Changing your car's air filter is important for the health of your Hagerstown vehicle. Driving in Winchester means that you'll have air coming into your vehicle that needs to be filtered out for your safety and the functioning of your car, but no filter lasts forever. Learn about changing your car's air filter with Massey Hyundai.
How Often Should the Filter Be Changed?
Every car has different maintenance needs, and you should always check the owner’s manual to make sure that you're keeping up with your vehicle's maintenance at the right intervals. If you don't have your owner’s manual, it's best to err on the side of safety and change your air filter every 12 months or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you're driving in a dusty environment, you should make sure to check your air filter every 3 months to make sure there are no clogs or debris. A clogged or dirty air filter can result in weak performance, a reduced engine life, and lower fuel efficiency.
How to Change the Filter
- Park your car on a flat surface. Make sure the emergency brake is on, and then open your car's hood. Let the car engine cool down if you've driven it recently so you can work on the engine without burning yourself.
- Make sure you have the correct tools. You can purchase a replacement filter from an auto parts store. Make sure you have a butter knife, a rag, a regular-size Phillips head screwdriver, and a regular-size standard screwdriver.
- Locate the air filter. It's usually located in a black plastic case near the engine's top.
- Open the case. The top us usually held onto the air filter case with metal clips, which you can open by sliding the butter knife between the clip and plastic case. You might need a screwdriver to remove it, however.
- Lift the older filter out of the case. Wipe out any debris in the case with a rag, and then place the new filter into the case. Now you can easily close the top and reattach the clips or screws.
Get Great Service at Massey Hyundai
Need help changing your air filter? Massey Hyundai can help! Schedule an appointment with our service department today, call us at (301) 739-6756, or come see us at 1706 Massey Blvd in Hagerstown.
