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Car Care: Vehicle Systems & Parts
Filters and Fluids
What Is It?
Your car’s filters are important to the longevity of your car and interior comfort. Maximize your car investment by replacing filters regularly.
What Does It Do?
The oil filter traps contaminants, allowing the oil to flow through the engine unrestricted. The fuel filter separates harmful contaminants that may cause problems with carburetors or intricate fuel injectors. The air filter traps dirt particles, which can cause damage to engine cylinders, walls, pistons and piston rings. The air filter also plays a role in keeping contaminants off the airflow sensor (in fuel-injected cars). The cabin filter helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a car’s ventilation system.
Typical Wear And Tear
Filters are normal wear items that require regular checks and replacement. Factors that affect replacement intervals include:
YOUR CAR’S ENGINE CAN USE MORE THAN 10,000 GALLONS OF AIR FOR EVERY GALLON OF FUEL BURNED, SO IT’S EASY TO SEE HOW BIG A JOB THE AIR FILTER HAS.
Your vehicle’s filters most likely include:
Your car’s filters are important to the longevity of your car and interior comfort. Maximize your car investment by replacing filters regularly.
What Does It Do?
The oil filter traps contaminants, allowing the oil to flow through the engine unrestricted. The fuel filter separates harmful contaminants that may cause problems with carburetors or intricate fuel injectors. The air filter traps dirt particles, which can cause damage to engine cylinders, walls, pistons and piston rings. The air filter also plays a role in keeping contaminants off the airflow sensor (in fuel-injected cars). The cabin filter helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a car’s ventilation system.
Typical Wear And Tear
Filters are normal wear items that require regular checks and replacement. Factors that affect replacement intervals include:
- Mileage
- Driving habits
- Driving and road conditions
- Type of filter
- Vehicle type
- Poor gas mileage
- Hesitation while accelerating
- Musty odor in the cabin
YOUR CAR’S ENGINE CAN USE MORE THAN 10,000 GALLONS OF AIR FOR EVERY GALLON OF FUEL BURNED, SO IT’S EASY TO SEE HOW BIG A JOB THE AIR FILTER HAS.
Your vehicle’s filters most likely include:
A) Cabin filter
B) Air filter
C) Automatic transmission filter
D) Oil filter
E) Fuel filter
Reprinted with permission from the Car Care Council: www.carcare.org.
