Have you ever seen pictures of what smoking does to your lungs?
Driving lessons behind the wheel teach you what's going on inside your car, but you also have to know what's going on under the hood. A car engine cannot function properly without clean air, oil and fuel. Engines are kept clean by filters that keep pollutants out while letting clean air and fluid pass through.
There are four types of automotive filters used in almost every vehicle:
air filter
air conditioner filter
oil filter
Fuel Filter
Knowing how these filters work and when they should be replaced is an important part of driving and maintaining your vehicle. Over time, dirty filters can lead to serious mechanical problems that are easily preventable. Let's take a closer look at each type of filter, what it does, and how to replace them yourself.
Air filter: Purifies the air used by the car engine
If you see an older car's engine crackling and emitting black smoke, the air filter may be dirty. Long before a new car starts smoking, the check engine light comes on because the air filter is past its optimum.
The air filter is a very simple component in the air intake that keeps the air entering the engine free of pollutants. The screen keeps out bugs, water, road grime, pollen, dirt, and anything else that blows into your vehicle's grille.
The air filter is one of the easiest parts to replace or clean. You can detach the intake hose that connects to the air collection box and lift the filter. Aim the filter at the light. If the light is not visible, it should be cleaned or replaced.
Cabin filter: Purifies the air in the car
Whether you use air conditioning or not, cabin air filters keep dust, pollen, and other air pollutants from entering the air you breathe while you drive. The cabin air filter is part of the ventilation system. This rectangular screen protects against many things in the air inside the car:
exhaust gas
dirt
dust
pollen
insect
Leaves
Plus, a cabin air filter keeps all that junk from clogging up your vehicle's air conditioning system.
The cabin air filter can be located under the hood, behind the glove box or under the dashboard. Depending on its location, a cabin air filter can be more challenging to replace than an engine air filter.