Change air filter – causes, intervals and costs

Change air filter – causes, intervals and costs

Ambient air is needed for combustion to take place in diesel and gasoline engines. To prevent dirt from getting into the oil and combustion chambers, however, it must be filtered. For this reason, the air filter is located in front of the intake tract.

In a motor vehicle, the air filter is always an important element and if the air filter is very dirty, the function of the engine can be very impaired. The air filter is also often referred to as the engine’s lungs, and it supplies the engine with air. Air is drawn in from the outside via the intake tract and dirt particles are retained by the filter. The filtered air is then burned in the cylinder with atomized gasoline.

Changing the air filter

If an air filter is dirty, then this can have a negative effect on the performance of the engine. As a result of the dirt, the engine eventually receives the lower air supply and fuel consumption increases. If an air filter is very damaged or dirty, then in the worst case it can even lead to the failure of the engine. The degree of contamination should therefore be checked regularly and only then can high consequential costs be prevented. Problems with the air filter are thus generally recognized by the increased consumption and the drop in performance.

How often should the air filter be changed and what is the procedure?

Of course, an air filter has a limited service life and must be replaced after a certain period of time. For individual models, the maintenance interval here can vary significantly. This depends on the distance driven, the conditions, the weather, the season and the filter material. To give an orientation value, air filters are usually renewed every 30,000 to 40,000 kilometers.

During inspections, the condition of the filter is usually checked. Many of the air filters are relatively inexpensive disposable products and usually in the free trade a replacement filter costs only 10 to 20 euros. If you want to change the air filter, you don’t have to go to the workshop. The removal and installation can often be done by the owner and hardly any automotive expertise is required. Of course, the independent change also saves money.

With many models, the change is a simple matter and the finely structured paper filter is located in the so-called filter box. The filter box is usually located on the engine or at least near it. The component is easily accessible, even if the attachment and exact position often vary.

The cover can be opened with a few screws or with a click lock and the air filter is removed. When changing, it is important that no dirt gets into the open intake manifold. For this reason, the change should be carried out relatively quickly.

At a workshop, the air filter as a material costs between 40 and 130 dollars. If special air filters are required, the material price is always somewhat higher. Usually about 10 to 60 dollars are due for removal and installation. These costs depend on how the air filter was accommodated. Usually the change in the workshop takes only about 10 minutes and therefore this repair is usually comparatively cheap.

If the air filter itself is changed, then a screwdriver and a rag are usually sufficient if the area is relatively dirty. First, the hood is opened and secured. In the case of the air filter box, the fasteners are opened and if the air filter mat has been removed from the housing, the housing is cleaned with the rag. A new air filter mat is inserted into the housing and the cover is closed. In the end, the hood is closed and the process is done.

Changing the air filter: costs of repair in the workshop

When changing the air filter, the amount of work is usually low. The air filters are almost always easily accessible and no other components have to be removed from the engine. The replacement of the filter is done in about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the model. After the waiting time is small, therefore, can be waited in the workshop. Immediately afterwards, the vehicle owners can drive on again without any worries.

Depending on the labor and depending on the cost of the air filter insert, the cost can be from about forty dollars, depending on the vehicle model. Of course, this largely depends on the type of car and the workshop. For example, while a Golf V Variant is around 50 dollars, an Opel Astra H Caravan costs around 40 euros. A Ford First Lim. or the Audi A4 Avant also cost about 60 dollars. The BMW Series 3 Touring costs about from 120 dollars and a Mercedes-Benz BM 207 E-Class Coupe, for example, is about 80 dollars.

Source - https://www.waautoparts.com.au/change-air-filter-causes-intervals-and-costs/