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Does
Your Car's Air Filter Need Replacing? |
by:
ARA
Content |
(ARA)
How good are you about changing your vehicle's
air filter? The owner's manuals in most
cars and trucks recommend you check the
filter -- which is designed to trap dirt
and contaminants before they reach your
engine -- every time you get an oil change,
and replace it whenever it's dirty or has
been driven 20,000 miles, whichever comes
first. For people who regularly drive on
dirt or sand roads, that could be every
5,000 miles, but not everyone does it in
a timely fashion.
If it's too dirty, the air filter won't
trap dirt particles, which can damage engine
cylinders, walls, pistons and piston rings,
severely impacting fuel economy and engine
performance. An inefficient engine can cause
air pollution. The situation has gotten
so bad in some states, they now require
vehicles to pass engine emissions tests
to stay on the road. In many cases, drivers
find out their vehicle's failed because
of a dirty air filter.
Visteon, one of the largest automotive suppliers
in the world, has come up with a solution
that will ensure you never have a dirty
filter again. The Long Life Filtration System
is a fully sealed air induction system designed
to remove contaminants from engine intake
air while providing noise control with minimal
power loss. It contains a reticulated, or
networked foam filter, designed to last
more than 150,000 miles under normal use.
Ford is the first automobile manufacturer
to offer the new high-tech air filter as
standard equipment in two of its 2005 models:
the F150 and Focus.
"This technology saves space in the engine
compartment because it can be placed in
another area of the vehicle, such as just
behind the instrument panel. It saves consumers
time and money because it doesn't require
routine maintenance,'' says Greg Green,
an engineering supervisor in Visteon's powertrain
product line team.
Not only does the system save consumers
money, it helps the environment. The filters
reduce evaporative emissions that contribute
to the greenhouse effect, and save landfill
space because they don't need to be replaced
as often. They are made of 100 percent recycled
materials that are recyclable themselves.
If you don't have one of the new Ford F150s
or Focuses, and still need to replace your
air filters, here are some things you should
keep in mind:
* To determine whether your air filter needs
to be replaced, just lift it out (it isn't
fastened down) and hold it up to the sun
or to a strong light. If you can't see light
streaming through it, try dropping it lightly,
bottom side down, on a hard surface. Doing
so should jar some dirt loose. If the filter
is still too dirty to see through after
you've dropped it a few times, you need
a new one.
* When buying an air filter, look for well-known,
quality-brand filters; you can often get
them quite cheaply at discount stores. Unknown
brands sell for very little, but they aren't
always of good quality, and if your air
filter lets a lot of junk get into your
carburetor, you may find that a cheap filter
is very costly in the long run. If you need
help determining which air filter is the
one you need, go to your local auto supply
store or to the parts department at your
dealership. Give them your vehicle's make,
model, and year. Make sure that the filter
you get matches your old filter in size
and shape. If it doesn't, you've been sold
the wrong filter for your car.
* If you decide to change the filter yourself,
always do so with the engine off, and never
start or run the engine with the air filter
out of place. Most filters can be easily
replaced by removing snap clips, a clamp
or several screws. Make sure you use the
filter specified for your car's engine;
do not try to make a filter fit. An improperly
fitting filter can allow unfiltered air
into the engine, causing engine damage.
These tips are from the experts at www.dummies.com,
and were adapted from the book, Auto Repair
for Dummies. To learn more about the Long
Life Filtration System from Visteon, log
on to www.visteon.com.
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
www.aracontent.com
info@ARAcontent.com
Circulated by Bandoni
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