How long will the car's air filter last?

Any engine running on an internal combustion engine needs air to run.This is because without air, especially oxygen, fuels like gasoline and diesel cannot burn and provide the explosive power to power the engine.

The trick is, not all old air will do.In modern cars, air must be purified before it is drawn into the engine's intake static pressure chamber and combustion chamber.If you don't, you run the risk of quickly contaminating the engine with dust, dirt and debris, resulting in poor performance and potentially shortening the life of the car.Foreign particles act as abrasives on the metal parts of the engine, wearing out the engine bearings, piston rings and cylinders.

In addition, modern engines rely on a precise ratio of air to fuel.When the engine is short of air, the fuel mixture is considered "rich," which actually puts pressure on the engine.

Fortunately, we have an engine air filter that lets just the right amount of air into the throat of the car's engine, while trapping harmful grit.But even the best air filters can only withstand so much pollution from the outside world.

So, as a car owner, how do you know when to change the air filter?It all depends, as in the case of car parts, on the strength of the vehicle and under what conditions.If cars play a big role in dusty, harsh conditions (think stop-and-go driving in cities with lots of construction going on), then air filters need to be replaced more often.On the other hand, if you happen to be one of those little old ladies from Pasadena who drive only on Sundays, you don't have to change your air filter that often.

Some experts recommend replacing the air filter every 3,000 miles, along with the oil.Others say this is a bit too much and that you should simply use your judgment to visually spot the air filter and replace it when it looks dirty.

Your best bet, of course, is to consult the owner's manual or a specific model guide from a publisher such as Haynes or Chilton.Then change the type and frequency of the filter as recommended by the manufacturer.General Motors, for example, recommends replacing air filters at 60,000 miles for many of its models.But one auto expert says he changes the air filters in his car every two years or every 24,000 miles, depending on where he drives -- whichever comes first.

In any case, checking air filters at least once every 6,000 miles is a smart and positive policy.It doesn't cost anything to look at, and it can save you expensive repairs on the road!