach you about what’s inside the car, but you have to also know what’s under the hood. A car engine can’t work properly without clean air, oil and fuel. The engine is kept clean by filters that are able to keep out contaminants while letting clean air and liquids pass through.
There are four kinds of car filters that are used in almost every vehicle:
Air filter
Cabin filter
Oil filter
Fuel filter
Knowing how these filters work and when you should change them is an essential part of driving and maintaining your vehicle. Dirty filters can lead to serious mechanical problems over time that are easily preventable. Let’s take a closer look at each type of filter, what it does and how to change them yourself.
If you’ve seen an older car with its engine sputtering and puffing out black smoke, it could be due to a dirty air filter. Long before a newer car starts puffing smoke, the check engine light will come on because the air filter is past its prime.
An air filter is a very simple component in the air intake that’s able to keep the air going into the engine clean of contaminants. The screen keeps out bugs, water, road grime, pollen, dirt and everything else that blows into your vehicle’s grill.
The air filter is one of the simplest parts to change or clean. You can remove the intake hose attached to the air collection box and lift out the filter. Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t see light through it, you should clean or replace it.
Whether or not you’re using the air conditioner, the cabin air filter keeps dust, pollen and other air pollutants out of the air you breathe while driving. The cabin air filter is part of the ventilation system. This rectangular screen keeps a number of things out of the air inside your car:
Exhaust fumes
Dirt
Dust
Pollen
Bugs
Leaves
In addition, the cabin air filter prevents all this gunk from clogging up the vehicle’s AC system.
The cabin air filter can be under the hood, behind the glove compartment or under the dash. Depending on its location, cabin air filters can be slightly more challenging to replace than the engine air filter.
Oil is needed to lubricate the many engine components that work together to make a vehicle run. Without oil the engine would quickly overheat and parts would wear out prematurely. But every time oil circulates through the engine it can become contaminated.
The oil filter keeps debris and dirt out of the oil while the engine is running. A properly-working oil filter is critical to your car’s smooth operation, engine life and fuel mileage.
If you can change your oil, you should be able to replace the oil filter. Plus, it’s best practice to replace the oil filter every time you change your oil. You may need to change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles but many newer vehicles require less-frequent changes up to 10,000 miles.
When fuel comes out of a refinery, it’s clean. Then it goes into trucks and gas station tanks where it may get contaminated before it goes into your vehicle. The fuel filter keeps dirt, grime and water out of your engine.
The fuel filter is a cartridge located in the fuel line. Inside the cartridge, there’s a screen that catches dirt, rust and other debris in the fuel before it passes through to the fuel injector.
When it’s time for a fuel filter change you may notice that your vehicle is more sluggish than normal or it’s suddenly misfiring for no reason. Most manufacturers recommend that you change the fuel filter every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. Follow your car’s manual to know when to change the fuel filter for ideal performance. Some fuel filters are located inside the car’s gas tank and it can be difficult to change yourself.
All four kinds of car filters keep your car running smoothly so you can drive safely and worry-free. When in doubt, always refer to the guidelines in your owner’s manual. There will be a section on what maintenance measures (like changing filters) need to be taken and when.
*This article was updated on 6/4/2020
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Performance Air Filters for Trucks
Are you looking to increase your engine’s intake of fresh, clean, and thoroughly filtered air? Then consider investing in a premium air filter from RealTruck! Air filters are an integral component of your vehicle’s air intake system. Air filters are positioned at your engine’s air inlet, forcing air through a super-fine media to filter dirt, dust, and debris to prevent oil contamination and internal damage.
Additionally, performance air filters flow a higher volume of air than your vehicle’s factory airbox and restrictive paper filter, ensuring maximum airflow into your engine’s intake, efficient combustion, better mileage, and increased power!
Aside from conventional intake air filters, your vehicle also utilizes a cabin air filter, which filters debris and particulate matter from the HVAC system to ensure only fresh, clean air blows into the cabin.
Air Filter Types
Air filters come in various configurations, including material construction to alternate designs. Let’s take a closer look to determine which is right for your application!
Oiled Vs. Dry
Depending on the brand and model number, air filters may feature different types of filter media. Though several constructions exist, the most common are oiled-cotton and dry synthetics; but what are the key differences?
Oiled-cotton air filters feature tightly wound, high-flow cotton filter media that's saturated in a filter-specific oil. The cotton filter media is highly efficient and filters large particulate matter; however, it’s less efficient at filtering ultra-fine particles, which is where filter oil comes into play. Smaller particles that’d otherwise be able to pass through the cotton media become trapped in the oil, thus increasing the filtration rate. These filters are typically washable and serviceable, featuring an indefinite service life.
Dry synthetic filters feature synthetic media that doesn’t require oiling. These filters are ideal for dirty, dusty environments, as they feature similar filtration and efficiency without using tacky filter oil that can attract excessive amounts of dirt, clogging the filter and hindering performance. Like oiled cotton filters, dry synthetic filters are typically washable and reusable.
Other less-common constructions include oiled-synthetic and dry paper filters. For additional information, check out our air filter comparison on RealSource!
Universal Vs. Direct Fitment
Other variables include the type of fitment, including universal and direct.
Universal air filters are typically conical in shape and come in various dimensions, including flange size, height, length, and width. These filters are engineered for custom air intake systems or to replace the filters included in aftermarket air intakes. Typically, modifications of your vehicle’s factory intake system are required.
On the other hand, direct-fitment air filters are engineered for your particular application. These filters replicate the form factor of your vehicle’s factory paper air filter, ensuring a simple drop-in installation; zero modifications or alterations are required.
Air Filter Maintenance and Accessories
Aside from air filters, we carry several accessories, including recharge kits and pre-filters!
Air Filter Cleaning Kits
While cleaning and maintaining your reusable air filter is quick and easy, you’ll need a filter-specific oil and cleaning solution to keep the filter operating like new. Luckily, we carry all the top reusable air filter cleaning kits, making services a breeze!
Air Filter Wraps
Air filter wraps, also called pre-filters, are thin sleeves that fit over your vehicle’s air filter for an extra layer of filtering protection. They:
Filter smaller particles
Are semi-water resistant, preventing damage to filter and engine
Allow you to go longer between cleaning and servicing
Are ideal for dusty and dirty environments
How Often Should You Clean or Replace Your Air Filter?
Typically, engine air filters should be replaced or serviced every 15,000 miles or annually, whichever comes first; however, there are some exceptions. If you notice that your air filter is filthy or has collapsed, it’s likely in need of a replacement/cleaning. Additionally, there are some driveability symptoms to look out for that could indicate a dirty/clogged air filter. These include:
Loss of power
Difficulty starting
Poor idle
Excessive black smoke from the exhaust pipe (running rich)
Cabin air filters last a similar duration, typically requiring a replacement after 15,000 miles. Symptoms that your vehicle may require a cabin air filter replacement include:
Poor airflow from the vents
A damp, musty odor with the air conditioner or heater running
A noisy blower/fan
Audible whistling from the air vents