With the continuous improvement of second-hand car trading volume, the hands-on ability of car owners is getting stronger and stronger, and they are also familiar with some basic car knowledge, so more and more car owners choose to "tidy up their cars" by themselves. Especially some simple maintenance items, such as air change, air conditioner filter element, simple inspection of car parts, etc.
However, many car owners mistook the replacement cycle of maintenance parts and spent a lot of money. Today, we will explain the "replacement cycle of air filter element".
What exactly is the air filter? As the name implies, regardless of whether it is an air conditioning filter element or an air filter element, their role is to minimize the impurities in the air entering the vehicle. The air filter element works for the engine, while the air conditioning filter element is prepared for passengers in the compartment.

Function of air filter element
The function of the air filter element is very simple. In short, it is a device to filter out particulate impurities in the air. Because the engine needs to inhale a large amount of outside air when it is working, the "inhalable particles" in the air are filtered out through the filtering function of the air filter element, and then enter (in the air inlet or) the cylinder for mixed combustion with gasoline. If the air filter element fails to play its due filtering role, the larger particles in the air will enter the engine for combustion, and over time will cause various failures, of which the typical failure is cylinder pulling!
As the first line of defense against sand, dust and impurities, the air filter element is generally installed behind the engine intake pipe to prevent sand, dust, impurities and particles in the air from entering the engine. At the same time, the air filter element can ensure that enough clean air enters the engine, which also effectively extends the service life of the engine.
Whether it is high temperature or cold, as long as we turn on the air conditioner, the air conditioning system will draw the outside air into the compartment, and all kinds of impurities in the air, such as pollen, haze, dust, will also enter the compartment with their feet. Without the air conditioner filter element, the air in the vehicle will become turbid, and the health of passengers will decline. Many children will also be allergic to harmful substances in the air, and even become upset when serious, which will affect driving safety.
The function of the air conditioner filter element is to block and absorb various harmful substances in the air, reduce the allergic stimulation to the people in the car, which not only makes driving more comfortable, but also makes the cooling effect of turning on the air conditioner more excellent in summer.

The car owners are quite concerned about
1. How often should the air filter element be replaced?
Different brands may get different answers to the question when to replace the air conditioning filter element. Some people suggest replacing it every 10,000 km, while others suggest replacing it every 20,000 km!!! In fact, the replacement of the air filter depends on the actual situation. For ordinary city vehicles, it is appropriate to replace or clean the air filter every 1-2 years or every 10000 km. For an off-road vehicle that always shuttles on the dirt road between villages, it may be replaced within two months. The master suggested that the car owner should check the air filter every time the car is serviced, shorten the replacement cycle, and replace the air filter when necessary. In some cities with relatively clean air, the replacement cycle can be appropriately extended.

Is it reliable to blow the dirty air filter?
It can be blown and reused, but the effect is not as good as the new one
The air filter element is dirty, so you can use it after blowing with an air gun. This economical "wild road" friends must have heard about it, and they may have thought about it in their hearts. Can it be reused? Answer: Yes, but it can't be as good as the new one.
Not very dirty or temporary emergency, can be blown and reused
Although the above can be used, there are conditions. For example, the filter element has just been replaced, and the surface is dirty, so you can blow it to continue to use. Or, for example, if you just touch the air filter element of your car and there is no matching specification, you will have to wait a few days to get it. At this time, blowing it can solve the urgent problem.
It is not allowed to directly clean the air filter with water or other liquids. For example, the air filter used in our ordinary household cars is basically made of paper, so you cannot directly clean it with water or oil, otherwise it will damage the air filter, reduce its permeability, or even directly fail. The air pressure shall be controlled to blow gently. The correct way to blow from the inside to the outside is to use an air gun. When blowing, pay attention to the pressure of the air gun, which shall be controlled at about 0.2 to 0.29 MPa. The blowing direction is from the inside to the outside.

Why can't you just blow it out and reuse it, but replace it regularly?
The ability to filter impurities is reduced due to long-term use
Because if the high-pressure air gun is often used to blow vigorously, the paper fiber of the filter element will be damaged while blowing away the dust. The gap will be widened, and the ability to filter impurities will naturally decline.
It cannot be completely blown clean, which seriously affects the use effect
In addition, the fine dust attached to the filter element cannot be cleaned, which hinders the entry of air, resulting in insufficient air intake, incomplete combustion and power reduction, resulting in insufficient power, increased fuel consumption and worsening emissions. Therefore, friends should replace the air filter element in a timely manner.

3. What should I do if the air filter element is flooded?
Generally, the water in the air filter element indicates that the engine may have water ingress. This is often seen in summer when wading. In this case, it is recommended that the car owner shut down first to avoid water ingress and cylinder jacking! In normal practice, push out the vehicle, open the air filter housing, and clean the water (check whether there is water in the cylinder). It is better to find a regular repair shop for simple cleaning, and then it is recommended to replace the air filter with water.

4. If the air filter is dirty, what will happen if it is not replaced?
The consequences of not replacing the air filter have been briefly described. Dirty air filter will not only affect the intake of the engine, but also affect the fuel consumption and power of the engine. The correction of the engine fuel system will have a great impact over time. The most important thing is that the filtering effect of the air filter is reduced, and some sand and dust may enter the cylinder for combustion. Carbon deposition? Cylinder? Insufficient power? You will queue up for unexpected faults!

5. What are the problems of air filter damage
Engine accelerated wear and carbon deposit
First of all, the engine will accelerate wear and carbon deposition. If there is no air filter, the dust will enter the cylinder directly and be mixed with oil and gas before burning. The wear of the cylinder is eight times that of the car with air filter, the wear of the piston is three times that of the piston, and the wear of the piston ring is nine times that of the car with air filter.

Dirty engine inlet
The air inlet of the engine is also dirty. The dust not only runs into the engine, but also gets dirty if the damaged air filter is used for a long time, even if it is not used.

6. Is there any material classification of automobile air filter element?
At present, there are three kinds of materials for the air filter element, namely paper, non-woven fabric and sponge. The former is the favorite material used by the original factory because of its low cost; The second is the material commonly used for high flow modified filter element, which can achieve a better balance between effect and ventilation than paper in the past; The third is the material that a few high-end modified filter elements will choose, which is also the best material currently used to make air filter elements.
The reason why sponge is the most ideal material for air filter element is that the dust storage space of sponge is three-dimensional. Some high-level sponge filter elements are made from more than three layers of sponges with different densities from the inside to the outside. These three-dimensional spaces can be used to store sand and dust. Because the space is three-dimensional, many gaps can be kept for air to pass through, and the intake efficiency will not be affected by a little sand and dust.