Can you really clean a car air filter, or do you always have to replace it? – Jalopnik

The answer to the question of whether it is possible to clean the engine air filter of your car depends on the type of filter in question. Most cars have OEM papers disposable filters that do not last long before they get clogged with dirt and limit the air flow. Burning engines are essentially huge air pumps, and they need clean air to be able to burn effectively without polluting the valves and damaging the pistons and cylinders with harmful dirt.

However, you can clean reusable air filters. These products are usually more expensive than standard OEM models and are often built by performance companies, such as K&N.

As a general rule, replacing disposable OEM air filters is crucial every 12 months or 19,000 km for the health of the engine. If you try to clean paper air filters with soap and the fibers of the filter medium can be damaged. Even with minor damage, dirt particles can end up in the inlet manifold. That is why paper filters must be replaced instead of cleaned. In a lighter tone: air filters are relatively affordable and easy to obtain, with most of the average $ 10 to $ 25.

It is another story if the engine of your car has a reusable air filter, especially from popular aftermarket brands such as K&N and AEM. Although they can cost four to five times as much as ordinary paper filters, reusable filters offer different benefits to compensate for the extra costs. They have a more robust construction because of their reusable nature, and most use harder cotton fibers or advanced synthetic media in multiple layers to withstand daily use, abuse and periodic washes, while making a strong air flow possible.

Reusable filters usually require a cleaning every 80,000 kilometers, but the mileage can vary and you have to inspect the filters more often. If you drive in dusty or busy areas, the filter can be dirty after 40,000 km. In some cases the larger air flow can add horse power, but take this with a grain of salt. If you really want to add more power, an upgrade to a cold air inlet, adding less restrictive headmers and exhaust dampers and buying a motorcycle tune better results than exchanging a standard air filter to a reusable air filter.

Cleaning a reusable air filter is just as simple as spraying with cleaning agent, rinsing with water, let it dry and the fibers oil again if necessary. The disadvantage is that for some reusable filters specialized cleaning and oil kits are required, which can increase the costs. Nevertheless, reusable air filters can save you money in the long term on replacing filters, and some brands even design their filters in such a way that they last the entire life of the vehicle.

A modern car comes with replaceable air filters for the motor and in the cabin (the cabin air filter ensures that the air conditioning continues to blow cold and fresh). A dirt or severely clogged air filter of the engine can lead to inflammatory errors, an annoying control lamp of the engine, dark smoke from the exhaust dampers, medium performance and low fuel consumption. In some cases, a clogged air filter can ensure that the engine makes strange noises or unusual noises, indicating that the engine is bite to air and can no longer breathe.

In the meantime, a dirty cabin filter can be flooded with dirt, pollen, insects, dried leaves and other particles. Water pollution is another possibility that can cause the growth of fungi, bacteria and mildew in the system, creating an unpleasant and musty odor when switching on the air conditioning. We strongly recommend replacing the cabin filter at the same intervals as when cleaning or replacing the engine air filter. You can also buy reusable cabin filters that have the same longer lifespan and sustainability. They are usually more expensive, but they are better for the environment and also offer superior filtration.