How To Clean Air Filter In Your Car?

A car air filter plays an important role in car operation, but many car owners sometimes ignore it. This is because more common parts such as oil filters, fuel filters, etc., are often given more attention.

However, an air filter that is not cleaned or maintained periodically can cause damage to the car engine. So how to clean air filter in your car?  

Why Do We Need To Clean The Car Air Filter? 

If you’re driving your car for an extended period, one of the regular checks that you’re going to do on your car is the air filter. Now, when driving in dusty conditions, your air filter is working mighty hard to keep all of that dust and grit out of your engine. 

The amount of dirt that is filtered out of the air is shown by the calculation of an example of a vehicle that is mainly driven on the road and calculated at 100 km with approximately 120 m3 of air required and an average volume of dust in the air intake of 0,005 g/m3.

The amount would be 0.6 g per 100 km – extrapolated to 10000 km, this would mean up to 60g of dirt is collected in the vehicle’s air filter. If this dirt were to make it into the engine, it would cause heavy wear on the piston, piston rings, and engine bearings. For vehicles exposed to harsh environmental influences, the demands placed on the filter system are much higher. 

According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the car air filter needs to be cleaned every 5,000 km to increase the mileage and performance of your car. However, if your vehicle is used frequently, the air filter should be cleaned every 3,000 km or once a month, this can vary based on your driving conditions. 

>> Related post: Three Signs Of A Dirty Car Air Filter You Should Know

Signs The Air Filter Need To Be Cleaned 

For some reason, you may forget to check and clean your air filter timely so here are several symptoms you can notice If the air filter is dirty and needs your attention: 

Starting problems 

A dirty car air filter can contribute to starting problems. Engines need a precise balance of fuel and air to start and run properly. A dirty air filter disrupts this balance by limiting the air supply. This can lead to a rich fuel mixture (too much fuel, not enough air), making it difficult for the engine to ignite.

Additionally, when you start your car, if the engine makes unusual sounds or even vibrates. The cause may be a dirty engine air filter, which can damage the spark plugs.

Accelerating issue

You step on the gas pedal but your car cannot accelerate. Or you may feel the car jerking every time you try to do this. The cause may be a dirty air filter, leading to insufficient airflow into the engine. From there, the engine has difficulty providing power for the car to accelerate.

Check engine light 

The check engine light could be due to a number of serious engine problems. But another possible reason is that the engine is not getting enough air because the air filter is dirty.

Our advice: engine air filters need to be checked, cleaned, and replaced periodically to ensure the car operates smoothly. You should not wait until you detect the above signs before checking this part.

Besides these main reasons, black smoke from the exhaust is probably a reason for the dirty air filter. Due to insufficient air, the fuel is not completely burned. The unburned fuel will escape from the vehicle through the exhaust pipe as black smoke.

If you notice any symptoms above, it’s time to clean or replace your air filter if necessary. So how to clean car air filter? This process isn’t too complex, with just simple steps, you can increase your car’s performance. Here’s what you need to do to clean your car’s air filter. 

How To Clean Air Filter: Step By Step Guide

Car owners can clean the car air filter at home. The steps to clean the car air filter are as follows:

Step 1: Locate the air filter under the hood

Where is the air filter in your car? The air filter is usually located right under the hood, in the middle of the engine compartment, behind the engine intake. Depending on the type of vehicle, the air filter has a different shape, the manufacturer usually places the air filter in a square or round plastic protective box.

Step 2: Remove the air filter from the protective box 

Depending on the model, the air filter is placed in a protective box with retaining clips or screws. They are designed relatively simply and can be removed by hand or with a wrench. The air filter is located right under the protective box cover and can be easily removed manually.

Step 3: Clean the air filter 

Use a vacuum cleaner or a compressed air nozzle to blow away any dust or dirt on the air filter. Be sure to spray in a certain order, from inside to outside and from top to bottom to ensure all dust or dirt is removed.

Depending on the material of the air filter, you can check the manufacturer’s recommendations to clean the air filter with warm water, and then dry it.

Note: Do not use a brush or a scrubber to clean it, as this can easily tear the filter membrane, seriously affecting the performance of the air filter. In addition, when cleaning the car air filter, do not use any detergent or chemical solution.

Step 4: Reinstall the air filter 

Before installing the air filter, check the air filter protection cover again. If it is dirty, use a soft cloth to wipe it off. When putting the air filter in its position, make sure that the edges of the air filter match the rubber edges of the protective box. Then use a wrench/screwdriver/hand to fix the box cover as before. After installation, start the engine and check the manifold to see if there is air intake, in case of blockage.

Can A Car Air Filter Be Washed?

Is it right to wash and reuse a paper-based air filter? To answer this question, you should know what material your air filter is made of:

Disposable filters

Typically, disposable filters are made of layers of paper stacked on top of each other, helping to retain dust as air passes through. However, because the main material is paper, air filters cannot be washed like cloth or masks.

So can I clean my air filter instead of replacing it? Modern engine manufacturers mainly use so-called dry filters made of paper. Air that is taken in flows through them. Dirt particles in the air are trapped permanently in the surface with fine pores. If too much dirt is trapped in the air filter, it should be replaced instead of cleaned. 

Soaking in detergent, rubbing, or putting it in the washing machine is not recommended, because it will make the filter easily damaged, lose its original structure, and can cause damage to the engine when the car is running. Therefore, you should not wash the car’s air filter. Instead, the car owner should clean it properly or replace it when necessary, to ensure the performance of your engine. 

Reusable air filters

These are often made from fabric-like materials, are built for longevity, and can be cleaned and reused. For this type of air filter, you can wash it. 

• Add laundry detergent and fill the bucket with water 
• Drop in the filter and leave it to soak overnight 
• Rinse the filter thoroughly
• Make sure the air filter is rinsed clean. Once finished, let the filter dry before placing it back in the car. 

Watch more:

Final Thoughts 

Keeping your car’s air filter clean is a simple yet key aspect of vehicle maintenance. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure your engine receives the clean air it needs to perform optimally. 

However, if your car reaches about 20000 miles, you should replace air filter in car instead of cleaning it. To know how to change air filter in car, follow more other our articles.