Your car has a few different filters that all meet different needs, and they all need to be replaced at some point. Here’s what L&D Automotive wants you to know about them.
The Air Filter
One part of the combustion process involves air, which means that your car draws in air from its surroundings. The big problem is that there’s other stuff that it can draw in, too, like dirt, pollen, and vegetation. Your car’s air filter is designed to catch and to trap all of that so that only clean air gets into the engine. The air filter is usually pretty easy to get to, so you can check it periodically and see if it’s getting dirty.
The Cabin Air Filter
Another air filter you might not know your car has is the cabin air filter. This isn’t a feature in every single car, but it’s a way to add another layer of protection for drivers and passengers. This air filter is designed to keep even finer particles out of the passenger cabin. Typically, manufacturers recommend that this filter gets replaced annually.
The Fuel Filter
Your car’s fuel filter is the last line of defense against sediment and sludge that can collect in your gas tank. Gasoline looks pretty clear, but there’s more gunk in it than you would suspect. Also, there can be sediment in your gas tank that you want to keep out of the fuel system. That’s even more important if you tend to run your gas tank fairly low before filling up again. Your car’s owner’s manual has a recommendation about how often to replace your fuel filter, but a good estimate is around 30,000 miles.
The Oil Filter
This is the filter you’re going to change more often than any other in the entire car. Every time that you get your car’s oil changed, the oil filter gets changed, too. There’s a really good reason for this. The engine oil circulates continually through the car’s engine, cooling it and lubricating engine parts. It also collects a bunch of dirt and debris, which has to be filtered out before that oil circulates through the engine again. You’re likely going to change your oil filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or so.
Not sure when your filters were last replaced or checked? L&D Automotive in Lavon, TX can take care of that for you. Give us a call to set up an appointment and we’ll make sure that all of your car’s filters are in good working order.