4710 NW 39th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73122
So, how often should you change your air filter? In order to keep drivers in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Norman, OK, as educated as possible, our team at Oklahoma City VW has put together this handy guide about air filter maintenance.
The air filter in your vehicle resides in the engine. They are usually made of paper or cotton materials and sit inside a frame, which helps to slide it in and out of its housing under the hood.
When your engine is at work, it requires clean air in order to properly combust and power your ride. The purpose of the filter is to let air into the engine while keeping outside debris from passing through and getting caught in your engine's components.
Common debris includes dust, dirt, gravel, leaves, and rocks. If too much debris is pulled into the engine, it can negatively affect performance. This can lead to an engine malfunction, affect your vehicle's fuel efficiency, or cause complete engine failure.
By now, you may be wondering how you're supposed to know when it's time to replace your current air filter. There are a few common signs to look out for:
• Engine won't start-If too much debris gets locked into the engine, air will not flow properly to your engine's fuel in order to start the engine.
• Reduced fuel economy-Without the proper flow of oxygen through a clean filter, your vehicle will start to burn more fuel in order to create the proper amount of power. This is especially true for older cars that don't have computerized monitoring systems in the engine.
• Reduced horsepower-If you notice that your vehicle isn't accelerating as fast as it used to, the air intake may be disrupted due to a dirty filter.
You can also make a habit of checking your air filter on your own every few months to make sure there aren't any visible signs of dirt or debris on it.
How often you should change your air filter depends on the type of vehicle you drive and what kind of driving you are doing.
In many cases, your air filter is checked every time you take your vehicle in for an oil change, and your technician will let you know if it needs to be changed out. Most manufacturers suggest changing your air filter every 12 months if you are driving in normal conditions.
However, if you are driving in severe conditions, you will want to check your air filter around every 6,000 miles. Severe conditions include rural areas that produce heavy amounts of dust and urban areas where you are driving in heavy traffic that requires a lot of stopping and starting.
Keeping track of your air filter is an essential part of maintaining the health of your vehicle. If you're driving around Oklahoma City, Edmond, or Norman, OK, and notice that your vehicle is not performing as it once was, you may need a new air filter.
When that time comes, give us a call at Oklahoma City VW to schedule an air filter replacement!
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Oklahoma City Volkswagen
4710 NW 39th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73122
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