WELCOME TO OUR Changing an air filter PROJECT
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Summary: In this guide you will learn how to identify your cars air filter and replace it with a new one.
How to change an air filter
Please note that this is only a general guide and is not specific to any one make or model of vehicle. For more detailed information on your own particular car, please consult a workshop manual specific to your own make and model!Please read this first
If you have recently driven your vehicle, please leave it for at least an hour for the engine and other components to cool down. If you do not you may risk injury!
Required Tools:
1. 1 x flat head and 1 x philips screw drivers
2. 10mm socket + ratchet (if you need to remove an engine cover)
3. 8mm socket (if the air box top is bolted and not screwed or clipped)
4. New air filter (check your vehicles user manual for an exact part number)
Step 1 – Open the bonnet
Open the bonnet of your vehicle via the release catch normally located just under the dash board on either the driver or passenger’s side, walk to the front of the car and slide your hand under the bonnet and squeeze the latch. When the latch releases, prop the bonnet up using the provided support.
Some vehicles feature a “sound suppression” cover which will cover the entire top of the engine. In some cases this will need to be removed to gain access to the engine and the air box. This is usually secured in several positions.
Once you have removed this cover (if there is one) you can now begin.
TIP: By changing your air filter in accordance to the manufacturers specified mileage, you may make your vehicle more efficient and thus save money on fuel.
Step 2 - Locate the air box
With the engine cover removed (if there was one), the entire engine is now exposed. The air filter itself is contained within the air box (this usually appears as a sealed plastic box, normally located either to the left or right hand side of the engine. On some older, carb fed cars the air filter may sit on top the center of the engine as it is attached to the carb. In the latter case, you wont miss it!!). With your air box identified you can now go about removing the top of it and exposing the filter itself.
Step 3 - Remove the top of the air box
With the air box located, take a second to observe how the top is fastened to the bottom. The majority of manufacturers will use metal clips, but some will use screws or bolts.
If it is clipped on, use a flat head screw driver between the clip and the case to prize the clip off. If it is screwed or bolted use the appropriate screw driver or your 10 or 8mm socket (most manufacturers use either of these sizes, in some cases they may be either larger or smaller).
Step 4 - Remove the old filter
Before you remove the old filter, just take a minute to observe how it sits within the air box (this may save a little time later as some can be awkward to re-fit if they have a lip or a locating slot. Also look at which way up it goes. It should state which side should face upwards).
Now go ahead and remove the old filter from the box. You will probably notice a fair amount debris in the base of the air box, leaves, dead insects etc.... Remove all of this (It might be worth hovering!).
Step 5 - Fit the new filter
Remove the new filter from its packaging and put it in place in the air box (making sure that it goes in the same way that the old one came out eg. the right way up). Push it down firmly into place making sure that if it does have a lip, that it seals all the way to the edge of the housing.
With the new filter in place, re-fit the top of the air box and secure it with either the screws you removed or clips. If the cover is a little hard to get back on this may be something to do with the fact the filter has been put in incorrectly.
Step 6 - Testing
With everything back together again, remove all the unwanted objects from the engine bay such as tools etc.... and start the engine.
TIP: Ideally, on most modern cars you should change the air filter every 15,000 miles, but this can vary between makes and models. To be sure, check the user manual that came with vehicle.
You have now successfully completed this project.
Top Tools
Click on a tool below for additional information.
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