How Do I Install A Car Air Filter?

You know changing the filters in your car is critical to making it last. The oil filter is easy, but how exactly do I install a car filter? I’m glad you asked!

There are actually numerous car air filters on modern vehicles. How so? Many new cars come with air filters for the interior of your car that filter air coming into the driving department. You don’t really need to replace these very often. The air filter for your car, however, is a different subject.

The good news is changing the air filter on a car is usually very simple. The bad news is, every car has a different engine compartment design. This means the air filter is in a different spot and accessing it is highly dependent on that location. This means men must look to that most hated and painful of things – the owner’s manual! It should contain the specifics for your car. Still, there is a general method.

How do I install a car air filter? Well, the first step is to pop the hood. Now take a close look at the engine compartment. If you have an older car, you’ll see the air filter located on the top of the engine. It is inside the round metal device with the arm coming off of it with an open end. To get at the filter, just unscrew the top of the metal compartment. The top should pop off and the filter will just be sitting there. Pop it out and place the new one in the same spot. It does not need to be secured. It just sits there. Put the metal to back on and screw it back into place. You’re done!

Modern cars are a bit more complicated. They run on fuel injection instead of carburetors like older models. As a result, the air filter does not sit on the top of the engine. It is usually in a plastic container located on the driver’s side and towards the back of the engine. The air is brought up to it from the bottom of the engine compartment, so you can sometimes look for a hose or plastic device coming from the front bumper on up.

Opening the plastic compartment must be done delicately. There are usually a couple of screws and a clasp or two. Many people mistakenly undue the screws and then pull of the plastic top without removing the clasps. This results in the clasps breaking. Your minor repair just became an expensive one as you have to buy and install an entirely new air filter compartment. Checking your owner’s manual is again highly recommended.

Once the compartment is open, the air filter should be visible. Depending on the filter, there are a wide variety of ways to remove it. All involve pretty much grabbing the filter and lightly pulling it out of its compartment. Yep, that simple. Then just put the new filter in and repeat the entire process in reverse. You’ve just installed a car filter with a minimum of fuss.

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